Professional Documents
Culture Documents
and Specification
Department Editor: Kate Torzewski
Centrifugal pumps
The most widely used pump in the chemical process industries for
liquid transfer is the centrifugal pump. Available in a wide range of
sizes and capacities, these pumps are suitable for a wide range of
applications. Advantages of the centrifugal style include: simplicity, low initial cost, uniform flow, small footprint, low maintenance
expense and quiet operation.
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n choosing a pump, it is important to match a pumps capabilities with system requirements and the characteristics of the liquid
being processed. These factors include the inlet conditions,
required flowrate, differential pressure and liquid characteristics.
Generally, the quality of the liquid should remain unchanged after
passage through a pump. Therefore, material compatibility, viscosity, shear sensitivity and the presence of particulate matter in a
liquid are important considerations in pump selection.
Most engineering applications employ either centrifugal or
positive displacement (PD) pumps for fluid handling. These pumps
function in very different ways, so pump selection should be based
on the unique conditions of a process.
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PUMP SELECTION
Range of operation
Pump styles range far beyond simply PD and centrifugal pumps.
PD pumps encompass many specific styles, including a variety of
reciprocating, rotary and blow-cover pumps. Likewise, centrifugal
pumps encompass radial, mixed, and axial flow styles, which all
Pump Comparison Chart
Centrifugal
Pump
Positive displacement
pump
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PUMP Specifications
Based on the application in which a pump will be used, the pump
type, and service and operating conditions, the specifications of a
pump can be determined.
Casting connection: Volute casing efficiently converts velocity energy impacted to the liquid from the impeller into pressure energy.
A casing with guide vanes reduce loses and improve efficiency
over a wide range of capacities, and are best for multistage highhead pumps
Impeller details: Closed-type impellers are most efficient. Opentype impellers are best for viscous liquids, liquids containing solid
matter, and general purposes
Sealings: Rotating shafts must have proper sealing methods to
prevent leakage without affecting process efficiency negatively.
Seals can be grouped into the categories of noncontacting seals
and mechanical face seals. Noncontacting seals are often used
for gas service in high-speed rotating equipment. Mechanical face
seals provide excellent sealing for high leakage protection
Bearings: Factors to take into consideration while choosing a
bearing type include shaft-speed range, maximum tolerable shaft
misalignment, critical-speed analysis, loading of compressor
impellers, and more. Bearing styles include: cylindrical bore; cylindrical bore with dammed groove; lemon bore; three lobe; offset
halves; tilting pad; plain washer; and taper land
Materials: Pump material is often stainless steel. Material should
be chosen to reduce costs and maintain personnel safety while
avoiding materials that will react with the process liquid to create
corrosion, erosion or liquid contamination
References