CIRCULATION PUMP BEARING FAILURE
Diagnosed issue
In early December 2025, Sonora detected strong harmonic activity and elevated vibration on Mida’s circulation pump, with spectral peaks around characteristic frequencies indicating potential shaft misalignment and early bearing deterioration. Subsequent analysis showed recurring harmonics and energy shifts toward higher frequency bands, suggesting bearing cage degradation.
Although the issue did not show an increasing trend prior to a planned annual shutdown, vibration monitoring immediately after the restart in late January revealed a significant RMS increase and amplified harmonics. This confirmed the fault’s progression. Subsequent feedback from Mida revealed that some bearings had been replaced during the shutdown, but the bearings left in place, initially judged as acceptable, failed shortly after startup, leading to oil leakage and a pump breakdown. The fault was validated as bearing deterioration.
Results
Continuous condition monitoring enabled early identification and validation of bearing deterioration on the circulation pump before catastrophic failure occurred. By tracking vibration behavior before and after a planned shutdown and restart, Sonora provided clear insight into the fault’s progression, confirmed bearing failure as the root cause, and helped prevent further mechanical damage and prolonged unplanned downtime.