Flow Control

Technical Paper

Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology

by Weir Specialty Pumps

First presented at the International Rotating Equipment Conference 2016, Dsseldorf, Germany
September 2016

Bryce Neilson, PE
BS Mechanical Engineer
Research & Development
Weir Specialty Pumps
US 84101 Salt Lake City

Copyright: Pumps + Systems Association within VDMA e. V.

Lyoner Strae 18, D 60528 Frankfurt
Phone: +49 (0) 69/66 03-12 86, Email: friedrich.kluetsch@vdma.org
Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

Summary

Pitot tube pumps excel in low flow high head applications and are able to operate reliably
throughout their full curve (shutoff to runout) without damage. This makes them a great choice
for tough applications in which there is high fluctuation in flow rate. The most common pitot tube
pump commercially available is an overhung rotor arrangement with an coaxial suction and dis-
charge. This arrangement has a large impact on the Net Positive Suction Head required
(NPSHr) by the pump. Often the NPSHr must be increased substantially when pumping fluids
with steep vapor pressure curves such as light hydrocarbons. In this arrangement axial thrust is
dependent on suction pressure, high suction pressures result in high axial thrust requiring multi-
ple thrust bearings and reducing bearing life. A between bearings rotor arrangement with op-
posed suction and discharge has demonstrated improved NPSHr and eliminate axial thrust re-
sulting from suction pressure.

It has been demonstrated that size and number of blades of the pitot tube has a large impact on
the pressure distribution inside the rotating case. There is region of higher than anticipated
pressure at the center of the rotor. This pressure adds significantly to axial thrust loads and in-
creases seal pressure (in the between bearings arrangement). This has a large impact on bear-
ing life and seal selection. Adding enclosed channels to the rotating case eliminates this pres-
sure without sacrificing pump performance reducing the size and number of bearings required
and increasing bearing life.

About Weir Specialty Pumps

Located in Salt Lake City, USA, Weir Specialty Pumps engineers and manufactures pumps and
equipment for a global customer base. Weir Specialty Pumps products include the combined
WEMCO product line, consisting of the WEMCO Torque-Flow recessed impeller pump,
WEMCO Screw Centrifugal pump, WEMCO Prerotation Basin, and the WEMCO
Hydrogritter. Also included is the pitot-tube style Roto-Jet high pressure pump line and the
WSP Self-Primer, Chop-Flow, Non-Clog, and Food Transfer pumps.

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

Factors Effecting NPSHr coaxial arrangement

In a typical overhung (OH) pitot tube pump the suction and discharge are arranged coaxially.
The pitot tube discharge exists through the middle of the suction (figure 1).

This arrangement has several

factors that affect the pumps Discharge
NPSHr by transferring heat the Pitottube
fluid in the suction.
RotatingAssembly
Restricted/blocked inlet (1)
The incoming fluid passes
through several turns and re-
strictions before is arrives at
the rotor cover inlet. The pitot
tube discharge extends
through the center of the rotor
cover inlet. This adds to the
friction loss and increases the
velocity of the fluid decreasing
the static pressure available at RotorCover Seal Suction
the entrance to the rotor cover.
Figure 1: coaxial overhung pitot tube pump
Pitot tube exit (2)
Heat is added to the pumped fluid as it passes through the pump by work and friction. As this
fluid exits through the pitot tube some of this heat is transferred through the wall of the pitot tube
to the fluid in the suction (flowing the opposite direction) before it enters the rotor cover. This
added heat increases the vapor pressure of the fluid increasing NPSHr. This arrangement can
be modeled as simple counter flow heat exchanger allowing for the use of the log mean tem-
perature difference method (LMTD) to estimate the heat added to the suction fluid.

Labyrinth Leakage (3)

In most pitot tube pumps there is a simple close clearance or labyrinth between the rotor and
the stationary pitot tube that restricts the leakage from the rotor cavity to the eye of the rotor
cover. Tests have demonstrated that a pressure differential exists between the rotor cavity and
the suction inlet (figure 9). Fluid leaking past this labyrinth enters the eye of the rotor cover add-
ing volume and increasing velocity. Heat has been added to this fluid through work and friction
in the rotor.

Seal Friction (4)

Heat generated by the seal is also added to the incoming fluid. This increases the vapor pres-
sure increasing NPSHr.

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

NPSHr adjustment
Discharge The amount of heat added to
the suction fluid of an over-
hung pitot tube pump is suffi-
cient enough to significantly
increase the vapor pressure
of the incoming fluid. The
increase in vapor pressure
per unit heat varies with the
fluid. Since NPSHr curves are
typically generated on water it
is necessary to adjust the
2 NPSHr for fluids with steeper
vapor pressure curves such
as light hydrocarbons. This is
3 1 done by simply adding up all
4
the sources of heat and calcu-
lating effect on the vapor
pressure of the pumped fluid.
Heat generation and transfer
increases as the pump is op-
Suction
erated away from BEP near-
Figure 2: coaxial overhung pitot tube pump (detail) ing shut off increasing the
amount of correction required.
(figure 3).

