Liquid Pumping 1

Liquid Pumping

1998 AEA Technology plc - All Rights Reserved

Nat Gas Lec 7_1.pdf 1
2 Lecture

Lecture
Pumps are used to move liquids. In gas plants, mainly centrifugal and
reciprocating pumps are used. The design concepts and design
methods for pumps are well described in Section 12 of the Data Book.

Learning Objectives
In this module you will learn about:

Reciprocating and centrifugal pumps

NPSHA / NPSHR
Calculating pump horsepower

Theoretical Foundations
Reciprocating pumps are used mainly for low rates, and where high
discharge pressures are required. This makes them suited for chemical
injection into process streams. The liquid pump rate is directly
proportional to the number of strokes of the plunger and the
displacement of the plunger.

Centrifugal pumps impart pressure to the liquid by acceleration in the

impeller of the pump. The impeller rotates at a high speed, accelerating
the liquid and converting it to pressure when it leaves the discharge
side of the pump. This pressure is expressed in liquid "head", which is
the equivalent height of the liquid in metres that would generate a
hydrostatic pressure equal to the pressure at the discharge flange of the
pump.

The discharge head of the pump is independent of the density of the

fluid pumped, but depends on the design features of the pump, such as
diameter of the impeller, the rotational speed of the pump, and the
number of impeller stages.

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 Lecture 3

When pumping liquids, it is extremely important that no flashing of

vapours occurs in the suction side of the pump. Flashing would occur if
the pressure on the suction side of the pump drops below the vapour
pressure of the liquid being pumped. The result would be pump noise,
cavitation, loss of efficiency, and would ultimately result in damage to
the pump. Thus an absolute pressure must be maintained on the liquid
going to the pump that is higher than the vapour pressure of the liquid.
When liquids are pumped that are at their boiling point in the suction
vessel, the vessel is raised above the level of the pump so that the
hydrostatic pressure developed by the height of the liquid column is
greater than the pressure losses due to friction in the piping between
the vessel and the pump.

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4 Lecture

The excess pressure at pump suction over the vapour pressure of the
liquid being pumped is called the Net Positive Suction Head Available
(NPSHA), and is normally expressed in terms of height of liquid column
in metres. NPSHA is determined in the following manner:
P sv P vp
NPSHA = ------------------------- - -h + z
- -------------------------
RD 9.807 RD 9.807 fsv sv
where: NPSHA = net positive suction head available, m

Psv = pressure of vessel in which liquid is stored, kPa

(abs)

Pvp = vapour pressure of liquid that is pumped, at

temperature, kPa (abs)

RD = relative density to water of liquid being pumped

hfsv = the height of a column of liquid in m equal to

the frictional losses in the suction piping between

the liquid storage vessel and the pump suction

nozzle

zsv = the difference in elevation in m between the

minimum level of liquid in the storage vessel and

the elevation of the centerline of the pump suction

nozzle.

The conversion between height of liquid in m and pressure is:

h RD 9.807 H2O
P = ---------------------------------------------------
1000
where: P = pressure, kPa

h = head (height of liquid column), m

9.807 = acceleration of gravity, m/s2

H2O = density of water at T, P, kg/m3, often taken as

1000 kg/m3.

Each pump will have a rating by the manufacturer of the Net Positive
The NPSHA must always be Suction Head Required (NPSHR).
greater than the NPSHR.

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 Lecture 5

The Absolute Total Head to a pump is determined in a similar manner

to the NPSHA, but without the liquid vapour pressure term, Pvp.

The discharge side of the centrifugal pump has to overcome the

pressure of the vessel into which the liquid is being pumped, as well as
all other resistances up to the entry flange into the vessel. Such
resistances are the friction losses in the piping, valves and fittings. The
discharge head can be determined by:
P dv
Absolute Discharge Head = -------------------------- + hfdv + zdv
RD 9.807
where:

Absolute Discharge Head = total head developed by pump on

discharge side, m

Pdv = pressure in vessel to which pump is discharging,

kPa (abs)

hfdv = frictional pressure losses in piping, valves and

fittings between pump and nozzle in vessel,

expressed in terms of height, in m

zdv = elevation difference between discharge nozzle of

pump and entry nozzle of vessel, m

The Differential Head, H, developed by the pump is the difference

between Absolute Discharge Head and the Absolute Total Head, and is
the term that enters into the determination of the hydraulic power
developed by the pump. Usually a safety margin of about 10 % is added
Usually a safety margin of to the Differential Head.
about 10% is added to the
Differential Head.

The power required to pump the fluid is estimated by:

Q H RD
hyd kW = --------------------------
367
where: Q = rate of liquid flow, m3/hour

H = Differential head, m

RD = relative density of liquid

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6 Lecture

The actual horsepower required is somewhat higher, as the efficiency of

the pump is only in the order of 60 to 70 %. The pump vendor supplies
this efficiency value. The previous equation is divided by efficiency
expressed as a fraction, to obtain the actual power of the pump driver.

Problem 7-1
The maximum circulation rate of amine to an amine absorber has been
calculated to be 2.95 m3/min. Determine the power requirement for
the centrifugal pump to pump the solution from atmospheric pressure
to 6800 kPa (gauge).

Other data are as follows:

Vapour pressure of amine solution = 5 kPa (abs)

Friction losses in suction piping = 30 kPa

Atmospheric pressure = 100 kPa

Friction losses in discharge piping = 70 kPa

Relative density of amine solution = 1.05

Minimum elevation difference between amine liquid level in

amine supply tank and pump suction is 0 m

Elevation difference between pump discharge and inlet nozzle

to amine contactor is 20 m