Vibration acceptance testing ensures rebuilt or new equipment starts its service life in excellent condition, minimizing the risk of installing a new unit with a minor defect that progresses slowly to failure. Initial field vibration testing will ensure the equipment does not have any defective conditions that may reduce efficiency and reliability. Any issues identified in the vibration analysis report can be corrected prior to final acceptance of the equipment, ensuring that the manufacturer covers any necessary repairs. Some early stage bearing issues or minor installation issues could last several months or even years, resulting in later repairs not under warranty that could have been avoided.
CMS provides acceptance testing utilizing vibration analysis, infrared inspection and oil analysis to provide third party consultation and documentation. This in turn empowers the end user with the knowledge that vendors have met their standards and equipment is operating as expected. Standards typically are set prior to commissioning repair or acquisition, but in absence of a written standard, industry standards are available that virtually all vendors must meet after the fact. Equipment found to be operating outside of these standards is usually subject to corrective action at the vendor’s expense when properly documented.
Our field analysts specialize in creating pump acceptance reports for Hydraulic Institute Standards. H.I.9.6.4 Rev. 2009 acceptance tests follow specific guidelines and enable end users to determine if their new units are free of mechanical defects and within the acceptable and preferred operating ranges. The graphic below illustrates the required H.I. data collection point locations by pump type.
OFF SITE
WITNESS TESTING and teardown inspections provide customers with a knowledgeable representative to document repairs were as billed, equipment ran in the shop as expected and the added ability to document root failure causes of equipment down time. As long as customers are willing to purchase a standard construction pump annually there is little incentive for the vendor to offer a better solution that would increase run times to several years.
REPORTING OPTIONS
Level 1 - Provides a report stating overall vibration values and pass/fail status in regards to Hydraulic Institute standards.
Level 2 - Acceptance Report - Provides a report stating overall vibration values and pass/fail status in regard to Hydraulic Institute standards. Reviews the overall levels and the spectrums to identify the different frequencies present, for instance if the vibration is from shaft speed or vane energy. Includes a bump test to determine the presence of natural frequencies. Provides trends of the test and a few spectrums of the highest values per component. Where the unit is a variable speed application and of operations allows, the test is done at minimum flow, design then at full speed if different than design. This report is typically more common for testing mandated by a government facility with detailed specifications. All CMS reports are completely customizable to customer requirements.
Level 3 - Level 3 test builds on the Level 2 test by providing detailed spectrums on all test points in velocity and acceleration (useful for identifying the presence of bearing defects / poor lubrication). Where flow, pressure and power information is provided, a curve is generated with the test data superimposed on the factory curve tests. Flow, pressure and power data to be supplied by the customer. If required, CMS calibrated flow meter and pressure gauges are available for a daily rental fee.
Level 4 - Level 4 adds performance testing to the Level 3 test. Testing is done where possible on three different flow points then plotted on a curve. Includes calibrated flow meter and pressure gauges for testing.
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