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When imbalance occurs due to improper assembly or manufacturing error of the impeller,
the flow in the systems is as well be precarious because of the low-frequency macro instabilities
blade passing frequency pseudo-turbulence and high frequency movements (Shi, 2014). These
deviated, unsteady fluid movements apply an imbalanced and shaky load on the impeller and
prompt momentary deflections of the shaft and the impeller. Whenever a centrifugal pump works
away from its best efficiency point, a siral power is created that will attempt to bend the shaft
(McNally Institute, 2018).
The vibrations in the direction of axial and radial will be high due to the shaft bending
but the higher vibrations goes to axial than the radial vibrations (Taneja, 2013). When the shaft
bent, it will cause vibration which leads to a shorter lifespan of a centrifugal pump. Vibration can
be an indication that a pump is truly failing in performing its functions. Vibration can harm wear
rings, bushing, impellers and bolts associating the pump and the motor (UK Crest Pumps, 2014).
The vibrations in the system will cause the impeller to crack during the pump operation.
The crack surface will look smooth and generally plastic disfigured because of the surface
grinding when the pump is operating (Po, 2013). Crack that occurs to an impeller will oxidize
and lead to corrosion before the impeller totally lost its role in pumping system.
.
3 Possible SHM Techniques To Monitor The Functional Failures of The Impeller
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) aims to give, at every moment during the life of a structure,
a diagnosis of the “state” of the constituent materials, of the different parts, and of the fully
assembly of these parts constituting the structure as a whole. The state of the structure must
remain in the domain specified in the design, although this can be altered by normal aging due to
usage, by the action of the environment, and by accidental events. (Daniel BALAGEAS)
The three (3) possible SHM techniques to monitor the functional failures of the impeller are:
1) Proximity analysis
2) Ultrasonic leak detection
3) Broadband vibration analysis
1) Proximity analysis
Conditions monitored Leaks and other sources of very high frequency noise
Disadvantages Does not indicate size of crack and underground tanks can
only be tested under vacuum
Jami, A. (2016) ‘Impeller Fault Detection Under Fluctuating Flow Conditions Using Artificial
Neural Networks’.
Kalmegh, A. and Bhaskar, S. (2012) ‘Dynamic Balancing of Centrifugal Pump Impeller’,
International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, 2(6), pp. 1–5.
Available at: http://www.ijetae.com/files/Volume2Issue6/IJETAE_0612_73.pdf.
Kar, N. K. et al. (2015) ‘Failure analysis of a polymer centrifugal impeller’, Case Studies in
Engineering Failure Analysis. Elsevier Ltd., 4, pp. 1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.csefa.2015.03.001.
Stan, M. et al. (2018) ‘Centrifugal Pump Monitoring and Determination of Pump Characteristic
Curves Using Experimental and Analytical Solutions’, Processes, 6(2), p. 18. doi:
10.3390/pr6020018.
Khin Cho Thin. 2008. Design and performance analysis of centrifugal pumps, Proc World
Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Vol 36 Dec 2008 issn 2070-3740.
Shi, D. et al. (2014) ‘Effect of the impeller imbalance on the bending moment acting on a shaft
in a stirred vessel’, Chemical Engineering Research and Design. Institution of Chemical
Engineers, 92(11), pp. 2191–2200. doi: 10.1016/j.cherd.2013.12.027.
Jami, A. (2016) ‘Impeller Fault Detection Under Fluctuating Flow Conditions Using Artificial
Neural Networks’.
Bachus, L. and Custodio, A. 2003. Know and Understand Centrifugal Pumps. Elsevier,
U.K