Centrifugalpumps

Centrifugalpumpsarethemostcommonlyusedkineticenergypump.Centrifugalforcepushestheliquidoutwardfromtheeyeoftheimpellerwhereitentersthecasing.
Differentialheadcanbeincreasedbyturningtheimpellerfaster,usingalargerimpeller,orbyincreasingthenumberofimpellers.Theimpellerandthefluidbeingpumpedare
isolatedfromtheoutsidebypackingormechanicalseals.Shaftradialandthrustbearingsrestrictthemovementoftheshaftandreducethefrictionofrotation.

Contents
1Basicclassifications
2Impellertypes
2.1Openimpellers
2.2Partiallyopenorsemiclosedimpellers
2.3Closedimpellers
3Numberofimpellers
3.1Singlestagepumps
3.2Multistagepumps
4Impelleraxialloading
5Impellerradialloading
6Pumpspecificspeed
7Pumpperformancecurves
7.1Curveperformance
7.2Curveparameters
7.3Pumpsinparallel
7.4Seriesoperation
8Systemheadcurves
9Regulationofflowrate
10Backpressurevalves
11Minimumflowrecirculationvalve
12Changingperformance
13Variablespeedcontrol
14Affinitylaws
15Pumppriming
16Installationconsiderations
16.1Foundations
16.2Pipingdesign
16.3Suctionpiping
16.4Fluidsourceinlet
16.5Pipesizeandeliminationofairpockets
16.6Upstreamelbowconsiderations
16.7Basketstrainers
16.8Eccentricreducers
16.9Dischargepiping
16.10Checkvalves
17Nomenclature
18References
19NoteworthypapersinOnePetro
20Externallinks
21Seealso

Basicclassifications
Centrifugalpumpsaredesignedwithrespecttothe:
Numberofsuctions(singleordouble)
Numberofimpellers(single,double,ormultistage)
Output
Impellers(type,numberofvanes,etc.)
Mostimpellersarearrangedfromonesideonlyandarecalledsinglesuctiondesign.Highflowmodelsuseimpellersthatacceptsuctionfrombothsidesandarecalleddouble
suctiondesign.
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Impellertypes
Theefficiencyofacentrifugalpumpisdeterminedbytheimpeller.Vanesaredesignedtomeetagivenrangeofflowconditions.Fig.1illustratesthebasictypesofimpellers.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_240_Image_0001.png)

Fig.1Basictypesofimpellers.

