Bearing problems’ effects on the dynamic performance of pumping stations

REVIEW
Bearing problems’ effects on the dynamic performance
of pumping stations

EXAMEN
Efectos de los problemas de Rodamientos sobre el comportamiento dinámico
de estaciones de bombeo.
Mostafa A. Abu-Zeid a, , S.M. Abdel-Rahman b
a Mechanical & Electrical Department, Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation, Egypt
b Mechanical & Electrical Research Institute, National Water ResearchCenter, Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation,
Delta Barrage, Egypt.
a) el Departamento de Mecánica y Eléctrica del Ministerio de Recursos Hídricos e Irrigación, Egipto
b) Mecánica y Eléctrica Instituto de Investigación del Centro Nacional de Investigación del Agua, Ministerio de Recursos Hídricos e Irrigación,
Delta Presa, Egipto.
Received 13 January 2013; revised 3 February 2013; accepted10 February 2013 Available online 9 March 2013.

Recibido el 13 de enero de 2013; revisado 03 de febrero 2013 y aceptado el 10 de febrero 2013 Disponible en línea 09 de marzo 2013.
ABSTRACT
Egypt has a limited water resource and depends mainly on the Nile to satisfy its demands where agriculture consumes more than 80% of the water resources. There are more than 2000 pumping stations in Egyptof different systems operating under different conditions. Pumping stations are subjected to mechanical, electrical, and structural problems affecting behavior, efficiency, safety, and reliability of these stations. These stations are a part of probably the largest network of its kind as the entire volume of water flowing down the Nile (over 55.5 billion cubic meters) has to be pumped twice, oncefor irrigation and then back from the field to the drains.

Pumping stations use large number of bearings with different types and applications. These bearings have a clear effect on the performance and efficiency of the pumps. Pump bearings in the arid regions are greatly affected by temperature, water quality, lubricants, and maintenance operations.

This research focuses on analysis ofdamaged rolling element bearings of pumping system. The objective of the research is to enhance and control dynamic performance of pumping stations by avoiding damage and failure of bearings. The research proves that damaged bearings generate periodic, non-periodic, and transient forces causing high amplitude of vibration at high frequencies and
increasing energy consumption. Bearing faults increasevibration level 85%, where power consumption increases 14% and pump efficiency decreases 18%. It is very important to take care of bearings during installation, alignment, balancing, and maintenance to assure safe and efficient pump operation for long period. As pump efficiency decreases, water power decreases and/or consumed power increases affecting water distribution and management system.Bearing faults break pumping system for long period affecting irrigation system. Optimum operation of pumping stations helps to save and manage water requirement for development and extension projects in arid regions. The measurements are performed on full scale model in the field, which proves reliable results on similar pumping stations.
ª 2013 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

RESUMEN
Egipto tiene un recurso hídrico limitado y depende principalmente del Nilo para satisfacer sus demandas donde la agricultura consume más del 80 % de los recursos hídricos. Hay más de 2.000 estaciones de bombeo en Egipto de los diferentes sistemas que operan bajo diferentes condiciones. estaciones de bombeo están sometidos aproblemas mecánicos, eléctricos , y estructurales que afectan al comportamiento , la eficiencia ,la seguridad , y la fiabilidad de estas estaciones .
Estas estaciones son parte de, probablemente, la mayor red de su tipo como todo el volumen de agua que fluye por el Nilo ( más de 55,5 mil millones de metros cúbicos ) tiene que bombear dos veces, una para el riego y luego de vuelta desde el campo...