Pump fire due to seal failure

What happened?

A pump had been operating with high vibration for several days.

A mechanical seal failed, releasing jet fuel that ignited on contact with the hot surface of the pump housing.

There was potential for injury, property damage and environmental impact.

The fire damaged pump. The surrounding equipment has significant fire damage.

Why did it happen?

Vibration caused failure of a bearing in the pump.

Misalignment of the pump/motor, possibly due:

pipe strain
a foreign object (20mm / ¾-inch nut) found in the pump rotor, leading to an imbalance.

The pump coupling had been replaced 14 months before, but there was no evidence of a test confirming that the repair had eliminated the high vibration.

What did they learn?

Ensure procedure for returning rotating equipment to service has a reinstallation checklist that includes vibration.

Ensure the pump switching programme includes all pumps, collects vibration data, and manages any issues found.

Establish requirements to check and document pipe strain and alignment following repairs.

Revise equipment closure procedure to include checking for any loose hardware and debris.

Ask yourself or your crew

How could something like this happen here?

Do we have any equipment that operates with high vibration? What can we do to address this?

How effective is our return to service procedure for rotating equipment?

What do we do to manage vibration in rotating equipment?

How do we fix issues with pipe strain and alignment after repair?

What can we do to eliminate or reduce the risk of foreign objects left inside equipment?

What happened?

A pump had been operating with high vibration for several days.
A mechanical seal failed, releasing jet fuel that ignited on contact with the hot surface of the pump housing.
There was potential for injury, property damage and environmental impact.
Why did it happen?
Vibration caused failure of a bearing in the pump.
Misalignment of the pump/motor, possibly due:
- pipe strain
- a foreign object (20mm / ¾-inch nut) found in the pump rotor, leading to an imbalance.
The pump coupling had been replaced 14 months before, but there was no evidence of a test confirming that the repair had eliminated the high vibration.
What did they learn?

Ensure procedure for returning rotating equipment to service has a reinstallation checklist that includes vibration.
Ensure the pump switching programme includes all pumps, collects vibration data, and manages any issues found.
Establish requirements to check and document pipe strain and alignment following repairs.
Revise equipment closure procedure to include checking for any loose hardware and debris.
Ask yourself or your crew

How could something like this happen here?
Do we have any equipment that operates with high vibration? What can we do to address this?
How effective is our return to service procedure for rotating equipment?
What do we do to manage vibration in rotating equipment?
How do we fix issues with pipe strain and alignment after repair?
What can we do to eliminate or reduce the risk of foreign objects left inside equipment?