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Openimpellers
Vanesareattachedtothecentralhub,withoutanyform,sidewall,orshroud,andaremounteddirectlyontoashaft.Openimpellersarestructurallyweakandrequirehigher
NPSHRvalues.Theyaretypicallyusedinsmalldiameter,inexpensivepumpsandpumpshandlingsuspendedsolids.Theyaremoresensitivetowearthanclosedimpellers,thus
theirefficiencydeterioratesrapidlyinerosiveservice.
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Partiallyopenorsemiclosedimpellers
Thistypeofimpellerincorporatesabackwall(shroud)thatservestostiffenthevanesandaddsmechanicalstrength.Theyareusedinmediumdiameterpumpsandwithliquids
containingsmallamountsofsuspendedsolids.TheyofferhigherefficienciesandlowerNPSHRthanopenimpellers.Itisimportantthatasmallclearanceorgapexistsbetween
theimpellervanesandthehousing.Iftheclearanceistoolarge,slippageandrecirculationwilloccur,whichinturnresultsinreducedefficiencyandpositiveheatbuildup.
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Closedimpellers
Theclosedimpellerhasbothabackandfrontwallformaximumstrength.TheyareusedinlargepumpswithhighefficienciesandlowNPSHR.Theycanoperateinsuspended
solidsservicewithoutcloggingbutwillexhibithighwearrates.Theclosedimpellertypeisthemostwidelyusedtypeofimpellerforcentrifugalpumpshandlingclearliquids.
Theyrelyoncloseclearancewearringsontheimpellerandonthepumphousing.Thewearringsseparatetheinletpressurefromthepressurewithinthepump,reduceaxial
loads,andhelpmaintainpumpefficiency.
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Numberofimpellers
Singlestagepumps
Thesinglestagecentrifugalpump,consistingofoneimpeller,isthemostwidelyusedinproductionoperations.TheyareusedinpumpingservicesoflowtomoderateTDHs.
TheTDH(totaldynamichead)isafunctionoftheimpellerstopspeed,normallynothigherthan700ft/min.Singlestagepumpscanbeeithersingleordoublesuction.The
singlestagepumpdesigniswidelyacceptedandhasprovedtobehighlyreliable.However,theyhavehigherunbalancedthrustandradialforcesatoffdesignflowratesthan
multistagedesignsandhavelimitedTDHcapabilities.
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Multistagepumps
Themultistagecentrifugalpumpconsistsoftwoormoreimpellers.TheyareusedinpumpingservicesofmoderatetohighTDHs.Eachstageisessentiallyaseparatepump.All
thestagesarewithinthesamehousingandinstalledonthesameshaft.Eightormorestagescanbeinstalledonasinglehorizontalshaft.Thereisnolimittothenumberofstages
thatcanbeinstalledonaverticalshaft.Eachstageincreasestheheadbyapproximatelythesameamount.Multistagepumpscanbeeithersingleordoublesuctiononthefirst
impeller.
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Impelleraxialloading
Asinglesuction,enclosedorsemienclosedimpellerisinherentlysubjecttocontinualendthrust.Thethrustisdirectedaxiallytowardthesuctionbecauseofthelowpressures
thatexistintheimpellereyeduringpumpoperation.Thisthrustishandledwithathrustbearing.ThelargertheTDHandthelargertheimpellereyediameter,thelargerthe
thrust.Excessivethrustresultsinbearingandsealdamage.
Thrustcanbereducedbydesigningasinglestageimpellerforadoublesuction.Inmultistagepumps,thrustcanbereducedbyfacinghalftheimpellersinonedirectionandhalf
intheother.Balancingholescanbeusedinsinglesuction,singlestagepumps.Theimpelleriscoredattherearshroudtoallowhighpressureliquidtoflowbacktotheimpeller
eye.
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Impellerradialloading
Asthefluidleavesthetopoftherotatingimpeller,itexertsanequalandoppositeforceontheimpeller,shaft,andradialbearings.Atthebestefficiencypoint(BEP),thesumof
allradialforcesnearlycancelseachotherout.AtcapacitiesbeloworabovetheBEP,forcesdonotcanceloutcompletelybecausetheflowisnolongeruniformaroundthe
peripheryontheimpeller.Radialforcescanbesignificant.Heavydutyradialbearingsmayberequiredinlieuofthemanufacturersstandardwhenpumpoperationdeparts
significantlyfromtheBEP.
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Pumpspecificspeed
Pumpspecificspeedisthespeedinrevolutionsperminuterequiredtoproduceaflowof1gal/minwithaTDHof1ft,withanimpellersimilartotheoneunderconsideration
butreducedinsize.Thepumpspecificspeedlinksthethreemaincomponentsofcentrifugalpumpperformancecharacteristicsintoasingleterm.Itisusedtocomparetwo
centrifugalpumpsthataregeometricallysimilar.Pumpspecificspeedcanbecalculatedfrom
(/File%3AVol3_page_241_eq_001.PNG)................(1)
where
Ns=pumpspecificspeed
N=pumprotativespeed

