Rotating Equipment: Pumps & Compressors

Overview

Pumps and compressors are the workhorses of every oil, gas and process facility, and their failures account for a large share of lost production and maintenance cost. This course builds a solid practical understanding of how these machines work, why they fail and how to keep them running. Participants study centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, then centrifugal, reciprocating and screw compressors, learning to read performance curves, recognise operating limits and understand the role of seals, bearings, lubrication and alignment. The second half of the week concentrates on reliability: condition monitoring, common failure mechanisms, troubleshooting methods and the maintenance practices that extend machine life. Real failure examples and performance data keep the material grounded in what participants will meet on site.

Objectives

• Explain the operating principles of the main pump and compressor types
• Read and apply pump and compressor performance curves
• Identify operating limits including cavitation, surge and overheating
• Describe the function and failure modes of seals, bearings and couplings
• Apply condition monitoring to rotating equipment
• Troubleshoot common pump and compressor problems systematically
• Plan maintenance activities that improve machine reliability

Who should attend

Training methodology

Concepts are explained with cutaway drawings, animations and photographs of real components, many of them showing failure damage. Participants plot operating points on performance curves, calculate NPSH margins and analyse vibration and process data from sample machines. Troubleshooting is practised in teams using structured cause-and-effect methods on realistic scenarios. Discussion draws on the experience of participants from different sites, and a final assessment checks understanding. A pocket troubleshooting guide for pumps and compressors is provided to every participant.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Fees are in GBP. per delegate.

Certificate

Frequently asked questions