Reoccurring performance issues in mounted rotating equipment can often be linked to baseplate failures.
The success of rotating equipment can often be traced directly to the surface and structure quality on which it is mounted. The useful life of seals and bearings in most process pumps is compromised when shafts are misaligned, or excess vibration is present.
Some estimate that more than 80 percent of sealed centrifugal pumps are pulled from service for an issue with a mechanical seal or bearing. A solid foundation can increase the mean time between planned maintenance for pumps and most other types of rotating equipment.
While many features and options can be incorporated into a pump baseplate, experts will typically agree on the following minimum requirements:
Mounting surfaces should support the entire pump and driver continually through the operating range of the equipment.
Baseplates should be strong enough to resist distortion and deflection and maintain alignment of the pump and motor when installed properly per design.
Driver and pump mounting-pad surface flatness should be parallel
Final alignment should be maintained by allowing up to a 0.125-inch shim pack (3 mm).
Mounting hole requirements, including size and location, should never present a bolt-bound condition that inhibits final alignment procedures.
Typical equipment baseplates and foundations can easily become compromised for several reasons.
Incorrect or failed grouting systems common with a hollow metal or cast-iron base can quickly cause excess vibration frequencies that vary by rotational speed, temperature, and equipment forces and moments.
Less expensive, non-reinforced metal bases can warp and bend during shipment, requiring additional labour to straighten, or they are often installed with such deviations.
Corrosion and other forms of environmental deterioration of the mounting base or underlying foundation can create an unstable and varying mounting surface that can result in excess vibrations and cause misalignment of installed equipment.
Baseplate failures are often difficult to identify in the field but can be connected to reoccurring performance issues in the mounted equipment. Identifying and eliminating hidden mechanical defects in baseplate systems can save time and frustration in root-cause evaluations and improve overall equipment reliability.
IndustriTech designs complete pump skid packages and manufactures custom pump baseplates based on our customer’s requirements and specifications. We begin the process by developing an accurate CAD drawing before we expertly fabricate your baseplate. Our baseplates are engineered to a superior quality and strength compared to the standard typically supplied by many OEMs, to ensure your asset is best equipped for success.
Our technicians then assemble your entire pump skid in house and install on-site, complete with laser shaft alignment to ensure your asset is properly prepared for a long service life.
