Best Practice

SABP-G-001 30 June, 2004

Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Analysis Factory Acceptance Test
Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.................................................... 2
2 References.................................................... 2
3 General.......................................................... 3
4 Definitions...................................................... 3
5 Vibration Detectors........................................ 5
6 Tests Procedure............................................ 5
7 Fat Acceptance Criteria................................. 6

Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 11
Primary contact: Amer A. Al-Dhafiri on 873-2708
Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Practice is to establish guidelines in reviewing the dynamic

analysis of centrifugal pumps during Factory Acceptance Test (FAT).

1.2 Scope

This Best Practice gives general guidelines for reviewing vibration

instrumentation requirements, test procedure and acceptance limits during the
Factory Acceptance Test and does not include performance test criteria.

1.3 Disclaimer

This Best Practice is being provided for the general guidance and benefit of
Saudi Aramco engineers attending centrifugal pump Factory Acceptance Test
(FAT). The use of this Best Practice during factory acceptance test, however,
does not relieve the manufacturer from his responsibility or duty to confirm or to
verify the accuracy of any information presented or from his contractual liability
to perform an accurate FAT that conforms to Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements. The use of the information or material contained
herein will not guarantee that the resulting product satisfies the applicable
requirements of Saudi Aramco Standards. Saudi Aramco assumes no
responsibility or liability whatsoever for any reliance on the information
presented herein or for FAT performed by manufacturer in accordance with this
Best Practice document. Moreover, this Best practice is intended only to
provide guidelines for Saudi Aramco engineers attending the Factory
Acceptance Test and shall not be considered as a replacement for the Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirements. Saudi Aramco® is a registered
trademark of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company. Copyright, Saudi Aramco, 2004.

1.4 Conflicts with Mandatory Standards

In the event of a conflict between this Best Practice and other Mandatory Saudi
Aramco Engineering Requirement, the Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement shall govern.

2 References

This Best Practice is based on the latest edition of the references below, unless
otherwise noted.

2.1 Saudi Aramco References

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard

SAES-G-005 Centrifugal Pumps (30 September, 2003)

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

31-SAMSS-004 Centrifugal Pumps (30 September, 2003)
34-SAMSS-625 Machinery Protection Systems (30 June, 2002)

2.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute (API)

API STD 610 Centrifugal Pumps for Petroleum, Heavy Duty
Chemical, and Gas Industry Services,
8th Edition
API STD 670 Machinery Protection Systems, 4th Edition

3 General

¾ This best practice gives general guidelines for the vibration instrumentation
requirements, test procedure and acceptable limits during centrifugal pumps factory
acceptance test. If rotordynamic analysis is required, according to 31-SAMSS-
004/API STD 610, then it should be reviewed by the attendee prior the test.

¾ When specified, at least 6 weeks before the first scheduled test, the vendor shall
submit to the purchaser, for review and comment, detailed procedures for all tests,
including acceptance criteria for all monitored parameters. (API STD 610/ P
4.3.1.2)

¾ The vendor shall notify the purchaser not less than five working days before the date
the equipment will be ready for testing. If the testing is rescheduled, the vendor
shall notify the purchaser not less than five working days before the new test date.
(API STD 610/ P 4.3.1.3)

4 Definitions

Factory Acceptance Test (FAT): It is a test conducted at a factory to ensure that the
pump meets its required performance and mechanical integrity.

Acceptance Level: This is the vibration level (displacement, velocity, or acceleration)

at which a machine can run indefinitely without inducing vibration related maintenance.

Best Efficiency Point (BEP): The point or capacity at which a pump achieves its
highest efficiency (API STD 610 paragraph 1.4.4).

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

Preferred Operating Region: The region over which the pump's vibration is within
the base limit of API STD 610 standard (see figure 2-7 and API STD 610 paragraph
2.1.12).

Allowable Operating Region: The region over which the pump is allowed to operate,
based on vibration within the upper limit of API STD 610 or temperature rise or other
limitation; specified by the manufacturer (see Figure 2-7 and API STD 610 paragraph
2.l.12).

API STD 610 - Figure 2-7: Relationship between Flow and Vibration

Maximum Continuous Speed: The speed at least equal to 105% of the highest speed
required by any of the specified operating conditions (API STD 610 paragraph 1.4.19).

Hydrodynamic bearings: Bearings that use the principles of hydrodynamic

lubrication. Their surfaces are oriented so that relative motion forms an oil wedge to
support the load without journal-to-bearing contact (API STD 610 paragraph 1.4.15).