q=pumpcapacity
Htd=TDHperstageattheBEP.
Thepumpspecificspeedisalwayscalculatedatthepumpspointofmaximumefficiency.Thenumberisusedtocharacterizeapumpsperformanceasafunctionofitsflowing
parameters.Normally,itisdesirabletoselecttheimpellerwiththehighestspecificspeed(smallestdiameter).Thismaybeoffsetbythehigheroperatingcostassociatedwith
higherspeedsandgreatersusceptibilitytocavitationdamage.
ImpellersWithLowSpecificSpeeds(500to4,000).Radialflowimpellerstypicallyhavelowspecificspeeds.Radialflowimpellersarenarrowandrelativelylargeindiameter
andaredesignedforhighTDHsandlowflowcapacity.Thepumpedfluidundergoesa90turnfrominlettooutletoftheimpeller.
ImpellersWithMedianSpecificSpeeds(4,000to10,000).Mixedflowimpellerstypicallyhavemediumspecificspeedsandarewiderandsmallerindiameterthanradialflow
impellers.TheyexhibitmediumTDHandmediumflowcapability.Theyaretypicallyusedinverticalmultistagepumpsanddownholeelectricalsubmersiblepumps,which
requiresmalldiameters.
ImpellersWithHighSpecificSpeeds(10,000to16,000).Axialflowimpellerstypicallyhavehighspecificspeeds.Intheseimpellers,theliquidflowdirectionremainsparallel
totheaxisofthepumpshaft.AxialflowimpellersareusedforhighflowandlowTDHapplications.Theyaremostcommonlyusedforwaterirrigation,floodcontrol,pumped
storagepowergenerationprojects,andasshipimpellers.
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Pumpperformancecurves
Whenapumpmanufacturerdevelopsanewpump,thenewpumpistestedforperformanceundercontrolledconditions.Theresultsareplottedtoshowflowratevs.head,
efficiency,andpowerconsumption.Thesegraphsareknownasperformancecurves.Undersimilaroperatingconditions,aninstalledpumpisexpectedtodemonstratethesame
performancecharacteristicsasshownontheperformancecurves.Ifitdoesnot,thisindicatesthatsomethingiswrongwiththesystemand/orpump.Comparisonofactualpump
performancewithratedperformancecurvescanhelpdeterminepumpmalfunction.
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Curveperformance
Theimpellershapeandspeedistheprimarydeterminantofpumpperformance.Fig.2illustratesageneralizedcentrifugalpumpcurve.Head,NPSHR,efficiency,horsepower,
andbrakehorsepower(BHP)requirementsvarywithflowrate.TheTDHisgreatestatzerocapacity(shutoffhead)andthenfallsoffwithincreasingflowrates.Thehorsepower
curvestartsoutatsomesmallvalueatzeroflow,increasesmoderatelyuptoamaximumpoint,andthentapersoffslightly.Thepumpefficiencycurvestartsoutatzero,
increasesrapidlyasflowincreases,levelsoffattheBEP,anddecreasesthereafter.TheNPSHRisafinitevalueatzeroflowandincreasesasthesquareoftheincreaseinflow
rate.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_243_Image_0001.png)
Fig.2Characteristicpumpperformancecurve.

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Curveparameters
ItisbesttooperatethepumpattheBEP,butthisisnotnormallyfeasible.Alternatively,thepumpshouldoperateonlyintheareaofthecurveclosesttotheBEPandonlyinthe
moderatelyslopingportionoftheheadcurve.Operatingintheflatorsteeplyslopingportionsofthecurveresultsinwastedenergyandflowcontrolinstability.Pumpsthatrunat
ornearBEPrunsmootherandhavebetterrunlives.Anytimetheactualflowdropstolessthan50%oftheBEPflow,itiswisetoconsultthemanufacturerbecauseshaft
deflectionsmayincreasedramatically(especiallywithsinglestageoverhungdesignpumps),whichcouldleadtohighermaintenancecostsandtofailures.
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Pumpsinparallel
Fig.3illustratestheshapetheTDHvs.capacitycurveassumeswhenidenticalpumpsareoperatedinparallelandseries.Paralleloperationoccurswheremultiplepumpsare
pipedtothesamesuctionanddischargelines.ThecombinedflowrateisthetotaloftheindividualpumpflowsattheTDH.Inmostcases,theheadcapacitycurvesofthe
parallelpumpsarethesame,ornearlyso.ItisnotnecessaryforthecurvestobethesameaslongaseachpumpoperatinginparallelcanputoutthedesiredTDH.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_244_Image_0001.png)
Fig.3Headcapacitycurveforparalleland
seriespumpoperation.

