Modified Transfer Path Analysis on Pump-Baseplate System for Multiple Pumps Damaged Detection

Background: Generally, vibration monitoring is employed to monitor the condition of a pump on single baseplate. However, when two or more pumps are operating simultaneously on single baseplate, the damage will be relatively more difficult to be detected due to transmissibility. Purpose: A modified transfer path analysis (MTPA) on pump-baseplate system was proposed to identify the flow of vibration energy from damaged pump through a baseplate on vertical axis. The vibration energy was defined using operational force that was calculated by multiplying the operational acceleration of the pump and the frequency response function (FRF) based on Rational Fractional Polynomial (RFP) method of the baseplate in the frequency domain. Methods: Firstly, finite element analysis was conducted using modal, harmonic, and transient analysis to evaluate the method. Secondly, the FRF of the beam was obtained by experimental modal analysis. The operational acceleration of the pump was then measured based on ISO 13373-1 to verify the type of damaged pumps. The operational acceleration was also recorded on three different locations of multiple pumps on the beam. Finally, the operational force was calculated and analysed to validate the method. Conclusions: The result shows that MTPA method can trace the flow of vibration energy from the source (damaged pumps) to the receivers (multiple pump’s locations) on the baseplate. Each damaged pump shows more dominant operational force at specific damaged frequency than the other pumps on all locations. Therefore, the MTPA method can be utilized to do the multiple pumps damage detection on the same baseplate for vibration monitoring purposes.