GPA Midstream Publication C CP-19

Operations Daily Check List:

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Centrifugal Pumps
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Prepared by:
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GPA Midstream Facility Design, Operations, and Maintenance Committee
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GPA Midstream Association

Sixty Sixty American Plaza, Suite 700
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
 DISCLAIMER
GPA Midstream Association publications necessarily address problems of a general nature and
may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by GPA Midstream to
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It is not the intent of GPA Midstream to assume the duties of employers, manufacturers, or
suppliers to warn and properly train employees, or others exposed, concerning health and safety
risks or precautions. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by
trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply

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endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by GPA Midstream.
GPA Midstream makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this
publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage
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resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state or municipal regulation with which
this publication may conflict, or for any infringement of letters of patent regarding apparatus,
equipment, or method so covered.
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“Copyright© 2019 by GPA Midstream Association. All rights reserved.

No part of this Report may be reproduced without the written consent
of GPA Midstream Association.”
 ABSTRACT

This Checklist is designed to serve as a guide for Operations and Maintenance personnel and
others who are charged with monitoring and maintaining centrifugal pumps. By referring to this
list, those involved in the operation of centrifugal pumps may be made cognizant of most of the
major items that should be monitored and checked when operating this type of equipment.

This guide is prepared using categories normally required for centrifugal pumps systems
operation and maintenance. An effort was made to prepare the checklists in a manner to make
them useful for Operations and Maintenance personnel, or anyone else whose job function
includes the application of centrifugal pumps.

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Task
Ensure Pump is Flowing Liquid
Ensure Pump is Flowing Rated Capacity
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Check Discharge Pressure
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Ensure Pump Does Not Lose its Prime After Starting
Check for Normal Load on Motor or Driver
GPSA Engineering Data Book, 13th Edition, Chapter 12 - Pumps and Hydraulic Turbines, Fig-2-16: Check List for Centrifugal Pump Troubles and Causes
Operations Daily Checklist:
Centrifugal Pumps
Potential Issues
Failure to Deliver Liquid:
- Wrong Direction of Rotation
- Pump Not Primed
- Suction Line Not Filled With Liquid
- Air or Vapor Pocket in Suction Line
- Inlet to Suction Pipe not Sufficiently Submerged
- Available NPSH Not Sufficient
- Pump Not Up to Rated Speed
- Total Head Required Greater Than Head Which Pump is Capable of Delivering
- Driver Power Inadequate
- Low Voltage to Driver
Pump does not deliver rated capacity:
- See Items Above for Failure to Deliver Liquid
- Foot Valve Too Small
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- Viscosity of Liquid Greater Than That for Which Pump is Designed
- Mechanical Defects:
(a) Wearing Rings Worn
(b) Impeller Damaged
(c) Internal Leakage Resulting from Defective Gaskets
- Discharge Valve Not Fully Opened
- Discharge Piping Undersized
- Driver Power Inadequate
Pump Does Not Develop Rated Discharge Pressure:
- Gas or Vapor in Liquid
- Pump Not Up to Rated Speed
- Viscosity Greater Than Pump was Designed For
- Wrong Rotation
- Mechanical Defects (Same as Above)
- Driver Power Inadequate
- Suction Line Not Filled with Liquid
- Air Leaks in Suction Line or Stuffing Boxes
- Gas or Vapor in Liquid
- Air or Vapor Pockets in Suction Line
- Inlet to Suction Pipe Not Sufficiently Submerged
- Available NPSH Not Sufficient
- Liquid Seal Piping to Lantern Ring Plugged
- Lantern Ring Not Properly Located in Stuffing Box
- Insufficient Fluid Volume to Feed Pump
Pump Overloads Driver:
- Speed Too High
- Head Exceeding Design Discharge Head
- Flow Exceeding Design Flow Rate
- Low Voltage to Driver
- Excessive Recirculation
- Either or Both the Specific Gravity and Viscosity of Liquid Different From That for Which Pump is
Rated
- Mechanical Defects:
(a) Misalignment
(b) Shaft Bent
(c) Rotating Element Dragging
(d) Packing Too Tight
References:
 Operations Daily Checklist:
Centrifugal Pumps
Task Potential Issues
High Vibration:
- Starved Suction
(a) Gas or Vapor in Liquid
(b) Available NPSH Not Sufficient
(c) Inlet to SuctionLline Not Sufficiently Submerged
(d) Gas or Vapor Pockets in Suction Line
- Misalignment
Check Vibration Levels - Worn or Loose Bearings
- Rotor Out of Balance
(a) Impeller Plugged
(b) Impeller Damaged
- Shaft Bent
- Improper Location of Control Valve in Discharge Line
- Foundation Not Rigid

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- Incorrect Rotation
High Temperature:
- Packing Too Tight
- Packing Not Lubricated
Check Stuffing Box Temperature
AF - Wrong Grade of Packing
- Insufficient Cooling Water to Jackets
- Box Improperly Packed

High Temperature:
- Oil Level Too Low
- Improper or poor grade of oil
- Dirt in bearings
- Dirt in oil
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- Moisture in oil
Check Bearing Temperatures - Oil cooler clogged or scaled
- Failure of oiling system
- Insufficient cooling water circulation
- Insufficient cooling air
- Bearings too tight
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- Misalignment

Bearings wear rapidly:

- Misalignment
- Shaft Bent
- Vibration
- Excessive Thrust Resulting From Mechanical Failure Inside the Pump
- Lack of Lubrication
Check for Signs of Premature Bearing Wear
- Bearings Improperly Installed
- Dirt in Bearings
- Moisture in Oil
- Excessive or Insufficient Cooling of Bearings
- Overspeed
- Overloaded system

References:
GPSA Engineering Data Book, 13th Edition, Chapter 12 - Pumps and Hydraulic Turbines, Fig-2-16: Check List for Centrifugal Pump Troubles and Causes