Research on the Single-Value Indicators for Centrifugal Pump Based on Vibration Signals

Off-design operation conditions might not only seriously affect the internal flow status of a centrifugal pump, but also result in additional energy loss and potential mechanical damage. Therefore, early-stage monitoring and predication on off-design operation conditions for centrifugal pumps have become essential. Single-value indicators have favorable factors such as a smaller amount of calculation and easier identification. As a result, industries prefer the more straightforward approach: obtaining single-value indicators directly from the signals which could be easier compared with accepted standards. The possibility of applying the single-value indicators of vibration into operation condition monitoring for a centrifugal pump is studied theoretically and experimentally, which shows that the statistical features of vibration might be suitable for hydraulic instability detection for a centrifugal pump.