Centrifugal Pumps

Definition:
They are pieces of rotary equipments that convert kinetic energy into
pressure head of the liquid.

Uses:
They are used most widely in:
a) Refinery
b) Oil Production Platform
c) Petro-Chemical Plant
d) Power Plants
e) Agriculture
f) Food Processing
g) Residential Building

Working Principle:

The Liquid enters the centrifugal pump

through an impeller eye at suction pipe
and the impeller transfer liquid through
in-volute casing and the liquid exit from
discharge flange.
 Rotary Equipments Static Equipments
Pump Vessel
Compressor Column
Turbine Exchanger
Fan Filter

Performance of Centrifugal Pump

 Suction Pressure
 Flow Rate at Suction
 Viscosity
 Vapor Pressure
 Density
Centrifugal Pump Parts:
1) Body -- Casing
2) Impeller
3) Wear Ring
4) Shaft
5) Coupling
6) Bearing -- Bearing Housing
7) Sealing System
8) Suction -- Discharge Flanges
9) Support Frame
Pump Body:
 The Pump Body is made with cast iron and
it is manufactured by using casting process
 The volute casing has two types : Single
Volute and Double Volute
 The Body split is divided by two categories: Radial Split and Axial Split
Impeller:
The impeller is divided into three types:
1. Open Impeller
2. Semi - Open Impeller
3. Closed Impeller

Wear Rings:
It is used to Protect the pump from
leakage as results from wear
Pump Shaft:
It is used to transform energy from
prime mover into mechanical energy.
Coupling:
Connect the driver from the pump and it is classified into categories:
 Flexible Coupling
 Rigid Coupling
Sealing System:
Prevent the pump from leakage of liquid and
contains:
1) Seal Chamber
2) Lantern Ring
3) Packing Ring
Centrifugal pump types and shapes:
 Single Stage Open Impeller Pump
 Single Stage Closed Impeller Pump
 Multi-Stage Closed Impeller Pump
 Single Stage Double Suction Centrifugal Pump
Schiematic Drawing of Centrifugal Pump:
 Centrifugal Pump Classification:

Centrifugal Pump
Classification

Flow Type No.of Stages Design Code Volute Type

Axial Flow Single Stage API 610 Single

Radial Flow ISO 2858

Multi-Stage ISO 5199 Double
Mixed Flow DIN 24256

Shaft Position No.of Suction Case Design Impeller Position

Horizontal Single Stage Axial Split Overhang

pump

Vertical Multi-Stage Radial Split Between

bearing pump

Notes:
1. API 610: Centrifugal Pump for Petroleum , Petro-Chemical and natural
gas industries.
2. ISO 2858 -- DIN 24256: End Suction Centrifugal Pump , Designation ,
Normal duty point and dimension.
3. ISO 5199: Technical Specifications for Centrifugal Pump
 What is the difference between single and double volute
casing according to shape and diagram ?

In Single Volute casing , the radial force beginning is very high for
discharge fluid, while in Double Volute Casing , the radial force beginning is
low for discharge fluid.
API 610 Centrifugal Pump Types:
1. OH1 ----> OH6: Over hung Pump
2. BB1 ----> BB5 : Between bearing pump
3. VS1 ----> VS7 : Vertically Suspended Pump

API 610 - Centrifugal Pump

Overhung Pump Between bearings Vertically Suspended

Flexible Coupling 1-2 Stage Single Casing

Horizontal foot mounted Axially Split BB-1 Column Discharge with diffuser
- OH1 VS1
Column Discharge with volute VS2
Horizontal center-line Column Discharge with axial flow
supported - OH2 Radially Split BB-2 VS3
Separate Discharge with line shaft
Vertical Inline with VS4
bearing bracket - OH3 Separate Discharge with cantilever
VS5
 Rigid Coupling Multi-stage Double Casing

Vertical Inline - OH4 Axially Split BB-3 With Diffuser - VS6

Radially Split Single With Volute - VS7

Casing BB-4
Closed Coupling
Radially Split Double
Casing BB-5
Vertical Inline - OH5

High Speed Integrally

Geared - OH6

API 610 - OH1:

 Single Stage overhung with foot mounted
base plate design
 Flexible coupling

API 610 - OH2:

