API and ANSI pumps are designed to meet strict guidelines for use in petro-chemical applications. Most of these pumps use rolling element bearings, but the larger pumps often use journal bearings. This page outlines a vibration monitoring package for a typical rolling element bearing API/ANSI pump. For monitoring of the drive motor please visit the Motor Monitoring Application page.

Pump vibration frequencies of interest include pump unbalance, input shaft alignment, and bearing defect frequencies. A complete continuous monitoring approach should include one accelerometer per bearing location. Mounting orientation for the accelerometers should be horizontal at the bearing. Economical standard accelerometers such as the CMCP1100 are well suited to this application. The accelerometers should be used with CMCP530A Vibration Velocity Monitors.

A complete vibration monitoring system includes:

For additional reading STI offers several application notes with a more in depth discussion at