Larra Lde 2010
Larra Lde 2010
Larra Lde 2010
Feature
WORLD PUMPS
February 2010
Pump selection
Centrifugal pump
selection process
Centrifugal pumps can be used in many applications, but in order
to operate reliably, with optimal energy use and maximum life span,
a pumps design characteristics must suit the intended service.
Correct pump selection is the first step to ensure this, as Eduardo
Larralde and Rafael Ocampo demonstrate in this first of two articles.
perational versatility is an
outstanding feature of centrifugal
pumps that has contributed to
their extended use in a wide range of
applications. But, although a centrifugal
pump can serve many dierent operating
conditions, it will not provide suitable and
satisfactory performance in all of them.
In order for a pump to run correctly,
without wasting energy or sustaining
internal damage, its design characteristics
must be suitable for the intended service.
Therefore, the correct selection of the
pump is the rst step in guaranteeing
ecient and appropriate performance,
reliable operation and a reasonably long
life span.
In spite of the existence of a large volume
of literature concerning the selection of
pumps, there are still essential aspects that
are sometimes overlooked, leading to an
inadequate selection. The main purpose of
this article is to review the most important
technological details to be dened before
seeking a quotation for a new centrifugal
pump, the aspects to be included in the
enquiry and those to be carefully checked
in the oers received before taking the
decision as to which is the best pump to
full the required service.
Preliminary denitions
www.worldpumps.com
WORLD PUMPS
Feature
February 2010
Nevertheless, the previously listed information is not enough. Operational requirements are of the upmost importance,
and therefore should be dened with the
maximum accuracy. Frequently, capacity
and head are established only for normal
and maximum values without taking into
account that the pump could run through
a wide range of capacities and that the
process may not allow pressure dierences
beyond certain limits. This is just the case
in the example to be presented in the next
article. This condition will obviously force
an arrangement to be found to full that
basic requirement with the highest possible
eciency. Several options could be considered, such as choosing a pump whose Q-H
(capacityhead) characteristic curve is at
enough to satisfy the conditions imposed by
Additionally, the minimum safe ow recommended by the manufacturer for the pump
should be clearly stated in order to prepare
the system to ensure the safe, continuous
operation of the pump when the process ow
demand is lower than that value.
Bid analysis
At this point the buyer is ready to ask for
preliminary oers in order to carry out
a thorough analysis of the characteristic
curves of the oered pumps and, of course,
a detailed check of all the other information contained in the oers. When checking
the characteristic curves there are three
main aspects to consider.
Firstly, the API 610 standard must be
fullled concerning the supply of all the
required curves, namely, dierential head,
eciency, NPSH(R) and power consumption, all of them plotted against the
capacity of the pump. The scope of these
curves should cover at least up to 125%
of the pump capacity at the BEP. Additionally, headcapacity curves for minimum
and maximum impeller diameters should
be shown. The necessary corrections for
viscosity should be clearly indicated. The
area of ow for the eye of the rst-stage
impeller as well as its identity number
should also be shown. Although the API
610 standard requires the inclusion of these
data for the rst-stage impeller in the characteristic curves, it should be pointed out
that only a few manufacturers do so and
therefore this information will have to be
insisted on by the buyer. The worst case is
when the supplier fails to include the eciency curve or the NPSH(R) curve, which is
completely unacceptable if a correct selection of the pump is to be made.
Secondly, the rotational speed, density and
viscosity to which the curves relate must
be taken into consideration. If they do not
match up with the data in the bid request
it will be necessary to do the pertinent
corrections. Failure to do this detailed
checking can cause misunderstandings,
www.worldpumps.com
25
26
Feature
WORLD PUMPS
February 2010
Figure 1. Adverse eects of operating away from the BEP (reproduced from Ref. 2, courtesy of Allweiler AG).
From both the engineering and economical standpoints, the efficiency of the
pumpmotor set is of the upmost importance. The selection of pump and motor
should ensure high efficiency values,
aiming for the lowest possible energy
consumption per volume of pumped fluid.
It is very convenient (sometimes mandatory) to choose high-efficiency motors,
whose initial cost is higher, but that
reimburse the expense through the saving
in energy consumption in the long run.
Nowadays, some authors consider that
a low-efficiency motor is too expensive
even if it is free7. The decisions taken
concerning efficiency and energy saving
will have an influence not only on the
LCC of the pumpmotor set but also in
WORLD PUMPS
Feature
February 2010
www.worldpumps.com
27
28
Feature
WORLD PUMPS
February 2010
Scope of supply
Pump.
Induction electric motor (with VSD if
required).
Steel base plate, common to pump and
motor.
Flexible coupling.
Protection of mobile parts.
Counter anges, neck type UNI/DIN for
welding to ANSI Schedule 40 pipes.
Technical documentation, which
should include: complete data sheets
for pump and driver as stated by API
610; drawings and specifications for
driver, coupling and pump; materials
specications; characteristic curves;
installation, operation and maintenance
instructions; lubrication instructions;
spare parts recommendations; and
so on.
Inspection and testing certicates as per
the scope stated by API 610.
Other considerations
Besides the selection of the pump itself there
are some points worth considering. Shop
inspection and testing of the pumps must
References
[1] API 610, Centrifugal Pumps for
Petroleum, Heavy Duty Chemical and
Gas Industry Services, Eighth Edition,
American Petroleum Institute, (1995).
[2] E. Braun and W. Leiber, The right
pump lowers total cost of ownership,
World Pumps, No. 491, pp. 3033, (2007).
[3] B. Went, The systems approach to
reducing carbon emissions, World Pumps,
No. 500, pp. 5255, (2008).
[4] L. Dingley, Will sustainability end
up costing the earth?, World Pumps,
No. 494, pp. 2628, (2007).
[5] P. Noll, Determining the real cost
of powering a pump, World Pumps,
No. 496, pp. 3234, (2008).
[6] M. Cieslak, Life cycle costs of
pumping stations, World Pumps,
No. 505, pp. 3033, (2008).
[7] H-J. Bittermann, Germany makes strides
into energy eciency, World Pumps,
No. 493, pp. 3639, (2007).
Contact
Eduardo Larralde
E-mail: larralde@quimica.minbas.cu
Rafael Ocampo
E-mail: rocampod@gmail.com
www.worldpumps.com