If you are experiencing issues with your Progressing Cavity Pump, the below guide can help you diagnose any issues, or speak to one of our Technical Sales Engineers for further assistance:
Problem Possible Cause Remedy
Adhesion between Stator and Rotor due to prolonged period of Rotor & Stator Adhesion. inactivity. Lubricate rotor and stator with glycerin, or inert oil. Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure Pump Will not Start on outlet Blockage Open inspection port to remove solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Sedimentation / During inactivity sendimentation Crystallization or crystallization is occurring. Flush pump, disassemble and clean Frozen Fluid Temperature is too low with fluid freezing within pump. Ensure pump is protected from elements, drain when not in use or install trace heating. Stator Incompatible with Check chemical compatibility fluid Incorrect pump speed Check pump speed. Verify power absorbed, frequency, voltage and rpm. Viscosity too high Check against original pump specification Gland Packing Gland packing worn too tight and requires loosening Inverter Settings Check starting torque of motor is correct as on initial startup power absorbed can be high Blockage Open inspection port to remove solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Sedimentation / During inactivity sendimentation Crystallization or crystallization is occurring. Flush pump, disassemble and clean Air Ingress Air Ingress through Seal or inlet pipework. Refit/replace seal. Tighten bolts on joints. Frozen Fluid Temperature is too low with fluid Pump not creating suction freezing within pump. Ensure pump is protected from elements, drain when not in use or install trace heating. Suction Head too high Check inlet pressure, check inlet filter, check suction line is fully open. Low Pump Speed Pump speed too low for low viscosity fluids, and amounts to transfer too large. High Pump Speed Pump speed too high with viscous liquid. Risk of cavitation Direction of rotation Check direction of rotation is inline with arrow on name plate. Check drive coupling NPSH Check NPSHA meets NPSHR. Increase fluid level, lower viscosity, increase pipe suction diameter, reduce pump speed Dry Running Partially or fully running dry. Install dry protection probe Stator Worn Replace Rotor Worn Replace High Viscosity Check against pump specification Gland Packing Gland packing worn too tight and requires loosening Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure on outlet Blockage Open inspection port to remove solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Air Ingress Air Ingress through Seal or inlet pipework. Refit/replace seal. Tighten bolts on joints. Suction Head too high Check inlet pressure, check inlet filter, check suction line is fully open. Air Pockets Air pockets within fluid. Check system. Slow pump, increase level Flow Rate Incorrect of fluid in tank, or deepen suction pipework. Low Pump Speed Pump speed too low for low viscosity fluids, and amounts to transfer too large. Dry Running Partially or fully running dry. Install dry protection probe Stator Worn Replace Rotor Worn Replace Transmission Broken or Check and repair where needed Faulty Incorrect pump speed Check pump speed. Verify power absorbed, frequency, voltage and rpm. High Viscosity Check against pump specification Gland Packing Gland packing worn too tight and requires loosening Mechanical Seal Check seal faces for wear. Check seal compression. Replace worn items. Seal System Pump Seal System is unsuitable and requires changing. Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure on outlet Air Ingress Air Ingress through Seal or inlet pipework. Refit/replace seal. Tighten bolts on joints. Suction Head too high Check inlet pressure, check inlet filter, check suction line is fully Uneven Flow open. Air Pockets Air pockets within fluid. Check system. Slow pump, increase level of fluid in tank, or deepen suction pipework. High Pump Speed Pump speed too high with viscous liquid. Risk of cavitation Dry Running Partially or fully running dry. Install dry protection probe Stator Worn Replace Rotor Worn Replace High Viscosity Check against pump specification Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Air Ingress Air Ingress through Seal or inlet pipework. Refit/replace seal. Tighten bolts on joints. Suction Head too high Check inlet pressure, check inlet filter, check suction line is fully open. High Pump Speed Pump speed too high with viscous liquid. Risk of cavitation NPSH Check NPSHA meets NPSHR. Excessive Pump Vibration Increase fluid level, lower viscosity, increase pipe suction diameter, reduce pump speed Drive Shaft Verify drive shaft movement. Transmission bush may be fitted incorrectly Stator Worn Replace Rotor Worn Replace Transmission Broken or Check and repair where needed Faulty Bearings Worn Replace Bearings Incorrect pump speed Check pump speed. Verify power absorbed, frequency, voltage and rpm. Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure on outlet Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor Pump Seized or Stopped Blockage Open inspection port to remove pumping solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Sedimentation / During inactivity sendimentation Crystallization or crystallization is occurring. Flush pump, disassemble and clean Drive Shaft Verify drive shaft movement. Transmission bush may be fitted incorrectly Dry Running Partially or fully running dry. Install dry protection probe Stator Worn Replace Rotor Worn Replace Transmission Broken or Check and repair where needed Faulty Bearings Worn Replace Bearings High Viscosity Check against pump specification Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure on outlet Blockage Open inspection port to remove solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Sedimentation / During inactivity sendimentation Crystallization or crystallization is occurring. Flush pump, disassemble and clean Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor Suction Head too high Check inlet pressure, check inlet filter, check suction line is fully open.
High Pump Speed Pump speed too high with viscous
liquid. Risk of cavitation
NPSH Check NPSHA meets NPSHR.
Increase fluid level, lower
viscosity, increase pipe suction
diameter, reduce pump speed Stator Damage Dry Running Partially or fully running dry. Install dry protection probe Stator Worn Replace Stator Incompatible with Check chemical compatibility fluid Incorrect pump speed Check pump speed. Verify power absorbed, frequency, voltage and rpm. Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure on outlet Blockage Open inspection port to remove solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Sedimentation / During inactivity sendimentation Crystallization or crystallization is occurring. Rotor Damage Flush pump, disassemble and clean Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor High Pump Speed Pump speed too high with viscous liquid. Risk of cavitation NPSH Check NPSHA meets NPSHR. Increase fluid level, lower viscosity, increase pipe suction diameter, reduce pump speed Rotor Worn Replace Rotor Incompatible with Check chemical compatibility fluid Incorrect pump speed Check pump speed. Verify power absorbed, frequency, voltage and rpm. Blockage Open inspection port to remove solids, if not possible to remove all, disassemble pump and clean Solid Size Solid size is too large for pump. Reduce pump speed or install filter on suction Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will Seal Leakage suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor High Pump Speed Pump speed too high with viscous liquid. Risk of cavitation Direction of rotation Check direction of rotation is inline with arrow on name plate. Check drive coupling High Viscosity Check against pump specification Gland Packing Gland packing worn too tight and requires loosening Mechanical Seal Check seal faces for wear. Check seal compression. Replace worn items. Seal System Pump Seal System is unsuitable and requires changing. Adhesion between Stator Adhesion between Stator and and Rotor Rotor due to prolonged period of inactivity. Lubricate rotor and stator with glycerine, or inert oil. Increase pump size or motor size. Excess Pressure on Outlet Change piping configuration / system set up to reduce pressure Drive Motor Generating on outlet Heat Fluid Temperature Clearances between rotor and stator are minute. If fluid is outside pump design range, stator will suffer thermal expansion and burn against the rotor Incorrect pump speed Check pump speed. Verify power absorbed, frequency, voltage and rpm. Gland Packing Gland packing worn too tight and requires loosening Insufficient Pressure Stator Worn Replace Rotor Worn Replace