Troubleshooting and performing pump vibration testing on a new oil tanker pumping station in Colombia consisting of 4 screw pumps. Specialized testing revealed that piping natural frequencies were to blame.
- Problem Statement (Challenge)
- What (type of machine): Oil Tanker Pumping Station Screw Pump
- Where (State/ Country): Colombia
- Why (problem/reason): Identify reason(s) for high vibration causing damage to a new oil pumping station installation made up of four screw pumps.
- Work Performed
- Results/ Solution
- Findings: A group of modes was identified within 15% of the 1xN, 2xN, and 4xN (lobe passing frequency) pump running speed, representing resonance conditions that could result in vibration-related reliability issues occurring.
- Impact: Finite Element results indicated that adding piping supports at strategic locations would result in separation margins greater than 15% separation. The proposed modification provided a practical level of protection relative to vibration-related reliability issues due to a resonance condition.
ProE model with constraints.
