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Pump School: Pump and driver alignment

by Pumps Journalist
January 29, 2018
in Engineering, Features, Pump school, Technical
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Alignment in the pump business means that the centerline of the pump is aligned with the centerline of the driver.

While this alignment was always a consideration with packed gland pumps, it is critical with mechanically sealed pumps, especially if you are using rotating seal designs where the springs or bellows rotate with the shaft.

A little misalignment at the power end of the pump results in a lot of misalignment at the wet end, and unfortunately that is where the seal is located (in most pump applications).

Problems caused by misalignment:

  • It can cause rotating mechanical seals to move back and forth axially two times per revolution. The more the seals move the more opportunity for the lapped faces to open
  • Packing could support a misaligned shaft. A mechanical seal cannot
  • Misalignment will cause severe shaft or sleeve fretting if a spring loaded Teflon as a secondary seal is used in the mechanical seal design
  • The pump bearings can become overloaded
  • The misalignment could be severe enough to cause contact between stationary and rotating seal components
  • The wear rings can touch and rub
  • The shaft can come into contact with the restriction bushing (often found at the end of the stuffing box)
  • The shaft or sleeve can contact the stationary face of the mechanical seal.
  • The shaft can contact the disaster bushing in an API (American Petroleum Institute) gland
  • The impeller could contact the volute or back plate

You must start with a pump and driver in good repair, irrespective of the alignment method you select. A thoroughly aligned piece of garbage is still a piece of garbage.

The following checks should also be made:

  • A straight shaft that has been dynamically balanced
  • Good wear rings with the proper clearance
  • The correct impeller to volute, or backplate clearance
  • The elimination of “soft foot”
  • Eliminate all pipe strain
  • Good bearings installed on a shaft with the proper finish and tolerances
  • A good mechanical seal set at the proper face load.

Article courtesy of Kelair Pumps Australia “When Pump Knowledge Matters” Phone: 1300 789 466 or visit www.kelairpumps.com.au 

Find Engineering Related Companies In The Pump Industry Capability Guide


Sykes Group Pty Ltd
Brown Brothers Engineers Australia
Assett Mechanical Engineering

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