Centrifugal and Vane Pump Quiz

You are tasked with disassembling a centrifugal pump that has been experiencing low pressure. What is the FIRST step you should take before starting the disassembly?

• Drain the pump casing

• Check for leaks in the pump housing

• Disconnect the pump from the power source (LOTO procedure)

• Remove the impeller

While inspecting a centrifugal pump’s impeller, you notice severe erosion on the blades. What is the most likely cause?

• Excessive vibration

• Cavitation due to low suction pressure

• Misalignment of the pump shaft

• Faulty bearing installation

During reassembly, how should the pump casing bolts be tightened to ensure proper sealing?

• Randomly tightening bolts in any order

• Using maximum force on each bolt individually

• Evenly in a crisscross pattern

• Only tightening bolts on one side first

After assembling the centrifugal pump, it is running but producing excessive noise. What should you check first?

• The condition of the bearings

• The temperature of the impeller

• The alignment of the suction and discharge pipes

• The presence of air bubbles in the fluid

A centrifugal pump you recently assembled is overheating. What is a possible cause?

• The impeller is rotating too slowly

• Misalignment or lack of lubrication in the bearings

• Insufficient pressure at the discharge

• Excessive water in the pump casing

A vane pump in a hydraulic system is providing inconsistent flow. What is the FIRST component you should inspect?

• Bearings

• Vanes

• End plates

• Cam ring

While disassembling a vane pump, one of the vanes is stuck inside the rotor slot. What tool should you use to remove it without damage?

• Torque wrench

• Bearing puller

• Vane puller

• Mallet

During reassembly, why is it essential to lubricate the vanes before placing them back into the rotor?

• To prevent vanes from sticking during startup

• To increase pump pressure

• To reduce energy consumption

• To allow the rotor to spin faster

After assembling a vane pump, the system pressure is low. What is the most likely reason?

• The rotor is misaligned with the cam ring

• The bearings were over-lubricated

• The suction line was cleaned too thoroughly

• The pump casing was over-tightened

If a newly assembled vane pump starts vibrating excessively, what should you check?

• The size of the suction and discharge pipes

• The rotor balance and vane conditions

• The speed of the driving motor

• The tightness of the pump housing bolts