A TECHNICAL

PRESENTATION
ON

PUMP SIZING
BY

SIDESO MORGAN

1
 References
Guide to selecting and
process sizing pumps -
PRG.PR.MAC.0001-pumps
sizing

GPSA Handbook

2
 Theoretical
A
Background
pump is a device that transfers liquid
from one piece of equipment to another
through interconnecting pipes. Since liquids
will normally flow from a region of higher
pressure to a region of lower pressure, a
pump is needed to boost the pressure from a
lower pressure region so that fluid can flow
Operating
up the pressure gradient.
Operating HLL Pressure:Pb
Pressure: Pa NLL Vessel
HLL B
Pb > LL
NLL Vessel
Pa L
LL A
L h2
dp
dp h (discharg
(suction 1 e line)
line)
Suction Discharge
Pressure, Pressure,
P1
Figure 1: Sketch ofP
a 2pump circuit

3
 Theoretical
Figure
Background
1 shows a simple pump system

Vessel A where the pump sucks liquid from is

called the suction vessel. All parts of the
sketch prior to the pump (upstream the
pump) are at the suction side of the pump

Vessel B where the pump discharges to is

called the discharge vessel. All parts of
the system after the pump (downstream the
pump) are at the discharge side of the
pump

If one wants to transfer liquid from vessel A

to vessel B, a pump must be provided in4
 Theoretical
Suction
Background
Pressure, P is the pressure at
1

the pump suction flange.

P1 = Pa + (LLL+ h 1) x rg dp (suction
line) dp(suction side fittings)

Discharge Pressure, P2 is the pressure at

the pump discharge flange.
P2 = Pb + (HLL +h2) x rg + dp (discharge
line) + dp(discharge side equipments,
valves, fittings)

The differential pressure (dp), is the

difference between the discharge pressure,
P2 and the suction pressure, P1.

dp(pump) = P2 - P1

Static Pressure: This type of pressure is5

 Theoretical
Background
The head of the pump is the differential
pressure expressed in metres of the pumped
fluid .The minimum density value shall be
used when calculating the head.

head = dp(pump) / (density x 9.81)

The shut off pressure is the value of the

discharge pressure at null flow.

Pshut off = Psuct max + 1.2 x dp(pump)

= Psuct(design) + (h1 + HLL) x rg +1.2 x

dp(pump)
6
 Theoretical
Available
Background
NPSH: Available NPSH (NPSHd) is
defined as the difference between the
effective pressure at the pumps inlet
flange and the vapour pressure of the
pumped liquid at the pumping temperature,
converted into metres of pumped liquid
head.

If P0 is the vapour pressure of the liquid

at the pumping temperature,

NPSHd = Pa + (LLL+ h 1) x rg dp (suction

line) dp(suction side fittings) - P0

NPSHd = (P1 - P0 )

7
 Types of Pump
The types of pumps commonly used in oil
and chemical plants fall into the
following categories: kinetic pumps and
positive displacement pumps

Kinetic pumps are divided into:

Centrifugal pumps (which in turn can be
radial flow, axial flow or mixed flow)
and regenerative pumps (turbine)

Positive-displacement pumps are

divided into: reciprocating pumps and
rotary pumps

8
The centrifugal pumps is by far the
 Circuit resistance curve
Figure 2 shows a typical circuit
resistance and characteristic curve The
difference between the two curves is
the pressure drop for the control
valve. Due to the fact that the
head delivered by a centrifugal pump
varies with the flow rate, it is
important that a control valve is
placed at the discharge of the pump.

The higher the control valve pressure9

Figure 2: Characteristic curve of a centrifugal pump
and circuit resistance curve

10
 Pump Selection
Criteria
The choice of pump depends on the
operating pressure, differential head,
operating temperature, volumetric flow
rate, physical characteristics of the
pumped liquid, suction specific speed
and NPSHd (net positive suction head
available).

Care should be taken to avoid

cavitation by providing an NPSHd
higher than that required by the
pump.
11
Figure 3: Fields of application of the various types of pump
Source: Guide to selecting and process sizing pumps PRG.PR.MAC.0001-pumps
sizing
12
 Pump Sizing Example
The pump calculation was performed
using Pump Calc (a Saipem in house
sizing tool). The example presented
here is for the sizing of an LLP oil
pump (PUMP 6300-PA-05A/B) for the OB
/ OB T6 Upgrade project. A
centrifugal pump was selected and so
the methodology presented here is
illustrative for this pump type.