1000
OverhungcoaxialarrangmentNPSHrpropane(C3H6)

100
NPSHr(m)

OverhungC3H6
10 OverhungH2O

1
0 0.5 1 1.5
Q/QBEP

Figure 3: NPSHr water compared to propane

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

NPSHr in between bearings arrangement

Rearranging the pump to a between bearing (BB) and moving the pitot tube discharge so it is
opposed to the suction removes all obstructions decreasing friction loss and velocity. This also
removes all mechanisms for heating the suction fluid (figure 4). This arrangement utilizes an
integral gear drive. An external gearbox increasing speed is commonly used with an conven-
tional overhung pitot tube pump given that they are typically operated at speeds above a 2 pole
motor on most applications.

Rotating PitotTube
Assembly
Seal

Discharge

Suction

Seal

Drive
Gear
Figure 4: Between bearings opposed discharge pitot tube pump

Now that the pitot tube discharge does not penetrate the rotor cover labyrinth leakage is elimi-
nated. Eliminating these factors eliminates the need for adjustment on fluids with steep vapor
pressure curves. Tests confirm these changes have resulted in a 50% reduction in NPSHr on
water (Figure 5) over conventional overhung pitot tube pumps.

1000 NPSHrBetweenBearingPitotTubePump

100
NPSHr(m)

10 OverhungC3H6
OverhungH2O
1 BetweenBearingsH2O

0.1
0 0.5 1 1.5
Q/QBEP

Figure 5: Improved NPSHr on between bearings arrangement

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

Rotating case pressure distribution

It has been thought that the static pressure distribution in the rotating casing follows a forced
vortex pressure distribution or simple centrifugal force denoted by (Bruno Schiavello, 1997)
(Keiichi Komaki, 2012).

2
Recent testing and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) studies have shown that pitot tube size
and configuration (single or double blade) can have a considerable effect on the pressure
distribution inside the rotating case. This distribution has a large effect on bearing thrust loads
and the pressure at the pump seals (in the between bearing configuration). The pressure at the
center of the rotating case is of the most interest because of the pitot tube penetration location.
The pressure forces opposite of the pitot tube penetration remain unbalanced causing thrust on
the rotating assembly. The pressure forces balance out in the remainder of the rotor cavity
(figure 6).
Pitottubepentetration
Pitottube balanced
balanced
pentetration pressure
pressure
Thrust(Fa) forces forces

unbalanced
unbalanced pressure
pressureforces Thrust (Fa)
forces

Figure 6: Pressure distribution causing thrust loads

Measuring pressure in the rotating case

The pressure at the center of rotating case was measured by drilling a hole in the pitot tube at
the center of the rotating case. Attaching a tube that extends down the center of the pitot tube,
exiting through the pump wall to a pressure gauge (figure 7).
Discharge

Pressuretap

Suction

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

Figure 7: Center pressure tap overhung coaxial, between bearings is similar

The pump is operated all through the operating range and the net pressure at the center of the
rotor (with respect to the suction pressure) is recorded at several flows (figure 8). This is repeat-
ed for different sizes of pitot tubes, pitot tube configurations (single and double blade), and
pump configuration (OH, BB). The size of pitot tube opening determines pump capacity. Both
the interior passageway and the tube exterior are scaled with the size of the pitot tube opening.
Installing a double bladed tube doubles the capacity of the pump and improves pitot tube stabil-
ity.

NetRotorCenterPressure6320rpm
3.5

2.5

2 single9.5mmOH
mPa

1.5 Double9.5mmOH
double9.5mmBB
1
Double15.2mmOH
0.5

0
0 0.5 1 1.5
Q/QBEP

Figure 8: Net center pressure

This study reveals that

1. The pressure at the center of the rotor is higher than that of a forced vortex profile. If the pressure
followed a forced vortex profile the net center pressure would be zero.
2. The pressure magnitude depends on size of pitot tube, i.e. larger tubes have larger center pres-
sures.
3. Double bladed pitot tubes have a significantly higher center pressure than single blade pitot
tubes.
4. A between bearings arrangement has a higher center pressure than the overhung for the same
pitot tube size and arrangement. This is due to the lack a of leak path (labyrinth) back to the suc-
tion of the rotor cover.

Rotating case pressure distribution CFD analysis

While it is difficult to measure the static pressure at different radii inside the rotating case it is
easy to obtain these pressures from a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model. A frozen
rotor CFD model of a between bearings pump with a 9.5 mm double bladed tube was pre-
formed using commercial CFD code to determine the static pressure as a function of radius
(Figures 9 & 10). The total pressure at the suction is 138 kPa the pump is operating at best effi-
ciency point.

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

Pressure at center higher

than suction
discharge

suction

Pressure
measurement
locations

Figures 9 & 10: Between bearings CFD analysis showing center pressure

Plotting the static pressures as a function of radius gives a pressure profile (figure 11). For ref-
erence a pressure profile of a forced vortex is also plotted.

CFDrotorstaticpressure
5
4.5
4
staticpressuremPa

3.5
3
2.5
StaticPressure
2
1.5 ForcedVortex
1
0.5
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
r/rmax

Figure 11: Static pressure measured as a function of radius

Both the physical tests and the CFD demonstrate the presence of a region of high pressure at
the center of the rotor of pitot tube pumps.

