5 Basic Rules of Pump Piping 1

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5 BASIC RULES OF PUMP PIPING

Author: Jeff Simpson | September 23, 2014 | Category: Pumps, Pump Piping

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Many pumps are installed with inappropriate piping

arrangements, resulting in premature pump failures as
we covered in our latest eBook,36 Ways to Kill Your
Pump. If you were installing a pump in a new system,
where would you turn for guidelines on proper pump
piping arrangements?

Knowledge and resources are extremely limited on this

topic, except what you may find in the Installation,
Operation and Maintenance (IOM) manual (which is
minimal).By following 5 simple rules, you can avoid
premature pump failure and related pump piping pitfalls.

1.
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1. KEEPSUCTIONPIPINGASSHORTASPOSSIBLE
Include a straight run pipe length equal to 5 to 10 times the pipe diameter between the pump inlet and
any obstruction in the suction line. Note: Obstructions include valves, elbows, "tees", and etc.

Keeping the suction piping short ensures that inlet pressure drop is as low as possible. The straight run
pipe gives you a uniform velocity across the pipe diameter at pump inlet. Both are important to
achieving optimal suction.

2. PIPEDIAMETERONSUCTIONSIDESHOULDBEEQUALORONESIZELARGERTHANPUMPINLET

Suction piping velocities should be limited to 7 to 8 feet per second or less.

3. ELIMINATEELBOWSMOUNTEDONORCLOSETOTHEINLETNOZZLEOFTHEPUMP

Include 5 to 10 pipe diameters of straight run pipe between the pump inlet and elbow.This helps to
eliminate "side loading" of the pump impeller and creates uniform pump axial bearing loading.

4. ELIMINATEPOTENTIALFORAIRENTRAPMENTINTHESUCTIONPIPING

Maintain adequate levels in supply tanks to eliminate vortices from forming and air entrapment.
Avoid high pockets in suction piping, which can trap air
Keep all pipe and fitting connections tight in suction vacuum conditions to prevent air from getting
into the pump.

5. ENSURETHEPIPINGARRANGEMENTDOESNOTCAUSESTRAINONTHEPUMPCASING

Pumps should never support the suction or discharge piping. Any stress on the pump casing by the
piping system greatly reduces pump life and performance.

Keep in mind that increasing the performance of the pump will help to make up for piping mistakes made on
the discharge side of a pump. Problems on the suction side, however, can be the source of repetitivefailures,
which could cause problems for years to come if not addressed appropriately.

Piping design is an area where basic principles

https://blog.craneengineering.net/5basicrulesofpumppiping are frequently ignored, resulting in increased vibration and 2/8
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Piping design is an area where basic principles are frequently ignored, resulting in increased vibration and
premature failure of the seals and bearings. Incorrect piping has long been disregarded as a reason for these
failures because of the many other reasons this equipment can fail. Many experienced engineers may argue
that pumps with incorrect piping still function and operate as they should. This argument, although valid, does
not make questionable piping practices correct.

**Post adapted from an article by RossMackay,Pitfalls of Pump Piping.

Contact us today with your questions about correctly installing and piping a pump! Our engineers are happy
to provide assistance to businesses in Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

Je Simpson
Jeff is an Account Manager at Crane Engineering. For the past 24 years he
has specialized in supply wastewater and process pumping systems for
industrial and municipal clients. He has helped customers with design,
project management, and start-up support for those systems.

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Layout arrangement for Centrifugal Pump Piping
1. GENERAL + 605

Tweet The design of a piping system can have an important eect on the successful operation
of a centrifugal pump. Such items as pump design, suction piping design, suction and SUBSCRIBE UPDATES. IT'S FREE!
discharge pipe size and pipe supports must all be carefully considered. A typical
horizontal centrifugal pump installation is illustrated in Fig.CPP1, CPP2, CPP3. Your email:
Enteremailaddress...
Selection of the discharge pipe size is primarily a matter of economics. The cost of
various pipe sizes must be compared to the pump size and power cost required to Subscribe
overcome the resulting friction head.

1.1 The suction piping size and design is far more important. Many centrifugal pump
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troubles are caused by poor suction conditions.
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1.2 The suction pipe should never be smaller than the suction nozzle of the pump and May 15, 2015
in most cases it should be at least one size larger. Suction pipes should be as short and
as straight as possible. Piping Layout Drawings Abbreviations and
Legends
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Suction pipe velocities should be in the 1.0 1.5 metre per second range, unless
suction conditions are unusually good. Higher velocities will increase the friction loss 7 Excel Functions You Must
and can result in trouble some air and vapour separation. This is further complicated Know to Work Smarter
when elbows or tees are located adjacent to the pump suction nozzle. In that case May 15, 2015

uneven ow patterns or vapour separation keeps the liquid from evenly lling the
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cavitation and excessive shaft deection. Cavitation, erosion damage, shaft breakage or May 15, 2015

permature bearing failure etc. may result. Centrifugal Pump Piping Design Layout
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1.3 On pump installations involving suction lift, air pockets in the suction line can be a
source of trouble. The suction pipe should be exactly horizontal or with a uniform slope
upward from the sump to the pump as illustrated in Fig.CPP7. There should be no high
spots where air can collect and cause the pump to lose its prime. Eccentric rather than
concentric reducers with at side top should always be used.