N.B The Pump Calc spreadsheet was

basically designed for sizing
13
centrifugal pumps. However, it can be
 Documents required to size a pump
Material Source Purpose
Dept.
1. Pump datasheet from Process For preliminary decision on
FEED the choice of pump, to
obtain preliminary values of
the pump data, for
checking calculated values
(preliminary)

2. Process Flow Process For sizing suction and

Diagram (PFD) discharge lines, for
obtaining pressures drops, for
sketching the pump circuit.

3 Piping and Process For sizing suction and

Instrumentation discharge lines, for
Diagram (P&ID) obtaining pressures drops, for
sketching the pump circuit.

4 Suction and Mechanica For obtaining the vessel

discharge vessel l & elevations (for vessel
datasheets Process already existing) and for
obtaining the liquid levels
 Documents required to size a pump
Material Source Dept. Purpose

5 Plot plan Piping For preliminary routing

of suction and
discharge lines, for
estimating line lengths

6 General Piping For routing of suction

Arrangement (GA) and discharge lines,
drawings for pump for estimating line
suction and lengths
discharge lines

7 Piping Class Piping For pressure drop

calculation

8 Inline equipment Process For pressure drops

across equipment
datasheets (if
available)

9. Isometrics if Piping For calculating

available pressure drops
 Methodology
Step 1: Carefully study clients document,
Clients design criteria, Saipems guidelines
and applicable codes and standard. (Refer
to slide 2)

Step 2: Obtain all necessary documents such

as:

Pump datasheet from FEED

Heat and Material Balance

Process Flow Diagram (PFD)

Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)

Suction and discharge vessel datasheets

Inline equipment datasheets (if available)

Plot plan and Piping Class.

General Arrangement drawings for pump

16
 Methodology
Step 3: Highlight clearly on the PFD
and P&ID the pumps suction and
discharge line circuitry taking note
of any pipe fitting, valves, orifices
or equipment you might encounter.

Step 4: Using the datasheets of the

suction and discharge vessels, obtain
the high, normal and low liquid levels
(HLL, NLL and LLL) for both vessels.

Step 5: Sketch the pump circuit as

shown in Figure 4 indicating the line
17
Figure 4: Pump Circuit Diagram

18
 Methodology
Step 6: Segment the suction and
discharge lines. The segmentation
should occur when there is a substantial
change in either flow rate (via mixing
or splitting of streams), pressure (via
a control valve), temperature( via a
heater/cooler), density and viscosity
as shown in Figure 5

Step 7: Using the information obtained

in step 6, prepare a preliminary
19
Figure 5: Pressure drop for suction and discharge lines

20
 Methodology
Step 8: Using the H&MBs, obtain the
minimum, normal, and maximum flow
rates. An example is shown for the
sample case in Figure 6.

Step 9: Using PGLS and the information

from step 7, calculate the pressure
drops across each of the segments and
fill in Pressure profiles sheet of the
Pump calculation tool as shown in
Figure 5
21
Figure 6: Pump flow rate summary

22
 Methodology : Filling the Pump Calc Sheet
Step 10: Specify the type of fluid and
the pump tag. Clearly state the sizing
case for the calculation.

Step 11: Fill in the minimum, normal

and maximum flow rates as indicated in
the calculation sheet.

Step 12: Fill in the temperature,

density and viscosity.

N.B When density may vary between a

23
 Methodology : Filling the Pump Calc Sheet
Step 13 Fill in the vapour pressure and
efficiency. If the vapour pressure is
not available (HYSYS 3.2 does not
calculate vapour pressure), a
conservative estimate is to use the
operating pressure of the suction vessel
as the vapour pressure, Pv. The
efficiency is estimated using a program
PUMPEFF which can be found in the
server.

Step 14: Fill in the operating and

24
 Methodology
Step 15: Fill in the dp Line + fittings
pressure drop from the Pressure
Profile sheet. Also fill in pressure
drop due to orifices and equipment.
For flow elements, a dp of 0.2 bar
can be used.

Step 16: Repeat step 13 and step 14

for the discharge side.

Step 17: Clearly stated all assumptions

used in the calculation.

Step 18: Fill the datasheet 25

 Things to note about
the Pump sizing sheet
The Pump Calc spreadsheet was basically
designed for sizing centrifugal pumps.
However, it can be modified to cater for
other types of pumps .

The formulae used in the calculations can

be found in the first sheet Indications of
the sizing tool.

The control valve pressure drop is

26
THANK YOU

27