Possible causes of the failure of a pump impeller

[vlt2009]

Hello everyone,

We have got a damaged impeller back from the customer after operating for more than 30 years. It is a centrifugal lube oil pump and rotates with 3000 rpm. There is a missing piece at the leading edge of a blade. To me, it seems to be a forign object hit the impeller or cavitation. Please give your invaluable ideas of the possible causes. I have attached the picture here. Please let me know if you need any more info.

Thanks for your help.

 

[JJPellin]

I do not see any visible cavitation damage to the other vanes. Reach up to feel the back-side of the remaining vanes to check for damage there. It looks to me like mechanical damage. I would suggest either foreign object damage or mishandling.

Johnny Pellin

 

[Artisi]

Will have to agree with Johnny P - mechanical damage, something pretty damm solid has passed thru the pump.

 

[ccfowler]

I, too, agree that this is mechanical damage. Something bad happened, and my next question would be, "What else has been messed up downstream from the pump by the debris?"

 

[vlt2009]

Thank you very much for your help.