1.4 If an elbow is required at the suction of a double suction pump, it should be in a

vertical position if at all possible. Where it is necessary for some reason to use a
horizontal elbow, it should be a long radius elbow and there should be a minimum of
ve diameters of straight pipe between elbow and the pump suction as illustrated in
Fig.CPP9.

2. LOCATION
2.1 Common location of pumps in chemical and petrochemical plant is under the
piperack at grade.
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Pumps are to be placed close to and below the vessels from which they take their Pipingengineering
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suction in order to have net-positive suction head (NPSH) required by the pump.

2.2 Any reduction in suction line size required at pumps should be made with eccentric
reducers, with at side up to avoid accumulation of vapour pocket. Changes in direction LikePage Share
of suction lines should be at least 600mm away from the pump suction.
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2.3 Pumps should be arranged in line with drivers facing the access gangway.
Clearances and piping should provide free access to one side of the driver and pump.
There must be good access to gland / seal and coupling where most of the
maintenance and adjustments are done. Or reach me on aj@piping-
engineering.com
2.4 With normal piperack column spacing of 6m, it is generally found that only two
pumps of average size can be arranged between the columns, with a preferred
clearance of 1m between the pumps.
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The clearance between any structure / steel work and the pump discharge line shall be
0.75m minimum. For small pumps upto 18 KW, clearance between pumps should be
0.9m minimum. A space of 2 2.5 m should be provided for working aisle.

A typical arrangement of pumps is illustrated in Fig.CPP4, CPP5, CPP6.

2.5 Means of lifting should be provided for pumps or motor weighing more than 25Kg.

3. Steps to do Pump Piping

Step 1 : Collect the P&ID and the pump data sheet.

Step 2 : Study the pump data sheet and collect the similar (capacity / head) pump
dimensions / nozzle position.

Step 3 : Analyse the location and the space provided in the unit plot plan w.r.t. suction
and discharge line routing.

Step 4 : Review the maintenance / operation space around and lifting facility.

Step 5 : Locate the control station, Electrical push button station, Electrical-trench,
process uid drain, ushing / cooling connection as required for the pump model.

Step 6 : Check elevations of all valve handwheels on suction as well as discharge line
and provide common platform for valve operation, if required.

Step 7 : Make Iso sketch for suction and discharge line with all the items as per P&ID
and discuss with process engineer for any change.

Step 8 : Finalise supports of the line and issue for stress analysis, if required.

Step 9 : Get the stress analysis report for Nozzle loads. Compare the allowable loads
with the actual load for any change & nalisation.

Step 10 : Finalise location of pump / drain or trench / Electrical cable route and issue
civil information to civil for foundation design.

Step 11 : Keep necessary insert plate on the foundation block for support of push
button switch, small lines for ushing / cooling manifold.

4. PUMP PIPING :
4.1 HORIZONTAL CENTRIFUGAL PUMP :

A typical horizontal centrifugal pump suction and discharge piping arrangements is

illustrated in Fig.CPP7.

4.2 Pump suction piping shall be as short as possible and shall be arranged so that
vapour pockets are avoided.

4.3 Reducers immediately connected to the pump suction shall be eccentric type at
side up to avoid accumulation of gas pocket.

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4.4 For end suction pumps, elbows shall not be directly connected to the suction
ange. A straight piece 3 times the line size shall have to be provided at the suction
nozzle. This is illustrated in Fig.CPP8.

The eect of elbow directly on suction is illustrated in Fig.CPP9.

4.5 For top suction, pump elbow shall not be directly connected to suction ange. A
straight piece of minimum 5 times the nozzle size shall have to be provided at the
suction nozzle.

4.6 T-type strainers are to be used for permanent as well as temporary to avoid
disassembly of suction piping for strainer cleaning.

4.7 Piping shall be so arranged that forces and moments imposed on the pump
nozzles do not exceed the allowable values specied by the vendor.

4.8 When a suction vessel operates under vacuum the vent connection of the pump
has to be permanently connected to vapour space of the suction vessel to allow
possible lling of the pump with liquid before it is started.

4.9 For pumps handling hot uid, the rst factor concerns the support of pump piping
which often includes large expansion loops for exibility. When the pumps are located
below the piperack (to reduce possibility of hydrogen leakage over motor), support
becomes easy otherwise the designer should consult stress engineer for best location
of stops and hanger. With the optimum layout and support, it is to be ensured that the
loadings on the pump nozzles are not exceeded beyond the allowable limits.