5 Vibration Detectors

Vibration detection equipment shall be provided as per the below Table-1(for more
detail see 31-SAMSS-004 – paragraph 3.4.3.1):

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

Table-1: Required Vibration Instrumentation for Centrifugal Pumps

Seismic Measurement
Applicable Relative Measurement
HP Rating Reading at the monitor
Standard
Radial Thrust Key Φ Velocity Acceleration
> 300 HP 31-SAMSS-
( Anti-Friction 004 One/Brg.
Radial) (Sec. 3.4.3.1.1)
300 - 1000 HP
(Hydrodynamic
(Sec. 3.4.3.1.2) Provisions Provisions One/Brg.
Radial + Anti-
Friction Thrust)
> 1000 HP
(Hydrodynamic
(Sec. 3.4.3.1.3) X&Y Yes Thrust Brg.
Radial + Anti-
Friction Thrust)
(Hydrodynamic
Radial and
(Sec. 3.4.3.1.4) X&Y Dual Yes Thrust Brg.
Hydrodynamic
Thrust)
> 300 HP
(vertically Two on
suspended pump) (Sec. 3.4.3.1.5) Pump
With thrust bearing Thrust Brg.
in the pump
> 300 HP
(vertically Two on
suspended pump) (Sec. 3.4.3.1.5) Driver
No thrust bearing in Thrust Brg
the pump
> 300 HP
Two on
(Open pit vertical (Sec. 3.4.3.1.6)
bottom Brg
suspended pump)

Vibration detectors shall be provided, installed and calibrated in accordance with 34-
SAMSS-625. Settings for alarm and shut-down shall be recommended by the Vendor.

6 Tests Procedure

6.1 During the pump performance test at the factory, the vendor shall take test data
including head, capacity, power and vibration at a minimum of five points (31-
SAMSS-004, paragraph 4.3.3.2.1):
a. Shutoff (no vibration data is required)
b. minimum continuous stable flow
c. Normal flow
d. Rated flow
e. 120% of rated flow (110% for integral gear pumps)

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

6.2 The test speed should be within 3 % of the rated speed shown on the pump data
sheet (API STD 610/ P 4.3.3.2.3). For testing at any speed not within 3% of the
rated speed refer to paragraph 7.2 of this document.

6.3 Unfiltered vibration measurements and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum
should be taken at all test points except the shutoff. (API STD 610/ P 2.8.3.2)

6.4 FFT spectra range should be from 5 Hz to 2 times the Vane Pass Frequency.
(API STD 610/ P 2.8.3.2.1)

6.5 Bearing housing overall velocity should be measured in in/sec (mm/sec) RMS
and shaft vibration in mils (µm) pk-pk.

6.6 Variable speed pumps should not exceed the vibration limits while running
inside their specified operating speed. (API STD 610/ P 2.8.3.9)

6.7 For variable speed multistage pumps, coast down vibration test data shall be
recorded to verify pump critical speed. (31-SAMSS-004/ P 4.3.4.1.5)

6.8 Electrical + mechanical runout for radial position probes shall not exceed 25%
of allowed peak to peak amplitude or 0.25 mil (6.4 µm), whichever is greater.
This value may be vectorially subtracted from the vibration signal measured
during the shop test. (API STD 610/ P 2.8.3.6)
Note: If the total runout is higher than the acceptable limit and when the purchaser
and the vendor have agreed that all efforts to lower the total runout to the
acceptable level have been exhausted, the runout value may be vectorially
subtracted from the vibration signal measured during the shop test.

6.9 Electrical + mechanical runout for axial position probes should be below 0.5 mil
(12.7 µm). (API STD 610/ P 2.5.8)

6.10 When a re-test is required, vibration levels shall again be recorded.

(31-SAMSS-004 / P 4.3.3.4.2)

6.11 Pumps furnished with proximity probes shall meet both bearing housing and
shaft vibration limits. (API STD 610/ P 2.8.3.7)

7 Fat Acceptance Criteria

7.1 For centrifugal pumps tested at their rated speed the acceptable vibration levels
are shown in table 2 and 3. These tables content is a combination of API STD
610 8th edition table 2-5 & 2-6 and 31-SAMSS-004 exceptions. The below steps
1 to 4 specify the FAT vibration values that need to be checked.

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

1. The overall vibration of all performance test points inside the preferred
operation range should be below the overall limit specified in table 2 and
table3.

2. The frequency spectrum for all test points inside the preferred operation
range should be checked to identify the highest amplitude and ensure that
it is below the maximum limit for discrete frequency amplitude specified
in table 2 & table 3.

