Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Trouble Shooting Guide

Problem Identified Cause Effect Corrective Action

EROSION Presence of sand, Accelerated wear of 1. Filter the service liquid.
Characteristics: grit and other impeller blades 2. Add pre-separators at
smooth, clean, abrasive material. especially at the the pump inlet.
grooved surfaces periphery. Premature 3. Select proper pump
and edges. wear of intermediate materials.
plate, center body &
end cover(s).

CORROSION Chemical attack of Accelerated damage of 1. Monitor service liquid pH

Characteristics: wetted pump parts the impeller, & treat as necessary.
Usually uneven, (usually by acidic low intermediate plates, 2. Purge the service liquid
scaled on pH). Sources may be center body & end loop on a regular basis.
blackened surfaces vapors or liquids from cover(s). 3. Look for source of
and edges. Will the process or from corrosives and treat or
occur on all wetted the service liquid. remove.
areas including 4. Change to a pump
impeller blade material e.g. stainless steel,
roots. which will not corrode.

FLOODING THE 1. Service liquid rate Impeller blades fatigue 1. Check the service liquid
PUMP is too high. failure of shaft. Shaft rate for the specific pump.
2. Pump starts deflection in single 2. Piping may be installed
flooded. acting pumps possible, incorrectly. Pump should
3. Carryover from the leading to mechanical drain to the centerline after
process. seal leakage, high shutdown.
motor amperage. 3. Check for proper pump
inlet separation.

