Frequent failures to five units of the four-stage vertical pumps, on Malaysian offshore oil platform, were investigated. Modes of failures were due to premature damage to mechanical seals, broken shafts, and flange interface originating from excessive vibration. Techniques implemented for the investigation include failure analysis through visual inspection, machine maintenance history, vibration spectral trending, and operation deflection shape. It was concluded that, a relatively weak coupling housing initiated lateral movements of the machine, resulted in concentric wear on the impeller wear rings. As the wear increases, the shaft wobbled, thus generating 'rubs' between the bush bearing and the shaft sleeve, which eventually causes breakdowns. It is recommended that the coupling housing to be stiffened by increasing the housing thickness or by restraining the motor drive end section to the floor using restraining members, typically in four directions, to minimise the lateral movements.
Investigation on the recurrent failures of vertical pumps on an offshore oil platform using vibration analysis
Untersuchung der sich wiederholenden Fehler der Tauchpumpen auf einer Offshore-Ölplattform mit Hilfe der Schwingungsanalyse
1998
6 Seiten, 8 Bilder, 6 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Fatigue failures in pumps – part 2
Online Contents | 2008
|Fatigue failures in pumps – part 1
Online Contents | 2008
|Fatigue failures in pumps – part 3
Online Contents | 2008
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