A closer look determined that the vibrations were not being emitted from the pump, instead it was being affected by vibrations from other equipment as it travelled along the pipes. What can be done to stop rogue vibrations from affecting the pump?
A piping expansion joint might help.
An expansion joint is installed in piping systems for a couple of reasons. Not only can they be used to absorb vibrations and shock, they can also be used to relieve anchor stress, reduce noise, and compensate for misalignment. Certain expansion joints are also designed for thermal expansion in very hot applications.
Expansion joints allow pipes to move in three different ways:
They typically come in three different materials to cover a variety of applications.
Metal – Metal expansion joints are mostly used in applications where thermal expansion is an issue. When the temperature of the pipe increases, the metal expansion joint compresses to compensate for the movement, taking stress off the anchors and the pipe. A metal expansion joint is a prime example of how to handle expanding hot pipes.
Braided – Braided stainless hoses with flexible or metal liners aren't technically an expansion joint, more of a flexible connector. They work well in high pressure and temperature applications requiring vibration dampening or pipe misalignments.
These are often used on pumps and other equipment to help eliminate thrust load on the equipment nozzles due to thermal expansion. Eliminating that load is critical to pump performance.
Braids provide lateral an angular movement. They also absorb vibration rather well.
We described some of the big reasons why expansion joints are helpful in piping systems already, but just to recap:
Your entire process is intertwined, each piece affects the next. Having a reliable piping system is key to a process that maximizes uptime. Carefully managing your piping system not only keeps the pipes in great working condition, but also extends the life of the equipment attached to it.