Guideline for PERFORMANCE TEST of Centrifugal Pump

Performance test is a critical step to ensure that the purchased pump can deliver the fluid meet with the requirement. The following factors which may help are based on API 610  :

PREPARATION 

• Ideally use water at temperature less than 65 Deg. C for performance test.
• Actual mechanical seal and bearing shall be used.
• The leakage rate of used mechanical seal shall be within acceptable range of ISO 21049 and/or API 682.
• The operating parameter of oil lubrication such as temperature, viscosity and pressure are expected within the recommended values in the Vendor operating instruction.
• Don't miss to prelubricate the bearing prior to testing stage.
• Ensure the tightness of all joints connection and any leaking shall be arrested.
• All warning, protective and control devices shall be checked and adjusted as required.

TESTING

• Test data including head, flowrate, power, bearing temperatures and vibration ( at least five points ) shall be recorded at different condition : Shutoff, minimum continous stable flow, midway between minimum & rated flow, rated flow and max. allowable flow ( as minimum 120% BEP).
• Test point at rated flow shall be within a tolerance band of +/- 5% of rated flow.
• The speed during test shall be within 3% of specified speed in pump data sheet.
• Test data  shall include test curves and a summary of test performance data compared to guarantee points.
• If adjustment such as reduction in impeller diameter of single stage pump requires and it is less than 5%, so no retest required. However, any disassembly of mutli stage pump it call of retest.
• Final performance test shall be run after the correction is made.
• Additional test that can be performed are NPSHR test, Complete unit test, sound level test, Auxiliary equipment test, Bearing housing resonance test and Mechnical run test for 4 hours.

PERFORMANCE TEST TOLERANCES