Centrifugal Pumps Vibration

Causes of Mechanical Vibration

Main causes of mechanical vibrations are:

Bad bearings
Shaft beanding
Unbalanced rotor
Misalignment
Soft foot
Clogged Impeller or suction line
Piping stresses
Thermal growth of pump parts
Looseness of foundation bolts and maximum impeller size
Operating pump at other than best efficiency point (BEP)
Internal recirculation
Water hammer.

Vibration causes

Noise
Turblance in pumps
Premature failures of pump parts etc

This documents carries vibration limits of centrifugal pumps according to various

standards and way to measure vibration according to API-610 Eleventh Edition

Vibration limits for Centrifugal Pumps

S/N
o

Standard

ANSI/API
STANDARD
610
ELEVENTH
EDITION,
SEPTEMBE
R 2010

ANSI B-73

ISO 9908 Technical

specification
for
centrifugal
pumps
Class 3

Pump
Type

Location
of
vibration
measure
ment
Pump

Over hung
and
Between
Bearing

Bearing
Housing

verticallysuspended

Pump
thrust
bearing
housing or
motor
mounting
flange

End
Suction

single
stage,
multistage,
horizontal
or
vertical
constructio
n (coupled
or close
coupled)

Bearing
Housing

Antifriction
Bearing
Type

For all types

For all types

RPM'S

Load
(KW)

Other Parameters

Vibration
RMS
(mm/sec)

Vibration Peak
(mm/sec)

Up to
3600 RPM

Up to 300
KW (400
hp)

N/A

4.24

N/A

7.07

Less than
20HP (15
KW)

N/A

4.24

More than
100HP
(75 KW)

N/A

4.6

6.5

Centerline heights
below 225 mm (Height
from base plate to shaft
centerline for horizontal
pump)

2.8

3.95

4.5

6.36

4.5

6.36

7.1

10.04

Rigid Horizontal
= 3.0
Flexible
horizontal = 5.50
All Vertical =
7.10
Rigid Horizontal
= 4.5
Flexible
horizontal = 7.10
All Vertical =
7.10

Rigid Horizontal =
4.24
Flexible horizontal
= 7.70
All Vertical =
10.04
Rigid Horizontal =
6.36
Flexible horizontal
= 10.04
All Vertical =
10.04

Vibration at any flow

within the pump's
preferred operating
region

N/A

Up to
1800 RPM

Bearing
Housing

For all types

Between
1800 RPM
and 4500
RPM

ISO 5199

single
stage,
multistage,
horizontal
or vertical
constructio
n

Bearing
Housing

N/A

For all types

with any
drive and
any
installatio
n for
general
applicatio
n

N/A

with any
drive and
any
installatio
n for
general
applicatio
n

Centerline heights
above 225 mm (Height
from base plate to shaft
centerline for horizontal
pump)
Centerline heights
below 225 mm (Height
from base plate to shaft
centerline for horizontal
pump)
Centerline heights
above 225 mm (Height
from base plate to shaft
centerline for horizontal
pump)
Centerline heights
below 225 mm (Height
from base plate to shaft
centerline for horizontal
pump)
Centerline heights
Above 225 mm (Height
from base plate to shaft
centerline for horizontal
pump)