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

This pressure has a significant impact on the axial thrust on the rotating case and seal pressure
(in the case of a between bearings arrangement). Since the rotor is completely enclosed except
for the penetration of the pitot tube. The axial force can be computed by.

Overhung

Between bearings

Given that a typical pitot tube penetration is 60 mm diameter and center pressures can reach
3.25 mPa axial trust load from the center pressure alone can reach 7.6 kN as an example. This
force greatly effects bearing selection and bearing life.

Elimination of center pressure

The obstruction of the pitot tube in the rotating body of fluid in the rotating case is thought to be
the cause elevated pressure in center of the rotating case. The friction against the pitot tube
blade manifests as an area of elevated pressure and temperature. It is possible to eliminate this
pressure by adding enclosed channels that open at the center of the rotor and extend radial to
the periphery of the rotor case. These channels are equally spaced around the axis of rotation.
(Figure 12)

Figure 12: Addition of enclosed channels

The fluid in the enclosed channels is protected from the influence of the pressure generated
pitot tube displacement. This fluid seeks the equilibrium of a forced vortex profile. The pressure
at the center of the rotating case is higher than this equilibrium causing fluid to flow through the
channels converting this pressure to friction and work. This configuration was tested with a cen-
ter pressure probe as described above (figure 7) showing that the center pressure is greatly
reduced or eliminated (figure 13).

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

EnclosedConduitRotorCenterPressure6320
rpm
3

2.5

2 Double15.2mmBB
(channels)
mPa

1.5
Double9.5mmBB
1 (channels)
0.5 Double9.5mm(no
channels)
0
0 0.5 1 1.5
Q/Qbep

Figure 13: Measured center pressure with enclosed channels

There was no change in efficiency. There was an improvement in shutoff head development
with enclosed channels (figures 14 & 15) decreasing the droop in the curve commonly associat-
ed with pitot tube pumps.

PumpCapacity
1.2

1
HeadCoefficient

0.8

0.6
StandardBB
0.4 Channels

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Q/Qbep

Figure 14: Between bearings performance

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

PumpEfficiency
0.7
0.6
PumpEfficiency

0.5
0.4
0.3 StandardBB
0.2 ChannelsBB
0.1
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Q/Qbep

Figure 15: Between bearings measured efficiency

Rotating case CFD analysis

A CFD study of a pump with the enclosed channels shows the elimination of center pressure
and that the pressure profile in the rotating case matches a forced vortex pressure profile (fig-
ures 16 & 17).

Pressure at center
matches suction

Figure 16: CFD analysis between bearings with enclosed channels

CFDmeasuredpressureprofile
5

3
mPa

ChannelBB
2
StanardBB
1 ForcedVortex

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
r/rmax

Figure 18: Static pressure as a function of radius (CFD analysis)

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Improvements in Pitot Tube Pump technology September 2016

The enclosed radial channels rotate at the same angular velocity as the rotating case. Fluid
flows only at a rate which maintains the equilibrium of a forced vortex profile in the case and the
channels and no more. Therefore it is not possible to oversize the channels. If the channels are
undersized a residual center pressure will remain. This residual is a function of the friction loss
in the channels.

Conclusion
Arranging a pitot tube pump in a between bearings arrangement with an opposed suction and
discharge decreases the NPSHr by 50%. This arrangement also eliminates suction inlet heating
negating the requirement for NPSHr adjustments for fluids with a steeper vapor pressure curve
than water. The between bearings arrangement consolidates the gear box typically required by
pitot tube pumps to a single gear case supporting the rotating case. This reduces space re-
quired for the pump and parts required.

In all pitot tube pump arrangements a region of high pressure is created by the displacement of
the stationary pitot tube in the rotating case. This pressure is a function of size of the pitot tube,
number of pitot tube blades, and pump configuration. This pressure creates significant thrust
loads effecting bearing loads and pumps seals. This pressure and subsequent loads can be
eliminated by the addition of enclosed channels in the rotating case.

The combination of a between bearings pitot tube pump and the center pressure eliminating
channels results in a low flow high head pump that has low NPSHr, no hydraulic thrust loads
that is conseqently insensitive to rapidly changing flow conditions. This makes it possible to op-
erate the pump anywhere on the curve from shut off to run out without damage to pump. This
makes a between bearings pitot pump a great choice for service in difficult light hydrocarbon
applications.

References
Bruno Schiavello, T. L. (1997). Tutorial on Special Purpose Pumps - Pitot; Progressing Cavity;
Air Operated Diapham; and Hydraulically actuated diaphragm . Proceedings from the
14th International Pump Users Symposium, 144-149.
Keiichi Komaki, T. K. (2012). Performances and Rotating Flows of Rotary Jet Pump. Open
Journal of Fluid Dynamics.

To learn more about the Roto-Jet and WEMCO range of pumps, please contact:

Bryce Neilson
T +1 801 530 7962
bryce.neilson@mail.weir
www.global.weir

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