3. The vibration of all test points outside the preferred operation range but
within the allowable operating region should not exceed 130% of the
overall vibration limit specified for the preferred operation range.

4. At any speed grater than the maximum continuous speed, up to and

including the trip speed of the driver, the vibration should not exceed
150% of the maximum value recorded at the maximum continuous speed.
(API STD 610/ P 2.8.3.8)

7.2 Testing at any speed other than the rated speed requires the approval of the
Coordinator, Rotating Equipment Division (RED)of Consulting Services
Department (31-SAMSS-004 / P 4.3.3.2.3). In these circumstances, the
procedure for estimating test speed acceptance levels should be agreed between
the vendor and RED.

The vibration acceptance levels can be taken as the minimum value obtained
using the following four methods:-

1. By extrapolation of the rundown vibration data obtained from the factory

test.

2. By factoring the vibration acceptance levels obtained from Section 7.1, to

take account of speed and dynamic-related effects as shown below.
Nt 2
At = D × [ Ar ⋅ ( ) ] (1)
Nr

Where,
At Acceptance vibration level at the test speed.
Ar Acceptance vibration level as obtained from Section 7.1
Nt Pump Test Speed, rpm
Nr Pump Rated Speed, rpm
D Dynamic multiplier to take account of resonant amplification
effects.

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

D should be computed from:-

1− (N r / N c ) 2
D= (2)
1− (N t / N c ) 2

Where Nc is the measured pump structural natural frequency to be

obtained from impact-testing the pump bearing housing/supports.

3. By utilization of information obtained from the vendor's rotordynamic

analysis.

4. By comparison with vibration data provided by the vendor for identical

pumps in operation.

In all cases account should be taken of any expected variations in vibration

resulting from differing hydraulic behavior at test and rated conditions.

Table-2: Vibration Limits for Overhung and Between Bearings Pumps

Location of vibration Pump Shaft

Bearing Housing
Measurement (adjacent to bearing)
(see Figure 2-8A)
Item For hydrodynamic
For all bearing types
journal bearings type

whichever is less **
Overall • Au < (5.2X106 /N)05 µm pk-pk
(i) Vibration limits at Vu < 4.3 mm/sec RMS ** ((8000/N)05 mils pk-pk)
any flow within the (0. 17 in./sec RMS)**
pump's preferred • Au <50 µm pk-pk
operating region (2.0 mils pk-pk)
Discrete Vf< 3.0 mm/sec RMS** • For Af ≥ N: 75% of Au
frequencies (0.12 in./sec RMS)** • For Af < N: 33% of Au
(other than N**)

(ii) Vibration limits at flows beyond the

preferred operating region but within Increase in allowable by 30% Increase in allowable by 30%
the allowable operating region

Notes:
1- Values calculated from the basic limits shall be rounded off to two (2) significant figures.
2- (**) These specifications are from 31-SAMSS-004 – paragraph 2.8.3.7 not API STD 610.

Where:
Vu = unfiltered velocity. Af = filtered displacement determined by FFT.
Vf = filtered velocity. N = rotational speed (RPM).
Au = unfiltered displacement determined by FFT.

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

Table-3: Vibration Limits for Vertically Suspended Pumps

Location of vibration Pump Shaft (adjacent to bearing)

Adjacent to the upper
Measurement For hydrodynamic guide bearing
bearing (see Figure 2-8B)
Item adjacent to accessible region of
For all bearing types
shaft

Overall
Vu < 5.0 mm/sec RMS
(i) Vibration limits at (0.20 in/sec RMS)
any flow within the
**31-SAMSS-004 paragraph2.8.3.7
pump's preferred
stat "Shaft displacement shall not be
operating region
measured"
Discrete
frequencies Vf< 3.4 mm/sec RMS**
(other than N**) (0. 13 in./sec RMS)**

(ii) Vibration limits at flows beyond the

preferred operating region but within Increase in allowable by 30% Increase in allowable by 30%
the allowable operating region

Notes:
1- Values calculated from the basic limits shall be rounded off to two (2) significant figures.
2- (** ) These specifications are from 31-SAMSS-004– paragraph 2.8.3.7 not API STD 610.

Where:
Vu = unfiltered velocity. Af = filtered displacement determined by FFT.
Vf = filtered velocity. N = rotational speed (RPM).
Au = unfiltered displacement determined by FFT.

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Document Responsibility: Consulting Services Dept. SABP-G-001
Issue Date: 30 June, 2004 Centrifugal Pumps Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 July, 2009 Analysis Factory Acceptance Test

Revision Summary
30 June, 2004 New Saudi Aramco Best Practice.

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