V2I6P38

Condition-Based Maintenance Optimization of Centrifugal Pumps Using Vibration Analysis Approach

Ahmad Haruna Muhammad^1*, Samora Nuhu Sada¹

Abstract

Industrial machinery reliability can be enhanced by understanding the underlying root causes of system failures and implementing a robust maintenance strategy. Failures and maintenance activities data are always available in industries; however, proper and effective failure causes analysis is still lagging. As such, the benefits of maintenance strategy could not be realized, which has contributed to high operational and maintenance costs in production and manufacturing firms. This research work focuses on the maintenance optimization of centrifugal pumps used in Nigerian refineries to transport heavy petroleum products. In this study, The Griswold pump (101-PM-2A) was used, and its operational data was obtained from Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, Ekpan (WRPC). The maintenance optimization method used in this research was Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The finite element analysis result showed that the vibration values of 28.858Hz are potentially safe to the pump as this is the value of the least natural frequency of one of the components (impeller) of the pump system. It is highly recommended that the operation of the pump has to be halted should a vibration reading close to 29Hz be registered on the vibrometer. The findings: optimized frequency values of 28.83Hz, inlet vibration value of 45.2 Hz, outlet vibration value of 45.35 Hz and volute vibration value of 44.99 Hz of this study, would be useful to maintenance practitioners and researchers toward achieving reliable operations.

Keywords:

Centrifugal pump, impeller, volute, vibration, optimization