Cause analysis of abnormal noises in turbine feedwater pumps
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I have seen three different turbine feedwater pumps, all used for transporting turbine condensate, and they were installed on three separate feedwater reheaters. The vacuum level of the suction pressure is 50 KPA, while the outlet pressure is 8 KG. All three pumps produce slight abnormal noises. The rehydration temperature is between 40 and 50°C. I’ve contacted the machinist several times, and he said that the operation is normal. Now I’m wondering if all negative-pressure pumps have this issue. At first I thought it might be cavitation, but after asking experienced technicians several times, they said it’s not the case and that these pumps just operate in this way. I would like to ask equipment experts what could be causing these abnormal noises. Since it is a negative pressure pump, the suction line on the pump body (which functions as an exhaust line) remains open at all times.
Not all negative pressure pumps have this issue; the ones from our company work perfectly fine. The vacuum line on the pump body should not remain open at all times; it is only open before starting the pump.