Condition Monitoring of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Pressure Measurements

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is the investigation of condition of centrifugal pumps via pressure signals. Instead of vibration measurement on the housings that is widely used in industry, our method is based on pressure signal measurement on the pressure side of the pump. Fourier transforming such a signal can get us to make conclusions about the behavior of the pump. By changing the operating point along a characteristic curve, we can create waterfall diagrams that provide useful information about the pump at constant rotational speed. For example, it is possible to differentiate the mechanical and the hydrodynamical effects predicting the occurrence of many constructional failures (such as unbalance, angular misalignment, bearing misalignment, motor instability, etc.); thus, preventing heavy damage of the equipment.