• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2013

This case study presents a practical method to reduce resonant vibration of large vertical pumps. The pumps are driven at 400 rpm rated speed by induction motor. The vibration was not significantly large when operated at this rated speed. Large vibration was occurred when the pump was operated below the rated speed for flow control. Due to the large vibration resonance, variable speed operation of the pump was not possible for several months at worst cases. To find an efficient vibration control method, the flexural responses of pumps for both normal and transient operations were measured. The measured modal characteristics were compared with those of finite element analysis. When the pump was operated at a specific rpm, the natural mode whose resonance frequency is twice the rotating angular speed induced the large vibration. The retrofit utilizing stiffeners to reduce this resonant vibration were performed. Effects of designed stiffeners on reducing vibration were validated through tests after actual installation.