Pumps & Systems, August 2007

Even when a redundant pumping system is in place, it can be advisable to monitor the condition of the operating units in critical applications where maintaining production depends on motor-pump reliability.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

Bigger Is Better-Or At Least It Used To Be

Owing partly to tradition, the shafts of electric motors are often larger than those of the equipment they drive. Engineers were very conservative a century ago when electric motors first came into widespread industrial use, so they typically designed in a sizable margin of error. Today's engineers haven't changed much in this respect. For example, standard NEMA frame dimensions, which have been revised only once since 1950, still specify much larger shaft sizes than commonly accepted principles of mechanical engineering would require.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

It is impossible to balance line-to-line voltages perfectly in a three-phase circuit. In fact, line voltages typically differ by a few volts or more, but a difference that exceeds 1 percent can lead to serious trouble on the plant floor. To maintain peak energy efficiency and thwart premature failure of three-phase motors, install adequate protective devices and periodically check for voltage unbalance at the motor terminals.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

A common mistake when troubleshooting a motor failure is to focus attention only on the motor. The perception is if the motor is failing, the problem must be the motor, but this is the wrong approach.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

Due to the expense and labor required, most facilities need to maximize the life of their motors. Electrical, insulation resistance and thermal measurement are three tests that can troubleshoot motors, drives and associ­ated electrical panels and prolong their operational lifetime. Ther­mal imagers can detect potential problems and insulation resistance and electrical tests can deter­mine the cause.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

An argument in favor of IEEE-841's provision for motor bearing protection.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

Following the development of variable frequency converter drives during the 1990s, totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) AC induction motors became viable options for replacing DC motors in pumping applications. The torque and speed characteristics of these motors are a close match to those required for centrifugal pumps.

Pumps & Systems, June 2008

Vibration is one of the most damaging forces in the industrial environment. Vibration not only reduces the life of equipment, but can also adversely affect the quality of the product or the reliability of the production process. In addition to quality and performance issues, vibration costs money. You have to pay for the energy it takes to shake your equipment.  Forces generated by unbalance are among the most common sources of vibration encountered in machinery-rich environments. Balancing is one of the most common corrective activities needed to resolve vibration issues.

Latest Pump Industry News

ST. LOUIS-Emerson Motor Technologies announced the American Petroleum Institute (API) has certified its Mena, Ark., facility as API 547 Q1 compliant for the production of its new U.S. MOTORS® TITAN® III Motor.

Pumps & Systems, November 2008

Mechanical resonance occurs when an external source amplifies the vibration level of a mass or structure at its natural frequency. For a rotating mass like a motor or a pump, this occurs at the critical speed(s). Electrical resonance amplifies the magnitude of voltage or current, or both.