Allcentrifugalpumpsdischargingtoanelevatedorpressurizedvesselandallcentrifugalpumpsoperatinginparallelshouldhavecheckvalvesintheeventofapumpshutdown
tokeepthepumpfromspinningbackwards.(Thedangerisashearedshaftonrestartattempt.)
Driversizeshouldbeselectedsothatoverloadingdoesnotoccuratanypointacrosstheentirepumpcurve.Floworificesormetersshouldbeprovidedineachpumpsdischarge
lineforverificationofflowrates.SuctionanddischargepipingshouldbearrangedassymmetricallyaspracticalsothatallpumpshavethesameNPSHA.
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Seriesoperation
SeriesoperationisusedwhenasinglepumpcannotdevelopthetotalTDHrequired.ItisalsousedwhenalowNPSHRisusedtofeedalargerpumpthatrequiresanNPSHR
thatcannotbeprovidedfromanatmospherictankorvesseloperatingatitsbubblepoint.Inseriesoperation,thecombinedheadisthesumoftheindividualpumpTDHsatthe
sameflow.
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Systemheadcurves
ThesystemheadcurveisagraphicalrepresentationofTDHrequiredtobefurnishedbythepumpvs.theflowratethroughthepipingsystem.Itconsistsofaconstant(static)
andanincreasing(variable)portion.Fig.4illustratesanexampleofatypicalsystemheadcurve.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_245_Image_0001.png)
Fig.4Exampleofatypicalsystemheadcurve.

Theconstantportionrepresentsthestaticheaddifferencebetweenthesuctionandthedischargeatzeroflowandisequalto
(/File%3AVol3_page_243_eq_001.PNG)................(2)
Thevariableportionrepresentstheheadrequiredtoovercomefrictionasaresultofflow.Itvariesasthesquareoftheflowandisequalto
(/File%3AVol3_page_244_eq_001.PNG)................(3)
where
pf1=pressuredropresultingfromfrictioninthesuctionpiping
pf2=pressuredropresultingfromfrictioninthedischargepiping
Pc=dischargeflowcontrolvalvelosses.
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Regulationofflowrate
Itisunusualforasystemtorequireoperationatasinglefixedflowrate.ApumpwilldeliveronlythecapacitythatcorrespondstotheintersectionoftheTDHcapacityand
systemheadcurves.Tovarythecapacity,onemustchangetheshapeofoneorbothcurves.Theheadcapacitycurveshapecanbechangedbyalteringthepumpspeedor
impellerdiameter.Thesystemheadcurveshapecanbechangedbytheuseofabackpressurethrottlingvalve(seeBackpressureValvesinthispage).
Theeffectsofoperatingatsignificantlyreducedcapacitymayleadto:
OperatingatmuchlessthantheBEP
Higherenergyconsumptionperunitcapacity

