SIHI LIQUID RING VACUUM PUMP TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE

IDENTIFIED
CAUSE EFFECT CORRECTIVE ACTION
PROBLEM
EROSION Presence of sand, Accelerated wear of 1. Filter the service
grit and other impeller blades liquid.
Characteristics: abrasive material. especially at the
smooth, clean, periphery. Premature 2. Add pre-separators at
grooved wear of intermediate the pump inlet.
surfaces and plate, centerbody &
edges. endcover(s). 3. Select proper pump
materials.

CORROSION Chemical attack of Accelerated damage 1. Monitor service liquid

wetted pump parts of the impeller, pH & treat as
Characteristics: (usually by acidic intermediate plates, necessary.
Usually low pH). Sources center body &
uneven, scaled may be vapors or endcover(s). 2. Purge the service
on blackened liquids from the liquid loop on a regular
surfaces and process or from the basis.
edges. Will service liquid.
occur on all 3. Look for source of
wetted areas corrosives and treat or
including remove.
impeller blade
roots. 4. Change to a pump
material e.g. stainless
steel, that will not
corrode.

FLOODING 1. Service Impeller blades 1. Check the service

THE PUMP liquid rate fatigue failure of liquid rate for the
is too high. shaft. Shaft deflection specific pump.
in single acting
pumps possible,
2. Pump leading to 2. Piping may be
starts mechanical seal installed incorrectly.
flooded. leakage, high motor Pump should drain to
amperage. the centerline after
shutdown.

3. Check for proper

pump inlet separation.
3. Carryover
from the
process.

CAVITATION 1. Liquid Holes or pitting at the 1. Lower the service

DAMAGE temperatur tips and roots of the liquid temperatures or
e too high. impeller blade and increase the flow of
intermediate. service liquid.
Grinding noise when
2. Vacuum pump is running. 2. Lower the vacuum
too high. level. (increase the
pressure)
VIBRATION 1. Incorrect Broken couplings, 1. Check with Sterling
installation worn V-belt drives or SIHI on proper
of broken foundation foundation and
foundation bolts. grouting procedures.

Pump bearings may 2. Check alignment or

2. Poor fail prematurely. call Sterling SIHI for
coupling or assistance.
V-belt drive
alignment
3. Check for proper pre-
separation
3. Slugs of
water
carry-over 4. Add flexible
to the connections if
pump inlet. necessary.

4. Piping
stress at
the inlet 5. Pump should be sent
discharge to Sterling SIHI for
or service repair. Inlet screens
liquid should be installed
connection before pump is started
s. to insure material does
not enter pump.
5. Pump
ingested
foreign 6. Repair or replace worn
material i.e. & damaged parts.
bolts, nuts,
weld slag.

6. Internal
damage
due to
cavitation,
corrosion,
etc.

INGESTION No inlet screens on Broken impeller Return pump to Sterling SIHI

DAMAGE the pump or blades or seized for repair evaluation.
compressor pump.
SCALE Hard service liquids a. Scaling will Use suitable descaler, but
i.e. lime or mud. close the flush after use. Consult with
Pumps running internal Sterling SIHI for recommend-
hotter will pump ations on the type and
accelerate this clearances & quantities.
problem. cause
binding.

b. Scaling will
cause a
decrease in
pump
 performance.

c. Scaling will
slowly close
the service
liquid lines
and cause
the pump to
run warmer.

BEARING 1. Not using Seized pump and 1. Check the Sterling

FAILURE the broken or damaged SIHI manuals for
recommen bearing housing. recommended
ded lubricant.
lubricant.
2. Check & clean
bearings. (replace if
worn)
2. Over or
under
greased. 3. Check alignment &
foundations for proper
support.
3. Couplings
or V-belt
drives not
properly 4. Use flexible
mounted or connections for pump
aligned. inlet, discharge and
service liquid lines.
4. Piping not
properly
supported 5. Check mechanical
and/or seals or packing.
aligned. Shield bearings if
environment is wet.

5. Water in 6. Consult Sterling SIHI

the for assembly
bearings. dimension or return for
repair evaluation.

6. Internal
pump
clearances
set
improperly.
PUMP RUNS 1. Insufficient Capacity levels for 1. Check the manuals or
WARMER service the vacuum pump or call Sterling SIHI for
THAN liquid flow. compressor may the proper service
NORMAL decline. Also the liquid flow.
vacuum level may
2. Carryover fall. 2. Check for proper pre-
of high separation or call a
temperatur Sterling SIHI
e liquids. technician.

3. Carryover 3. High gas temperatures

of high may be a process
temperatur condition that may be
e gases. unavoidable. Adjust
service liquid flow as
required. Call Sterling
SIHI if problem
persists.

4. Pump RPM 4. Check pump RPM for

may be the service. Call if
higher than necessary.
recommen
ded.

PUMP LEAKS 1. Leaking Loss of service liquid. 1. Check packing and

packing or Potential gas leakage tighten or check &
mechanical when shut down. In replace mechanical
seal. Note minor cases this may seal. Service liquid or
some be a house keeping contaminates from the
leakage is problem. In major process can coat or
necessary cases this may lead abrade mechanical
to keep the to poor pump seal faces.
packing performance or
cool. (Over damage to the pump.
tightening
will harden,
become
hot & score
the pump
shaft.)
2. Check the source of
2. Leakage the leak. Repair may
could be be necessary.
from the
body, body
gaskets or
drain plugs.
(Sometime
s a result of
erosion or
corrosion
damage.)
 HIGHER 1. Pump is An unusual or high 1. Cavitation can be a
THAN cavitating. noise level is an early complex problem.
NORMAL indication of a Consult with Sterling
PUMP NOISE problem. This SIHI for solutions.
problem may lead to
pump damage or
failure. Potential 2. Check for proper
2. Pump is vibration concerns. service liquid flow.
overloaded Also check for good
with liquid. inlet pre-separation.

3. Stop the pump

3. Pump has immediately. Dis-
ingested assemble and inspect
foreign or send the pump to
material. Sterling SIHI for repair
evaluation.

4. Inspect bearings. See

4. Bearings the subject of bearing
are in poor failures.
condition.
5. Coupling and V-belt
5. Pump drive alignment must
coupling or be checked.
V-belt drive
misalignme
nt.

VACUUM 1. Poor piping Vacuum levels that 1. See the section

LEVEL design. are usually lower dedicated to piping
PROBLEMS Vacuum or than required. design.
compresse
d air
requiremen
ts and
pumps may
have been
added
without the
required
piping
upgrades.

2. Warmer 2. The addition of heat

than exchangers, cooling
recommen towers or chillers may
ded service be required. Consult
liquid with Sterling SIHI.
temperatur
es. 3. Check the manuals or
call Sterling SIHI for
proper service liquid
3. Incorrect flow.
service
liquid flow. 4. Check for proper pre-
separation.

4. Liquid
 carryover 5. Check application
to the needs and call Sterling
pump inlet. SIHI for assistance.

5. Improper 6. Consult with Sterling

pump SIHI for sizing and
application. selection of relief
valves or revised
vacuum control needs.
6. Poor or
insufficient
vacuum
control.