 Single Stage
 End Suction
 Flexible Coupling
API 610 - OH3:
 Single Stage
 Vertically Inline
 Flexible Coupling
API 610 - OH4:
 Single Stage
 Vertically Inline
 Rigid Coupling
API 610 - OH5:
 Single Stage
 Vertically Inline
 Closed Coupling
API 610 - OH6:
 Single Stage
 Gear Box
API 610 - BB1:
 1-2 Stage
 Radially split casing
API 610 - BB2:
 1-2 Stage
 Radially split casing
API 610 - BB3:
 Multi-Stage
 Flexible Coupling
API 610 - BB4:
 Multi-Stage
 Flexible Coupling
 Radially split casing
API 610 - BB5:
 Multi-Stage
 Flexible Coupling
 Radially split casing
 Double casing
API 610 - VS1:
 Single Casing
 Vertically Suspended
API 610 - VS2:
 Single Casing
 Vertically Suspended
API 610 - VS3:
 Single Casing
 Axial Flow
 Vertically suspended
API 610 - VS4:
 Single Casing
 Vertically Suspended
 Intermediate Bearing Support
API 610 - VS5:
 Single Casing
 Vertically Suspended
 Difference in Pump shaft
API 610 - VS6:
 Double Casing
 Vertically Suspended
API 610 - VS7:
 Double Casing
 Vertically Suspended
 Centrifugal Pump Performance Curves:
The pump performance is characterized by four graphs:
 Head vs Flow Curve
 Efficiency Curve
 Power - Energy Curve
 (NPSH)R Curve
 Pump Family Curve (Pump Selection)
Head vs Flow Curve:
The head and flow rate of pump is classified according to the graph , by
increasing the flow rate the pump head decreases and the shut off head takes
place by starting the centrifugal pump when the flow rate tends to zero at
point (A) while the flow rate tends to maximum , the pump head tends to
minimum at point (B). The graph takes place in constant speed with fixed
impeller diameter.
Pump Head (m)

Flow Rate (m3/h)

 Efficiency Curve:
The efficiency of pump is classified according to the graph , by increasing the
flow rate the efficiency increases and the maximum efficiency takes place at
point (C) and the ideal efficiency of pump takes place between 60% and 80% .
This graph takes place in constant speed with fixed impeller diameter.
Efficiency (%)

Flow Rate (m3/h)

Hydraulic Power Curve:
The hydraulic power of pump is described according to the graph , by
increasing the flow rate the hydraulic power increases.This graph takes place
in constant speed with fixed impeller diameter.
Hydraulic Power (HP)

Flow Rate (m3/h)

 Required NPSH Curve:
The required NPSH of pump is described according to the graph , by
increasing the flow rate the required NPSH increases. This graph takes place
in constant speed with fixed impeller diameter.
Required NPSH (m)

Pump Performance Curve: Flow Rate (m3/h)

According to the following parameters and graphs , the pump performance

is described in a known graph that presents in pump selection
Required NPSH
Hydraulic Power (HP)
Efficiency of Pump (%)
Pump Head (m)

Flow Rate (m3/h)

Pump Family Curve:

Rate of Flow (gpm)

Pump Cavitation:
It is an action of fluid vapor attack on the parts of equipment which
produce suction pressure less than vapor pressure of the pumped fluid.
 How to identify cavitation ?
1) Sound like gravels in pump
2) High Vibration
Reasons for cavitation in pump ?
a) Vaporization of liquid in a pump
b) Recirculation
c) Improper gap between impeller and pump housing
d) Air ingress
e) Turbulence or vortex
Problems of cavitation:
 Vibration
 Noise
 Low Efficiency
 Reduction in flow rate and head
 Physical damage to impeller
 Leaking of pump seal
 Problem with alignment
How to avoid cavitation:
 Enough head at suction
 Proper design of pump impeller
 Avoid restricted flow
 Prevent air ingress
 Proper design of pumping system
NPSH OK:
The required net positive suction head (NPSH) , you can get from the
pump manual. While the avaliable NPSH , you calculate by your route at
power station.
To avoid the cavitation , you must know that the avaliable NPSH is more
than its required

����� = �����
The cavitation occurs in static equipments at sudden change from liquid
state to vapor state. The cavitation can be occurred in centrifugal pumps and
positive displacement pumps.
The cavitation results in loss of weakest component element of suction
parts material due to bubble explosion in a surface of suction parts causing
cavities. The vapor bubble explosion on the parts could be 60000 psi.
As shown in the following graph , the liquid converts to vapor by two
methods:
1. Add Temperature
2. Decrease Pressure
 The vapor pressure graph through an impeller inlet

