Troubleshooting Vibration

VIBRATION
Vibration in liquid ring vacuum pumps is an occasional problem and it is important to understand the causes in order to avoid replacing a
good pump. In this article, we will not go into high frequency vibrations due to bearings. Bearing analysis has progressed to the point
where bearing problems can be picked up, in many cases, before they become serious. It is worthwhile to mention that most liquid ring
vacuum pumps have 16 or 20 blades, which is helpful in determining blade pass frequencies.
Common causes There are a few common causes of excess vibration that are easy to recognize, such as excess seal water or a deteriorated base or foundation. High seal water flows of two to three times the standard rating can cause a vibration or internal "knocking" within
the pump, which may sound like a hammer bouncing around within the pump. This high seal water flow may also show up as high horsepower, as already discussed.
The problem of deteriorated bases and foundations are obvious and are only due to old age. In these cases, the pump may "rock" at low
frequencies. This vibration may increase in pumps with poorly supported vacuum piping. The commonly used flexible hoses, at the pump
inlet, help isolate the pump from vibration due to the system piping.
Scale buildup Pump vibration occurring at one times the rotation frequency may be due to scale buildup on the rotor. While normal pump
wear may be more uniform, and not heavily contributing to vibration, the buildup and removal of scale is not so uniform. In facilities with
hard water, there are routine de-scaling procedures that can sometimes leave scale deposits attached to areas of the rotor. These deposits
can cause the rotor to be unbalanced and will show up as vibration. Look for vibration just after these de-scaling procedures have taken
place.
Stalling A final word on vibration concerns the common occurrence of "stalling." A liquid ring vacuum pump operates with the development of a liquid ring due to centrifugal force of the spinning rotor. During startup, this ring of water develops as long as the vacuum pump
has a free flow of air from the process.
In some systems, a valve may be closed in the vacuum line, minimizing or eliminating the free flow to the pump during startup. This is
sometimes referred to as starting the pump "dead-headed." If the pump does not get a good airflow, it may only partially develop the liquid ring. This will not allow the pump to operate at typical vacuum levels and may even show up as pulses in the indicated vacuum level.
The pump will vibrate slightly, or in some instances, it will shake enough to crack a concrete foundation. There may even be a random
knocking sound coming from within the pumps. The problem shows up just after the pump has been started and not after it has been
operational for hours or days.
The solution to the stalling problem is to start the vacuum pumps with all vacuum system valves open. Areas of the vacuum system with
vacuum control valves are candidates for stalling if valves are not in proper positions at startup.

NASH

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nash@gardnerdenver.com
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