4.10 Piping conguration for a group of pumps of similar size shall follow identical
pattern and the stress analysis of one pump piping should be applicable to the other
pumps.

4.11 Auxiliary Pump Piping Arrangements:

The Auxiliary piping are usually cooling water to mechanical seals, bearings, stung
boxes, gland quench and lantern ring ush.

When pump uid is used, a line is attached to the vent connection on the pump case.
The circulated seal uid has to be sent back to pump stream or referred through the
seal to pump internal clearances.

In viscous or high temperature hydrocarbon liquids, the seal uid medium circulates
from external source through connections on the pump seal.

Various Auxiliary piping plan is recommended in API 610 for proper selection according
to design requirements.

4.12 Pump vendors usually supply the Auxiliary piping and the neat arrangements
of these piping and its support are to be ensured by the designer while reviewing the
vendor document. Fig.CPP10 illustrates one typical Auxiliary piping arrangement on the
pump base plate.

4.13 A typical arrangement for piping and valves operation is illustrated in

Fig.CPP11 with maintenance and operation access.

4.14 A typical suction and discharge piping arrangement with common platform
for operation of valves connected to two adjacent pumps is illustrated in Fig.CPP12 and
CPP13.

5. SUCTION BASIN OF PUMP

5.1 The basin for the intake of centrifugal pump shall be designed and sized properly
for smooth function of the pump. The recommendations of hydraulic institute are
illustrated in Fig.CPP14.

5.2 The ow of uid to the suction bell should be even, smooth and stream lined
without any vortices.

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5.3 A typical sump with the components and relative dimensions of clearance and
submergence is illustrated in Fig.CPP15.

5.4 For multiple pump installations with high capacity pumps, the analysis of a
proposed intake design are often made by use of a scale model of the intake basin with
all parts such as baes, screens, gates, separating walls etc.

The large basin is required to ensure low inlet velocity (approx. 2 ft. per sec.) and to
eliminate vortexing at the bell mouth.

5.5 A typical sump pit with pump is illustrated in Fig CPP16. This sump is the collection
pit of waste material coming through a pipeline. A screen at the mouth of the pump
avoids choking / fouling of the pump during operation. The discharge of the pump may
go to a slope tank / pond / waste-removal tanker.

Fig CPP1: Centirfugal pump drawing (Type-1)

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Fig CPP2: Centirfugal pump drawing (Type-2)

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Fig CPP3: Centirfugal pump drawing (Impeller)

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Fig CPP4: Typical pump location plan

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Fig CPP5: Typical access for Maintenance

Fig CPP6: Typical pump locations-Elevation

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Fig CPP7: Air pockets in suction piping

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Fig CPP8: Typical pump suction & discharge piping

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Fig CPP9: Elbow at pump suction

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Fig CPP10: Typical auxiliary pump piping

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Fig CPP11: Maintenance & operation access requirements

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Fig CPP12: Typical suction/discharge piping, plan & elevation

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Fig CPP13: Typical suction/discharge piping, front view

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Fig CPP14: Multiple pump installation (Vertical pumps)

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Fig CPP15: Sump dimensions, plan view, wet pit type pumps

Fig CPP16: Typical sump with pump

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6 COMMENTS

Marty Metz
July 17, 2015 at 8:52 pm

Very Helpful
Thank you
Reply

N. senthil kumaran
October 28, 2015 at 2:31 am

Useful technical details.

Thank you very much
Reply

Salman Malik
January 25, 2016 at 7:47 am

Quite Helpful.
Thanks
Reply

suraj balsara
May 6, 2016 at 10:01 am

very useful
Reply

SARAVANAN SUBRAMANI
June 26, 2016 at 1:11 pm

can any send some important points of pump suction piping,heat exchanger
piping,piperack piping,column piping
Reply

Piping engineering
July 17, 2016 at 1:14 pm

Hi Saravanan, you can refer to some of the posts below.

Pump suction piping
Above article- http://www.piping-engineering.com/layout-arrangement-
for-centrifugal-pump-piping.html
Heat exchanger piping
1. http://www.piping-engineering.com/heat-exchanger-piping-design-
guide.html
2. http://www.piping-engineering.com/air-cooled-heat-exchanger.html
Piperack piping
1. http://www.piping-engineering.com/pipe-rack-piping-study.html
2. http://www.piping-engineering.com/piperack-pipes-routing-structure-
in-plant.html
3. http://www.piping-engineering.com/piperack-bridge-design-ow-
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3. http://www.piping-engineering.com/piperack-bridge-design-ow-
chart.html
Column piping
http://www.piping-engineering.com/column-piping-study-layout-nozzle-

orientation-platforms-requirements.html
Hope these help
AJ.
Reply

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