A high percentage of the pumps brought to us for repair are experiencing a vibration

problem. There are six main causes of pump vibration problems and any one could take
a pump out of service for unplanned and expensive repairs. Read on for tips to help you
determine whether your pump’s poor performance is due to one of these vibration
problems.
1: Pump Cavitation
Pump cavitation is a symptom of insufficient net positive suction head. It occurs when
the absolute pressure of the liquid at the impeller inlet approaches the liquid vapor
pressure, causing pockets to form and collapse as they pass through the impeller.
You can often identify pump cavitation by the sound of the pump – like rocks are
rumbling in the pump or distinctive popping. Beyond excess noise, higher energy
usage and damage to the pump may be observed.
You can prevent cavitation by:
 Checking the filters and strainers for cleanliness
 Using a pressure gauge or flowmeter to reference the pump’s curve
 Reevaluate pump design if the pumped media path is not ideal
2: Bent Pump Shaft
A pump with a bent shaft can cause high axial vibration with axial phase differences that
tend towards 180° on the same rotor. A dominant vibration normally takes place at 1X
RPM if the bend is near the shaft center. It can occur at 2X RPM if it is bent near the
coupling. Bent pump shafts are more likely to happen at or near the coupling.
You can identify a bent pump shaft by using dial indicators.
3: Pump Flow Pulsation
This condition develops when a pump is operating near its shut-off head. Pressure
gauges on the pump’s discharge piping will fluctuate. If the pump uses a discharge
swing check valve, the counter-weight and valve arm will move to indicate unstable
flow.
One of the major causes of pulsation is the lack of proper feed. The pumped media
must maintain contact with the face of the plunger as the plunger is retracted and the
pump is full. If not, the plunger moves forward and impacts the fluid causing unwanted
pulsation. You can help prevent pump flow pulsation by using a suction stabilizer to
keep the fluid in constant contact with the plunger.
Other causes of pump flow pulsation include:
Improper spring rates
 Leaking valves
 Multiple pumps on a common header
 Piping designs that restrict flow
 Worn packing
 4: Pump Impeller Imbalance
Pumps can at times seem as if they are misaligned, have bad bearings, or are
overheating, but the cause is often an imbalance in the pump assembly or another
component. Imbalance also causes vibration and heat buildup. Impellers should be
precision balanced, which has a huge impact on the life of the pump bearings.
If the pump’s impeller is center-hung, force imbalance is more common than couple
imbalance. In this case, the highest vibration will most likely be in the radial direction
with the highest amplitude at pump operating speed (1X RPM). Center-hung impellers
use balanced axial forces on the inboard and outboard bearings. Extensive axial
vibration in impellers is indicative of an obstruction by a foreign object.
The dangers of pump impeller imbalance include:
 Shaft deflection – bent shaft or uncontrolled resonance that can result in deflection
and damage the entire system
 Bearing failure
 Excessive vibration that damages the pump or system
 Failure of the mechanical seals or packing
 Seizing of the pump

5: Pump Bearing Issues

 One of the leading causes of pump vibration problems is bearing failure. This is
because an estimated 10% to 30% of ball bearings are used long enough to
experience normal fatigue failure. For example, an ANSI pump is expected to work
for 20,000 hours; but the bearings may not. Pump bearings can fail due to overload,
excessive wear, weather or substance related corrosion, failure of the lubricant,
overheating, or contamination.
 Pump bearing issues can also be the result of poor bearing selection for the pump
application. If the bearing manufacturer and model number are known, then the fault
frequencies for the outer race, inner race, rolling elements, and cage can be
determined.
 This issue can be prevented by regularly lubricating the bearings with oil mist,
specialty oils, or grease.
6: Misalignment of the Shaft
Because some vibration is normal in pumps, it is best to have a professional repair
technician determine if excessive vibration in a pump is due to shaft misalignment. They
can also tell you if it is severe enough to affect the pump’s performance and reliability.
Shaft misalignment is not easy to detect and difficult to measure externally. There are
no sensors that can be placed on a pump to measure how much force is being used.
Pumps with a misaligned shaft can show any of the following:
 Excessive axial or radial vibration
 High temperatures in the casing or near the bearings
 High temperatures of the discharge oil
 Excessive oil leaks at the bearing seals
 Loose coupling or foundation bolts
 Excessive coupling failures
 Breaking or cracking shafts near the coupling hubs or inboard bearings