Tuned Mass Damper for Vertical Pump Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical pumps in hazardous environments are prone to oscillations and resonances due to their design and operational conditions, which can lead to premature failure and operational disruptions, and existing vibration damping solutions are not compatible with the constraints of these pumps, such as small installation openings and the need for minimal mass addition.
Innovation Solution
A Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) system that utilizes pump effluent as damping mass, integrated within the pump structure and supported by springs and dampers, allowing for effective vibration damping during operation while the mass is absent during maintenance and installation, and includes removable solid weights for additional damping without altering the pump's mass distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) is added to suppress resonances in vertical pumps, then vibration damping effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of installation and containment integration worsens due to space and mass constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The TMD is merged with the pump structure by integrating it into the pump base or mounting plate assembly. The damper mass is positioned within the containment structure's footprint, combining the vibration suppression function with the existing pump support structure, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining damping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The TMD components are nested within the containment structure's available space. The damper mass is positioned within the horizontal footprint of the containment structure, utilizing the existing spatial envelope without requiring additional external space, thus simplifying integration while preserving vibration damping performance.
2Reliability
If a TMD with sufficient mass is installed to effectively damp vibrations, then vibration damping effectiveness is improved, but the difficulty of pump transition between orientations worsens due to increased mass
Solution Approach 1:
The TMD mass is designed to be dynamic rather than static. During pump operation in vertical orientation, the full mass is engaged for effective vibration damping. During transition operations, the mass can be repositioned or its effect reduced, allowing pump movement without the penalty of moving a large fixed mass, thus maintaining both damping effectiveness and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The TMD mass is segmented into multiple smaller components that can be independently positioned or engaged. During pump transition, only the necessary portions of the mass need to be moved or supported, reducing the effective mass that must be handled during orientation changes while maintaining sufficient damping capacity when the pump is in its operational vertical position.
3Reliability
If the TMD housing is completely filled with pump effluent, then damping mass is maximized for effective vibration suppression, but the risk of liquid leakage and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The TMD housing is partially filled with pump effluent rather than completely filled. This creates a local quality distinction where the liquid provides damping mass in the lower portion of the housing while the upper portion remains empty or contains gas. This partial filling reduces the volume of liquid that could potentially leak while maintaining sufficient damping effectiveness through the concentrated liquid mass at the base.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump effluent used in the TMD is treated as a consumable or replaceable medium rather than a permanent filling. If leakage occurs, the effluent can be easily replenished from the pump discharge without requiring complex sealing systems or permanent containment, reducing the design complexity and risk associated with complete liquid filling while maintaining damping performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The TMD system effectively dampens vibrations, preventing resonance-induced damage and ensuring continuous operation by maintaining the pump's alignment and compatibility with hazardous environments, while allowing for easy transition between vertical and horizontal orientations without adding significant mass.
Implementation Method 1
The TMD housing is flexibly supported by spring-absorber assemblies, so that damped movement of the TMD housing is enabled in directions normal to the pump's longitudinal axis.
Implementation Method 2
The TMD housing is flexibly supported by spring-absorber assemblies, so that damped movement of the TMD housing is enabled
Implementation Method 3
When the pump is operating, the annular housing is filled with the pumped fluid through an inlet flexibly connected to the pump discharge, thereby accumulating sufficient mass within the housing for effective damping of vibrations during pump operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) for damping oscillations of a hanging vertical pump structure includes a removable mass symmetrically configured within the pump structure diameter and supported by a mechanism which provides damped mobility relative to the pump structure so as to absorb and dampen pump vibrations and oscillations. The TMD mass is easily removable before tipping of the pump between horizontal and vertical orientations during maintenance. In some embodiments, the TMD mass comprises fluid pumped by the pump to fully or partially fill a housing, the fluid being gravitationally drained therefrom when the pump is not operating. In other embodiments the TMD mass is supplied by removable solid weights. Damped mobility is provided by springs damped by mechanical or fluid friction, or by obstructed movement of fluid within a partially filled housing. In embodiments, the TMD mass is at least 5% of the total mass of the pump structure.