Split Casing Pump Troubleshooting Guide
Split Casing PumpTroubleshooting Guide
If you are experiencing issues with your Split Casing Pump, the below guide can help you diagnose any issues, or speak to one of our Technical Sales Engineers who will provide assistance in diagnosing your issue:
Problem | Possible Cause | Remedy |
Zero Flow after Startup | Air in Pump or Suction Pipework | Ensure Pump and Pipework are Completely Filled with Liquid. Pump can not prime with air in suction line. |
Suction Lift Too High | Check Inlet for obstruction. If there is not an obstruction calculate friction losses. If static lift is too high the liquid in the suction tank must be raised or pump lowered | |
Insufficient Manometric Head | Actual head with friction losses is higher than pump design. Calculate head and friction losses in discharge. Check all valves are open. To correct increase pipe diameter, or increase impeller diameter, motor power or pump. | |
Operation is Reversed | Check motor direction of rotation is in the direction of arrow on pump casing | |
Speed Incorrect | Check supply voltage and frequency. Motor may also have open phase | |
Impeller, strainer or check valve clogged | Clean impeller, valve and strainer | |
Flow Decreases or None at All | Air ingress through shaft seal, suction piping, suction port. Pump lifts liquid with air. | Check suction pipework for leaks, including all joints and fittings. Check shaft seal and if necessary, increase pressure of sealing liquid. Check depth of suction pipework or valve in liquid and deepen if required. Check inlet tank for signs of vortex. |
Air pocket in suction pipe | Check angle of suction line and ensure there is no possibility for an air pocket and if so ensure air eliminator valves are fitted | |
Increase of Manometric Head | Check valves are fully open and there are no obstructions in discharge pipe | |
Impeller, strainer or check valve clogged | Clean impeller, valve and strainer | |
Driver Overloaded | Pump operating at lower manometric head | The actual head is lower than originally specified. Reduce impeller size to diameter advised by supplier or utilise an inverter to reduce pump speed |
Speed too high | Decrease pump rotational speed or trim impeller to required size | |
Mechanical Friction inside pump | Check pump rotor for any obstruction or deflection | |
Packing wound too tight | Loosen nuts on packing gland | |
Coupling Alignment | Check coupling rubber and realign pump and coupling | |
Density or viscosity of the liquid pumped is higher than originally advised | Increase motor size | |
Motor Defects | Check for motor defects. May not be ventilated correctly and be in a poor location | |
Bearings Overheating | Poor Coupling Alignment | Check coupling rubber and realign pump and coupling |
Bearing Covers too tight | Check and loosen if necessary, bearing cover | |
Pumped flow is less than minimum safe continuous flow | Increase flow. If necessary, use by-pass recirculating valve or line | |
Too much grease | Remove excess grease | |
Insufficient lubrication or lubricating oil / grease dirty or contaminated | Check the amount of oil/grease. Clean the bearings, bearing housing and lubricate | |
Vibration | Partially clogged impeller | Clean Impeller |
Worn or defective impeller | Replace impeller | |
Poor Coupling Alignment | Check coupling rubber and realign pump and coupling | |
Oblique Shaft | Check shaft and replace if required | |
Unbalanced parts | Check and rebalance parts if required | |
Noise level high | Air in liquid | Suction pipe needs to be submerged to ensure vortexes are not created on the surface of the liquid.
Check liquid level in suction pipe or increase depth of suction pipe. |
Pump working in cavitation area | NPSH is too low. Check liquid level in suction tank, check suction losses. Check valve in suction line and ensure fully open. Increase suction head by lowering pump. | |
Pump operating outside of duty range | Check duty point |