Water Pump Mechanical Faults Display at Various Frequency Resolutions

Abstract

When an electrical machine suffered a mechanical fault, it generally emits certain sounds. These sounds came from the vibration. Therefore, based on the vibration, it could be detected if there was a mechanical fault in an electrical machine. This paper discussed the graphical display of the vibration of electrical machines in the form of household water pumps which were in good condition, faulty bearing, faulty impeller, or faulty foot valve. Vibration could be displayed in the time domain, or in the frequency domain, by using the three axes, i.e. X, Y, and Z. In the frequency domain, the vibration could be displayed at various frequency resolutions. Based on the observations, the higher frequency resolution, the lower detail in the graphical display of frequency domain would be shown. Although there was lower detail in the graphical display of frequency domain, at frequency resolution of 11.7 Hz in the X axis, showed that it could be visually distinguished among water pumps which were in good condition, faulty bearing, faulty impeller, or faulty foot valve.