Impeller
Pass
Vapor Pressure Limit

Liquid Converts to Cavitation Starts

vapor

Liquid

Vapor

Vapor converts to
Liquid

Impeller Pass
 The internal leak in the pump that occurred by the liquid lower its efficiency
so the wearing rings must be installed at the pump

Impeller
internal Leak
Wearing
rings

Fluid Vapor bubbles

condensate at impeller surface
 Fluid Vapor
Bubbles

Pump suction
parts
cavities

Pump suction parts After attack

Lost element in suction parts:

Parameters affecting Avaliable NPSH:
 Suction Pipe Length  Suction Pipe Leaks
 Suction Pipe Diameter  Suction Pressure
 Liquid Surface Gravity  Liquid Temperature
 Internal Surface of suction pipe  Liquid Viscosity
 Liquid Surface Altitude  Liquid Vapor Pressure
 Vapor Contamination  Atmospheric Pressure
How to improve Avaliable NPSH:
 Shorten suction pipe length  Increase Suction Positive Altitude
 Increase suction pipe size  Stop Piping Suction Leaks
 Decrease Suction Liquid Temperature  Renew the suction pipe
 Decrease Suction Negative Altitude
Net Positive Suction Head:
PSV
Z: Liquid Surface Height
Psv: Vessel Pressure
Ps: Net Suction Pressure
V: Liquid Velocity
Pf: Friction Pressure Drop
Pa: Atmospheric Pressure PS Z
Vp: Vapor Pressure
Sp.gr: Specific Gravity
hL: Friction Head Loss
g: gravitational acceleration = 9.81 m/s2
�2 {[��� + �� ] − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� = � + + − ℎ�
2� ��. ��

�� ����
=�+ − ℎ�
��. �� ��. ��
If the suction pressure is known: Psa
�� ���
=�+ − ℎ�
��. �� ��. ��

�2 {��� − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� = � + + − ℎ�
2� ��. ��

Neglecting Suction Velocity Head

{��� − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� =
��. ��

Cavitation is occurred at negative altitude:

Cavitation is nearly not occurred at positive altitude:

 Practically -- For any type of pump , the suction negative altitude is not
more than 6 m water.

v PS

PS
6 Mt Water v
PS

v
Vapor Pressure:

1
1 P T P
T

FI FI

Steps:
1. Heat up a little water pot to a temperature 100oC and open the valve 1
2. Take off heating source simultaneously (Close Valve 1)
3. During Cooling Down , Start recording the pressure according to
temperature.
4. Apply Absolute Pressure Equation:

��������� = ������ + �
5. Record the absolute liquid vapor pressure
Examples:
If the liquid level (Z = -8 Ft) , the friction loss is 1 Ft of
Liquid , Atmospheric Pressure is 14.7 Psia at 150 oF , Water
specific gravity is 0.982 , Vp = 3.7 Psia , Find: NPSHa

{��� − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� = � + − ℎ�
��. ��

(14.7 − 3.7) ∗ 2.31

= −8+ − 1 = + 16.8 Ft (Positive)
0.982

After that compare with Required NPSH in data sheet

If crude pump suction pressure is +1 psig , vapor

pressure is 13 psia (Neglect Velocity Head) , Sp.gr is 0.85 ,
Atmospheric Pressure is 14.7 Psia , Find NPSHa

{��� − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� =
��. ��

{(14.7 + 1) − 13} ∗ 2.31

= = + 7.33 Ft (Positive)
0.85

After that compare with Required NPSH in data sheet

 If crude pump suction pressure is -5 psig - Vp is 4 psia ,
specific gravity is 0.8 , Atmospheric Pressure 14.7 psia.
Find: Avaliable NPSH
{��� − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� =
��. ��

{(14.7 − 5) − 4} ∗ 2.31
= = + 16.46 Ft (Positive)
0.85

After that compare with Required NPSH in data sheet

Crude oil pump , suction pressure is psig , vapor

pressure is 4 psia , specific gravity is 0.8 , Atmospheric
Pressure is 14.7 Psia
Find Avaliable NPSH
{��� − �� } ∗ 2.31
����� =
��. ��

{14.7 − 4} ∗ 2.31
= = 31 Ft (Positive)
0.8

After that compare with Required NPSH in data sheet

Pump Data Sheet for estimating Required NPSH