Highbearingloads
Temperaturerise
Internalcirculation
Theseresultscanbeminimizedwiththeuseofavariablespeeddriverorwiththeuseofseveralparallelpumpsforthetotalcapacityandsequentiallyshuttingdownindividual
unitsasdemandrequires.
HigherbearingloadswillexistforanyflowthatdepartsfromtheBEP,especiallyforsinglestage,singlesuctionpumps.Thiscanbeanticipatedbyspecifyingcertaintypesof
heavydutyandlonglifebearings.Ifthetemperatureofthepumpedfluidrisesandtheflowratethroughthepumpdecreases,minimumflowrecirculationcanbeused(see
MinimumFlowRecirculationValveinthispage).Themanufacturergenerallyprovidestheminimumcontinuousrequiredflowrateforanypumpselection.Operatingbetween
theBEPandminimumrequiredflowrategenerallyavoidsalltheproblemsdiscussed.
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Backpressurevalves
ThedifferencebetweentheTDHdevelopedbythepumpandtheheadrequiredbythesystemheadcurverepresentslostenergy.Becausemostcentrifugalpumpsaredrivenby
constantspeedelectricmotors,throttlingistheonlypracticalmethodofregulatingcapacity.Thebackpressurevalveimposesavariableamountoflossonthesystemheadcurve.
ClosingthevalveincreasescontrollossesandcausesthesystemheadcurvetoslopeupmoresteeplytointersecttheTDHcapacitycurveatthedesiredcapacity.Openingthe
valvedecreasesthecontrollossesandcausesthesystemheadcurvetoslopedownwardandintersecttheTDHcapacitycurveatahighercapacity.Withthevalvecompletely
open,thecapacityisgovernedonlybytheintersectionofthetwocurves.
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Minimumflowrecirculationvalve
Therecirculationvalvepreventsthebuildupofexcessiveamountsofheatwithinthecasing.Aminimumflowrecirculationvalveshouldbeinstalledifthepumppipingsystem
containsabackpressurevalvethatcouldcloseandresultinlessthantheminimumcontinuousflowatwhichthepumpcansafelyoperate.Arecirculationvalveisoftenusedin
installationsinwhichthepumppipingcontainsanautomaticshutdowndischargevalvethatcouldfailintheclosedposition,oradischargeblockvalvethatcanbeinadvertently
closed.Therecirculationvalveshouldbeupstreamofthefirstblockvalveorcontrolvalvedownstreamofthepump.Onsmallpumps,anorificeisusuallyinstalledonthe
recirculation,whichcontinuouslyrecirculatesafixedflowofliquidbacktothesuction.Acontrolvalvecostsmorebutwillmodulatetherecirculationtoassureonlyminimum
flowandthusresultinlessenergyloss.
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Changingperformance
Themaximumheadthatacentrifugalpumpcandevelopisdeterminedbyspeed,impellerdiameter,andnumberofstages.Thus,tochangetheheadofapump,oneormoreof
thesefactorsmustbechanged.Speedcanbechangedwithdifferentgears,belts,orpulleys,orbyinstallingavariablespeeddriver.Theimpellerdiametercanbealteredforlarge
permanentchanges.Thenumberofimpellerscanbechangedbyreplacingexistingimpellerswithspacersordummyimpellers.
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Variablespeedcontrol
Mostmotordrivencentrifugalpumpsareoperatedatconstantspeed.Adirectcurrentorvariablefrequencyalternatingcurrentmotorcontrolcanmaintainnearlythesamepump
efficiencyoveralargerspeedrange.Variablespeedcontrolmakesitpossibletoeliminatethebackpressurethrottlingrequirementstoadjustsystemhead.
Fig.5illustratestheheadcapacitycurverelationshipofaconstantspeedandvariablespeedpump.Thepumpisoperatingat100%ofitscapacity,andtheTDHisrepresented
byPoint1onthegraph.Ifitbecomesdesirabletoreducethecapacityto80%oftheratedcapacity,theconstantspeedpumpoperationwillmovetoPoint3.Point3requires
110%oftheheadand92%oftheBHPrequiredatPoint1,andthus,additionalbackpressurewouldberequiredtoforcethesystemcurvetointersectthepumpcurveatthis
point.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_246_Image_0001.png)
Fig.5Head/capacitycurvecomparisonof
constantandvariablespeedpump.

Avariablespeeddrivercould,ineffect,findaTDHcapacitycurvethatintersectsthesystemcurveatPoint2.Point2requiresonly70%oftheheadand73%ofthepower
requiredatPoint1.Thus,at80%capacity,theconstantspeedpumpwouldoperateatPoint3andthevariablespeedpumpatPoint2.Thepotentialenergysavingsisrepresented
bythedifferencebetween92and73%ofhorsepower,or19%.
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Affinitylaws
Theaffinitylawsareusedtopredictwhateffectspeedorimpellerdiameterchangeshaveoncentrifugalpumpperformance.Thelawsarebasedondimensionalanalysisof
rotatingmachinesthatshows,fordynamicallysimilarconditions,certaindimensionlessparametersremainconstant.Theserelationshipsapplytoalltypesofcentrifugaland
axialmachines.
Forachangeinpumpspeed,thefollowingchangesinpumpperformancecanbedetermined:

