Operational modal analysis on a pump operating at varying speeds: an industrial history case

¹ École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Qc, H3C 1K3, Canada
² Ville de Montréal - Station d’épuration, Montréal, Qc, H1C 1V3, Canada

^a Corresponding author: marc.thomas@etsmtl.ca

Received: 3 April 2015
Accepted: 18 June 2015

Abstract

Industrial hydraulic pumps are complex structures on which vibrations can be harmful for reliability, fatigue of components and productivity. The application of vibration analysis and diagnosis on a huge water treatment pump at the City of Montreal’s facility is presented in this paper. By using a Short Time Auto-Regressive (STAR) method combined with a modal test, it is seen that the dynamic properties and behavior of the pump included both rotating and fixed structures can be evaluated from the experimental analysis on the vibration measurement signal during its normal working condition. Natural frequencies, damping ratios and rotating speed can be clearly identified and monitored. It is shown that the analysis and diagnosis from operational vibration measurement is a very effective technique for the assessment of the huge machines in real working condition.