VIBRO-ACOUSTIC TROUBLESHOOTING SOLVES 5MW BOILERFEED PUMP TESTRING NOISE & VIBRATION PROBLEMS

This paper describes the global vibro-acoustic troubleshooting approach, used to identify and separate different sources of noise and vibrations on a boilerfeed pump testrig. The pump serves for rotor dynamic research of a EC-funded BRITE-Euram profect. This approach resulted in the identification of local structural flexibilities in the connections between the machinery and the base plate. The relative importance of the modes during normal operation is revealed by comparison with operational deformation shapes. The use of sound intensity mapping allowed to calculate the total sound power and to rank the equipment according to its sound power contribution. High acoustic levels were found and related to the fluid drive and to the piping system. Modification of the piping section resulted in a reduction of noise and vibration levels along the test loop and smooth operation in a wide suction pressure range.