(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_001.PNG)................(4)
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_002.PNG)................(5)
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_003.PNG)................(6)
where
N1=oldspeed
N2=newspeed.
Forachangeindiameter,thefollowingperformancechangescanbedetermined:
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_004.PNG)................(7)
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_005.PNG)................(8)
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_006.PNG)................(9)
where
D1=olddiameter
D2=newdiameter.
Forachangeinbothdiameterandspeed,thefollowingchangesinpumpperformancecanbedetermined:
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_007.PNG)................(10)
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_008.PNG)................(11)
(/File%3AVol3_page_247_eq_009.PNG)................(12)
Predictionsforspeedchangesarefairlyaccuratethroughouttherangeofspeedchanges.However,predictionsfordiameterchangestendtobeaccuratefordiameterchangeof
only10%becausechangingthediameteralsochangestherelationshipoftheimpellertothepumpcasing.Thus,fora10%increaseineitherdiameterorspeed,theflowwill
increaseby10%,TDHby21%,andtheBHPby33%.
Theefficiencyisassumedtobeconstantinallthepreviouscalculations.Fig.6illustratesagraphicexampleofreducedoperatingparametersbecauseofspeedreducers.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_248_Image_0001.png)
Fig.6Exampleofreducedoperating
parametersasaresultofspeedreducers.

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Pumppriming
Mostcentrifugalpumpshaveafloodedsuction.Thesourceisabovethepumpsuction,andatmosphericpressureissufficienttomaintainfluidatthepumpinletatalltimes.
Sometimesthepumpmusttakesuctionfromasourcethatisbelowthecenterlineofthepump.Atmosphericpressurealonewillnotalwayskeepthesuctionflooded.
Conventionalcentrifugalpumpsarenotselfpriming.Thus,theyarenotcapableofevacuatingvaporfromthecasingsothatfluidfromthesuctionlinecanreplacethevapor.
Selfprimingpumpsaredesignedsothatanadequatefluidvolumeforreprimingisalwaysretainedwithinthepumpcasing,eveniffluiddrainsbacktothesource.
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Installationconsiderations
Acentrifugalpumpisapieceofprecisionmachinerythatmustnotbesubjectedtoexternalstrainsbeyondthoseitwasdesignedtoencounter.Itmustbeinstalledintheintended
position,carefullyaligned,andfreefrompipingforcesandmoments.
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Foundations
Generally,foundationdesignisnotcritical.Vibrationinacentrifugalpumpisminimalunlessanenginedriverisused.Asageneralruleofthumb,thefoundationshouldbeable
tohandlethreetimestheweightofthepump,driver,andskidassembly.Themanufactureristhebestsourcefordeterminingtherequiredfoundationsize.
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Pipingdesign
Poorpipingdesignandinstallationisacommoncauseofpoorcentrifugalpumpperformanceorfailure.Poorpipingcanresultin:
Cavitation
Performancedropout
Impellerfailure
Bearingandmechanicalsealfailures
Crackedcasings
Leaks
Spills
Fires
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Suctionpiping
Suctionpipingismoreimportantthandischargepiping.
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Fluidsourceinlet
Whenthefluidsourceisabovethepump(statichead),thesourcevesselshouldcontainaweirtominimizeturbulence,avortexbreakertoeliminatevortexingandvapor
entrainment,andanozzlesizedtolimitexitvelocityto7ft/secor,preferably,less.Whenthefluidsourceisbelowthepump(staticlift),thesump,basin,orpitshouldbe
designedtoprovideevenvelocitydistributionintheapproachoraroundthesuctioninletandshouldbesufficientlysubmergedtopreventvortexing.
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Pipesizeandeliminationofairpockets
Pipingshouldbeatleastonenominalpipesizelargerthanthepumpsuctionflange.Velocitiesshouldbelessthan2to3ft/sec,andtheheadlossasaresultoffrictionshouldbe
lessthan1ftper100ftofequivalentpipinglength.Suctionlinesshouldbeshortandfreeofallunnecessaryturns.Forfloodedsuctions,pipingshouldbecontinuouslysloping
