Evaluating the dynamic behavior of pump stations in Lake Maracaibo

• Antonio Sarcos Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Lizbelángel Gordillo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Igor Rodríguez Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Alexis Segovia Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Roberto Angulo Lagoven-Venezuela
• Fernando Urdaneta Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela

Abstract

Moderate motion in LAGOVEN”™S Flow Station EF-LL-87 in Lake Maracaibo prompted the search for the cause of these displacements, which create indisposition and concern among people working on the station. The aim of this paper is to determine the causes of this appreciable motion in Flow Station EF-LL-87 by means of an experimental and analytical dynamic evaluation of the structure. Data were collected in situ, on the accelerations generated on the platform over a long period of time, as well as pump speeds and vibration frequencies associated with the reciprocating pumps located on the platform, excitation frequencies and expected wind and swell speeds, among others. STAD-III, a structural analysis software program, was used simultaneously to develop a structural 3-D model of the platform in order to calculate the structure”™s natural vibration frequencies and thus identify which exciting frequency or frequencies of the different stimuli affecting the platform come closest to its fundamental vibration frequency, thus amplifying its displacements. The results show that the operative vibration frequencies of pumps are very closed to fundamental vibration frequency of platform, and it produces resonance effect.