Alignment of Pumps

6/23/2021 Alignment of Pumps
Software and Know-how Know-how Technical articles Alignment of Pumps
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Alignment of Pumps
One of the most important parts of pump setup is making sure that the pump and the drive motor are carefully aligned.
Misalignment may account for over 50% of malfunctions in rotating machinery, leading to problems such as worn or broken
couplers, vibration, and excessive wear of bearings, seals and wear rings. Excessive misalignment can even cause breakage of mounts
or pump/motor casings.
KSB (and most other manufacturers) deliver pump sets (pump

plus motor) mounted on a baseplate and pre-aligned at the
factory. However, small movements of these components can
occur during shipping and while the pump set is being installed
at its final location. It is highly recommended to check and, if
necessary, correct pump-motor alignment as part of the
commissioning process, before the pump is placed in service. The
customer is responsible for ensuring that the baseplate is
mounted securely on a properly constructed foundation. In
particular, the top surface of the foundation must be carefully
prepared so that the baseplate can be anchored without being
overstressed or distorted.
Once the pump set has been properly installed, the final
alignment can be checked and, if necessary, corrected. Obviously
re-alignment is needed whenever the pump or motor are moved
or replaced.
What do we mean by ‘alignment’?
Long-coupled pumps have separate pump and motor shafts that

are connected through a coupler. Ideally these two shafts will be
exactly parallel and have exactly the same centre-line. Flexible
couplers can tolerate small alignment errors, but for smooth,

trouble-free running, it is important to ensure that these two
shafts are lined up to within the tolerances specified by the
pump, motor and coupler manufacturers.
There are two types of misalignment that can lead to running

problems. Angular misalignment occurs when the centrelines of
the motor shaft and the pump shaft are at an angle to each
other.
Angular misalignment
Parallel misalignment occurs when the shafts are parallel, but

the centrelines are displaced vertically or horizontally with
respect to each other.
Parallel misalignment
Improperly aligned machines will typically suffer from a

combination of angular and parallel misalignment.
Measuring Misalignment
The first step in getting motors and pumps lined up properly is

to measure the degree of misalignment. The procedures for
doing this are conceptually simple, but can be tricky to do
accurately in the field.
For angular misalignments, a simple approach is as follows:
1. With the motor and pump shaft flanges close to each

other, but disconnected, mark a spot on each shaft, then
measure the separation between them with a feeler or
taper gauge.
2. Rotate both shafts by about 90 degrees, keeping the

marks close to each other. Measure the separation
distance again. Repeat for 180 and 270 degrees.
3. If the measured separation stays the same as the shafts

are rotated, they can be assumed to be parallel.
However, differences in measured flange separation
indicate that the shafts are not perfectly lined up
A similar procedure can be used to measure parallel

misalignment. Here, a straightedge would be laid across one of
the flanges and the distance to the other flange measured.
Parallel misalignment
Again, both shafts should be rotated the same amount and the
changes in measured distances noted.
Dial gauges or laser measurement devices are often used to

provide more accurate measurements of the degree of
misalignment between the motor and pump shafts. Laser
devices provide higher levels of accuracy and also have
automated features that simplify and speed up the work of
measuring alignment.
Checking alignment with laser measurement equipment
Correcting Misalignment
Correcting misalignments requires re-positioning the pump or

the motor so that the centerlines of their shafts line up properly.
Since pumps are usually attached to piping systems, it’s usually
easier to move the motor. Small adjustments to the motor
position in the horizontal plane are usually accomplished by
loosening the motor anchor bolts, shifting the motor sideways,

then re-tightening the bolts. Vertical adjustments are usually
made by adjusting leveling screws or by adding or removing
shims under the motor’s feet. Care should be taken with the
selection of shims. A few relatively thick shims are preferable to
a stack of thin shims, since the thicker shims generally result in
stiffer, more secure supports for the motor.
Naturally, whenever either the pump or the motor have been re-
positioned, it is necessary to re-check the alignment.
Foot Problems
Warped, damaged or poorly mounted baseplates, poorly

selected shims or loose anchor bolts can all contribute to a
condition known as soft or spongy feet. When this occurs, it will
be very difficult – even impossible – to get the rotating machines
properly aligned. Even if everything looks good while the
machinery is shut down, operating loads, including motor
torque and thermal stresses can throw things off when the
pump begins to run. For this reason, it is important to check the
condition of the baseplate, the anchor bolts and the pump and
motor casings before attempting to align the rotating
machinery. Modern laser measurement devices can help detect
foot problems my measuring small changes in position of the
pump and motor when they begin to run.
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6/23/2021 Alignment of Pumps

Software and Know-how Know-how Technical articles Alignment of Pumps

What are you looking for?

KSB (and most other manufacturers) deliver pump sets (pump

What do we mean by ‘alignment’?

Long-coupled pumps have separate pump and motor shafts that

couplers can tolerate small alignment errors, but for smooth,

There are two types of misalignment that can lead to running

Parallel misalignment occurs when the shafts are parallel, but

Improperly aligned machines will typically suffer from a

The first step in getting motors and pumps lined up properly is

For angular misalignments, a simple approach is as follows:

1. With the motor and pump shaft flanges close to each

2. Rotate both shafts by about 90 degrees, keeping the

3. If the measured separation stays the same as the shafts

A similar procedure can be used to measure parallel

Dial gauges or laser measurement devices are often used to

Checking alignment with laser measurement equipment

Correcting misalignments requires re-positioning the pump or

loosening the motor anchor bolts, shifting the motor sideways,

Warped, damaged or poorly mounted baseplates, poorly

Product Catalogue Waste Water Technology

Spare Parts Water Technology

Technical Services Industry Technology

Shopping Cart Building Services

Software and Know-how Energy Technology

KSB Canada Blog

© KSB SE & Co. KGaA

Data Privacy Disclaimer Company information Terms and Conditions

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