Pump Shaft Alignment and Why is it Necessary?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you experience pump shaft failure or damage? Most probably, need for a stronger pump shaft. 

No doubt that stronger is better, but that doesn’t address the problem. A stronger pump shaft may help with fewer failures, but the problem of pump shaft failure mainly happens due to the shaft’s misalignment.

Running a pump with even the slightest shaft misalignment can cause vibrations resulting in bearing failure and pump shaft breakdown. Whereas properly aligned shafts reduce these vibrations, which improve reliability, prevent seal leakage, extend the bearing’s life, and avoid unnecessary failures.

So if you want to achieve efficiency gains and extend your pumps’ service life, then the first thing to look after is correct pump shaft alignment. 

With these in mind, let’s look at what pump alignment is, its importance, and how you can detect shaft misalignment as well as prevent it.

By the end, you will have a firm understanding of how to achieve a successful pump alignment.

What is Pump Shaft Alignment? 

Pump shaft alignment is a process of aligning two or more shafts between a motor and a pump within a tolerated margin.

Power transmission from a motor to a pump is generated by the connection of the motor and pump shafts. This connection can be formed by using a straight shaft or through a flexible coupling. 

To Know More : Pump Shaft Alignment