CAVITATION 1. Liquid temperature Holes or pitting at the 1. Lower the service liquid
DAMAGE too high. tips and roots of the temperatures or increase
2. Vacuum too high. impeller blade and the flow of service liquid.
intermediate. Grinding 2. Lower the vacuum level.
noise when pump is (increase the pressure)
running.
VIBRATION 1. Incorrect installation of
foundation
2. Poor coupling or V-belt
drive alignment
3. Slugs of water carry-over
to the pump inlet.
4. Piping stress at the inlet
discharge or service liquid
connection s.
5. Pump ingested foreign
material i.e. bolts, nuts,
weld slag.
6. Internal damage due to
cavitation, corrosion, etc.
INGESTION No inlet screens on the
DAMAGE pump or compressor
SCALE Hard service liquids i.e.
lime or mud. Pumps
running hotter will
accelerate this problem.
BEARING 1. Not using the
FAILURE recommended lubricant.
2. Over or under greased.
3. Couplings or V-belt
drives not properly
mounted or aligned.
4. Piping not properly
supported and/or aligned.
5. Water in the bearings.
6. Internal pump
clearances set improperly.
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Broken couplings, worn
V-belt drives or broken
foundation bolts. Pump
bearings may fail
prematurely.
Broken impeller blades or
seized pump.
A. Scaling will close the
internal pump clearances
& cause binding.
B. Scaling will cause a
decrease in pump
performance.
c. Scaling will slowly close
the service liquid lines
and cause the pump to
run warmer.
Seized pump and broken
or damaged bearing
housing.
1. Check with SIHI Pumps Asia on
proper foundation and grouting
procedures.
2. Check alignment or call SIHI
Pumps Asia for assistance.
3. Check for proper pre-separation
4. Add flexible connections if
necessary.
5. Pump should be sent to SIHI
Pumps Asia for repair. Inlet screens
should be installed before pump is
started to insure material does not
enter pump.
6. Repair or replace worn &
damaged parts.
Return pump to SIHI Pumps Asia
for repair evaluation.
Use suitable descaler, but flush
after use. Consult with SIHI Pumps
Asia for recommendations on the
type and quantities.
1. Check the SIHI Pumps Asia
manuals for recommended
lubricant.
2. Check & clean bearings. (replace
if worn)
3. Check alignment & foundations
for proper support.
4. Use flexible connections for
pump inlet, discharge and service
liquid lines.
5. Check mechanical seals or
packing. Shield bearings if
environment is wet.
6. Consult SIHI Pumps Asia for
assembly dimension or return for
repair evaluation.
PUMP RUNS 1. Insufficient service liquid
WARMER THAN flow.
NORMAL 2. Carryover of high
temperature liquids.
3. Carryover of high
temperature gases.
4. Pump RPM may be
higher than recommended.
PUMP LEAKS 1. Leaking packing or
mechanical seal. Note
some leakage is necessary
to keep the packing cool.
(Over tightening will
harden, become hot &
score the pump shaft.)
2. Leakage could be from
the body, body gaskets or
drain plugs. (Sometime s a
result of erosion or
corrosion damage.)
HIGHER THAN 1. Pump is cavitating. 2.
NORMAL PUMP Pump is overloaded with
NOISE liquid. 3. Pump has
ingested foreign material.
4. Bearings are in poor
condition. 5. Pump
coupling or V-belt drive
misalignment.
VACUUM LEVEL 1. Poor piping design.
PROBLEMS Vacuum or compressed air
requirements and pumps
may have been added
without the required piping
upgrades.
2. Warmer than
recommended service
liquid temperatures.
3. Incorrect service liquid
flow.
4. Liquid carryover to the
pump inlet.
5. Improper pump
application.
6. Poor or insufficient
vacuum control.
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Capacity levels for the
vacuum pump or
compressor may decline.
Also the vacuum level
may fall.
Loss of service liquid.
Potential gas leakage
when shut down. In minor
cases this may be a
house keeping problem.
In major cases this may
lead to poor pump
performance or damage
to the pump.
An unusual or high noise
level is an early indication
of a problem. This
problem may lead to
pump damage or failure.
Potential vibration
concerns.
Vacuum levels that are
usually lower than
required.
1. Check the manuals or call SIHI
Pumps Asia for the proper service
liquid flow.
2. Check for proper pre-separation
or call a SIHI technician.
3. High gas temperatures may be a
process condition that may be
unavoidable. Adjust service liquid
flow as required. Call SIHI Pumps
Asia if problem persists.
4. Check the pump RPM for the
service. Call if necessary.
1. Check packing and tighten or
check & replace mechanical seal.
Service liquid or contaminates from
the process can coat or abrade
mechanical seal faces.
2. Check the source of the leak.
Repair may be necessary.
1. Cavitation can be a complex
problem. Consult with SIHI Pumps
Asia for solutions.
2. Check for proper service liquid
flow. Also check for good inlet pre-
separation.
3. Stop the pump immediately.
Disassemble and inspect or send
the pump to SIHI Pumps Asia for
repair evaluation.
4. Inspect bearings. See the subject
of bearing failures.
5. Coupling and V-belt drive
alignment must be checked.
1. See the section dedicated to
piping design.
2. The addition of heat exchangers,
cooling towers or chillers may be
required. Consult with SIHI Pumps
Asia. 3. Check the manuals or call
SIHI Pumps Asia for proper service
liquid flow.
4. Check for proper pre-separation.
5. Check application needs and call
SIHI Pumps Asia for assistance.
6. Consult with SIHI Pumps Asia for
sizing and selection of relief valves
or revised vacuum control needs.
SIHI Pumps Asia Service & Repair
Our service fully supports the customer during the lifetime of the application

SIHI Pumps Asia - A Member of the Sterling Fluid

Systems Group - design and manufacture liquid pumps,
vacuum pumps, compressors and engineered systems
for many applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical,
power, water/waste water, food/beverage, plastic, steel,
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SIHI Pumps Asia meet all your pump service

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others.

SIHI Pumps Asia established throughout the Asia / Pacific region a strong local service network of
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Our service solutions not only extend the working life of the equipment, but bring a range of other
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♦ Reduced down-time
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SIHI Pumps Asia supply for all volume products parts needed for a basic or extended repair on hand
a complete repair solution in one convenient kit. Our repair kits consist of a basic repair kit (all you
need for a basic repair) as well as an advanced (shaft) kit.

For non volume products a rush order process is defined to deliver swiftly shafts and other parts to
the customer site. In-house repair is available whit free extended warranty.

SIHI Pumps spare part kit benefits include:

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Contact SIHI Pumps Asia

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