downwardtothepumpsuctionsothatanyvaporpocketscanmigratebacktothesourcevessel.Forstaticlifts,thepipingshouldbecontinuouslyslopingupwardwithnoair
pockets(installgatevalvesinhorizontalposition).Whereairpocketscannotbeavoided,theuseofautomaticventvalvesisrecommended.
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Upstreamelbowconsiderations
Whenmakingupstreamorientationchanges,onlylongradiuselbowsshouldbeused.Theyshouldnotbeconnecteddirectlytothepumpsuctionflange,andaminimumofat
leasttwotofivepipediametersofstraightpipeshouldbebetweenthesuctionflangeandtheelbowandbetweensuccessiveelbows.Thisreducesswirlandturbulencebeforethe
fluidreachesthepump.Otherwise,separationoftheleadingedgesmayoccur,withconsequentnoisyoperationandcavitationdamage.
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Basketstrainers
Conditionsmaydictatethatpermanentstrainersbeinstalledinthesuctionpiping.Ifpermanentstrainersarenotrequired,temporaryconetypestrainersshouldbeinstalledat
leastforinitialstartups.Basketstrainersshouldhaveatleast150%flowareascreens.
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Eccentricreducers
Reducersarerequiredwhenmakingatransitionfromonepipesizetoanotherandingoingfromthesuctionpipesizetothepumpflange.Reductionatthepumpshouldbe
limitedtoonenominalsizechange(e.g.,8to6in.).Iftwoormorenominalpipesizereductionsarerequired,itisbesttolocateanyremainingchangesseveralpipediameters
awayfromthepumpinlet.Eccentricreducersshouldbeused,ifpossible,andshouldbeinstalledwiththeflatsideup.Concentricreducersshouldnotbeusedforhorizontal
suctionlinesbecausetheycouldtrapvaporthatcanbepulledintothepumpandcausecavitationorvaporlock.Concentricreducerscanbeusedforverticalsuctionlinesand
horizontallineswithfloodedsuction.
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Dischargepiping
MinimumFlowBypass.Theminimumflowbypass(orrecirculation)protectsthepumpfromtemperaturebuildupwhenthepumpingratesarelow.Theyshouldbedesignedto
handlethepumpsminimumflowcapacityatminimumdischargepressurewithalinerestrictortoadjustflow.Smallpumpsareusuallycontrolledbyanorificeorchoketube.
Forlargepumpsinwhichacontinuousbypasswouldconsumeexcessivepower,acontrolvalveactuated(opened)bylowflowisused.
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Checkvalves
Checkvalvesareessentialtominimizebackflow,whichcandamagethepump.Selectionshouldtakeintoaccounttheeffectofwaterhammer.Waterhammeristhetransient
changeinstaticlinepressureasaresultofasuddenchangeinflow.Itemsthatcanstartthesuddenchangeinflowincludethestartingorstoppingofapumportheopeningor
closingofacheckvalve.
Slowclosingcheckvalvesareacceptableonsystemswithasinglepumpandlonglengthsofpipe.Fastclosingcheckvalvesarerequiredwithmultiplepumpsoperatingin
parallelandathighheads.Asageneralguideline,lift(swing)checkvalvesareslowunlesstheyarespringloaded.Tiltingdiskcheckvalvesarefastclosingbutaremore
expensiveandhaveahigherpressuredropthanswingcheckvalves.Whenfastreactingcheckvalvesarerequired,pressuredropconsiderationsshouldbesecondary.
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Nomenclature

Ns = pumpspecificspeed
N = pumprotativespeed
q = pumpcapacity
Htd = TDHperstageattheBEP
pf1 = pressuredropresultingfromfrictioninthesuctionpiping
pf2 = pressuredropresultingfromfrictioninthedischargepiping
Pc = dischargeflowcontrolvalvelosses
N1 = oldspeed
N2 = newspeed
D1 = olddiameter
D2 = newdiameter
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References
Usethissectionforcitationofitemsreferencedinthetexttoshowyoursources.[Thesourcesshouldbeavailabletothereader,i.e.,notaninternalcompanydocument.]
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NoteworthypapersinOnePetro
UsethissectiontolistpapersinOnePetrothatareaderwhowantstolearnmoreshoulddefinitelyread
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Externallinks
UsethissectiontoprovidelinkstorelevantmaterialonwebsitesotherthanPetroWikiandOnePetro
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Seealso
PEH:Pumps(/PEH%3APumps)
Pumps(/Pumps)
Positivedisplacementpumps(/Positive_displacement_pumps)
Pumpdrivers(/Pump_drivers)

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q=Centrifugalpumps)

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