On behalf of Hidrostal, EMHA carried out work on city pump P2 at the Bergen op Zoom sewage pumping station, which is managed by the Brabantse Delta Water Board. The project was prompted by increased vibration levels, which were jeopardising the reliability and service life of the pumping system. Through targeted measurements, analysis and a bespoke solution, EMHA has restored the installation to a stable and fully operational state.
Situation
The Bergen op Zoom sewage pumping station plays a key role in the transport of wastewater within the Brabantse Delta Water Board’s catchment area. The pumps at the station operate continuously and must continue to function reliably under varying conditions.
Elevated vibration levels were observed at city pump P2. This posed a risk to the operational reliability of the installation and could, in the long term, lead to breakdowns, additional maintenance and accelerated wear and tear.
The aim of the requested vibration measurements was to:
- determine the cause of the elevated vibration levels;
- use the measured frequencies and amplitudes as input for a finite element analysis;
- provide technical justification for and validate the proposed solution involving pipe and motor supports.
Our solution
EMHA carried out extensive vibration analyses at various operating points of the P2 municipal pump. The measurement results were compared with the permissible vibration limits specified by the manufacturer.
Based on this analysis, EMHA determined that the increased vibrations were not primarily caused by the pump unit itself, but by insufficient bracing of the motor and pipework.
EMHA then:
- designed a bespoke solution to provide additional bracing from the motor to the wall;
- manufactured the necessary supports;
- installed the supports on site within a single day.
Following installation, further vibration measurements were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the measure.
Result
Following the installation of the additional supports, vibration levels were found to be back within normal and permissible limits. As a result, the pump can once again operate fully and reliably as part of the process.
With this solution, EMHA has made a direct contribution to:
- improving operational reliability;
- extending the service life of the pump system;
- minimising unplanned downtime and maintenance.
By first carrying out careful measurements and analysis, the actual cause of the vibrations could be accurately identified. In many cases, problems of this kind are not caused by the pump set itself, but by the conditions in which the pump has to operate.
This approach prevents the unnecessary replacement of components and leads to a sustainable, cost-effective solution.
