CHAPTER

11

Centrifugal
Pumps *
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses practical aspects of centrifugal pump selection.
It covers the main operating characteristics that affect these pumps' per-
formance. Also covered are topics such as multiple pump installations,
specific speed, the generic types of centrifugal pumps in common oilfield
use, the differences between the ANSI and API standards, bearing, seal
and wear ring options, and installation considerations. The purpose of
this chapter is to familiarize the project engineer with the major options
and choices available. There is much more detail that could be written
about centrifugal pump design and selection of manufacturing detail. On
large complex installations this is best left to a mechanical engineer who
is knowledgeable in this area and aware of the current specific detail dif-
ferences between manufacturers. However, the information in this chap-
ter should provide the information that the project engineer must know if
he is going to analyze vendor proposals on simple jobs, or communicate
effectively with mechanical engineers on more complex installations.

*Reviewed for the 1998 edition by Fernando C. De La Fuente of Paragon Engineering

Services, Inc.
MULTIPLE PUMP INSTALLATIONS

In designing multiple centrifugal pump installations it is necessary to

keep in mind the interaction between the pump curves and the system
curve. That is, throughput cannot be doubled by adding an identical pump
in parallel, and head is not doubled by adding an identical pump in series.
The effect of adding two identical pumps in parallel can be seen in
Figure 11-1. Curve A is the pump curve for one pump. Curve B is con-
structed by doubling the flow rate at a given head to show how the
pumps behave in parallel operation. Curve C shows a system curve
where the addition of the second pump adds only about 50% to system
throughput. Curve D shows a steeper system curve where the system
throughput is only increased about 20%.
Figure 11-2 shows the effect of installing two pumps in series. Curve
A is the head-flow-rate curve for one pump. The combined curve for both
pumps, B, is constructed by doubling the head of Curve A at each value
of flow rate. The benefit of the additional pump can be seen by inspect-
ing the intersection of the system curves, C and D, with the pump curves.
The choice of whether to add an additional pump in series or in paral-
lel is illustrated by Figure 11-3. If the system curve is shallow, more
throughput is obtained from parallel operation. If the system curve is
steep, more throughput can be obtained by series installation.

TWO PUMPS

H
ONE PUMP

CURVE A

Figure 11-1. Two identical pumps in parallel.

 H
TWO PUMPS

ONE PUMP

Figure 11 -2. Two identical pumps in series.

TWO UNITS IN SERIES

SYSTEM HEAD
H
TWO UNITS IN PARALLEL

ONE UNIT

SYSTEM HEAD

Figure 11 -3. Series vs. parallel operation.

PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED

In comparing similar centrifugal pumps it is often useful to use a para-

meter called specific speed. For similar designs major pump dimensions
are proportional to specific speed. Thus, if the performance curve is
known for one pump, it can be estimated for another pump of similar
design but different impeller diameter.
The specific speed is given by the following formula:

Ns = R p
S
(q
3?4 (11-1)
V 7
TT 3/4
Hp
where Ns = pump specific speed
Rp = pump speed, rpm
q' = flow rate, gpm
Hp = pump head, ft
A pump's specific speed is always calculated at its point of maximum
efficiency. It is not a dimensionless number, so that it is critical that the
units used in calculating the specific speed be known.
Specific speed is used by pump designers to help determine the
required impeller geometry. The lower the specific speed, the more the
impeller shape will approach true radial flow. The higher the specific
speed, the more closely the impeller needs to approach true axial flow.
Specific speed is also useful in estimating maximum attainable pump
efficiency. This is done from Figure 11-4, which is published by the
Hydraulic Institute. This figure is useful to help estimate brake horse-
power and to help validate vendor's quoted efficiencies.

CODES AND STANDARDS

The two common codes used for centrifugal pumps are API-610 "Cen-
trifugal Pumps for General Refinery Services" and ANSI B73.1 "Specifica-
tions for Horizontal, End Suction Centrifugal Pumps for Chemical
Process." The API is more stringent in design requirements and quality con-
trol and is normally used for critical services where reliability is important.
Table 11-1 shows a comparison of some of the major requirements of
these two standards. It can be seen that the API requirements are more
stringent. ANSI pumps, or "ANSI type" pumps for pressure ratings in
excess of the 150 Class, are less expensive and much more readily avail-
 EFFICIENCY %

RADIAL MIXED AXIAL

aOW FLOW FLOW

SPECIFICSPEEDN 3 - ^ J ^

Figure 11 -4. Maximum pump efficiency.

able. Wherever service conditions allow, considerable savings and time

are possible by specifying an ANSI pump.

GENERIC TYPES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

Centrifugal pumps are separated into generic types according to their

physical construction, number of impellers, or the standard under which
they are constructed. The common types and their applications are
described below:
ANSI Pump (Figure 11-5)

Description

Mounting = Horizontal
Casing split = Radial
Impeller type = Radial
Mounting feet = Bottom of pump casing
No. of stages = Single
 Table 11-1
Comparison of API and ANSI Pump Standards
API-610 ANSI B73.1

Pressure • All pressures and tempera- • ANSI Class 150 and tempera-
Rating tures normally encountered tures up to 5000F
Pump Casings • ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 • Ductile iron, carbon steel
• Carbon or alloy steel re- or alloy steel required
quired in flammable or for flammable or toxic
toxic service service
Impellers • Single piece castings • May be keyed or threaded
• Secured to shaft with a key to shaft
Wear Rings • Minimum hardness of 400 • No requirements
BHN or hardness differ-
ence of 50
Mechanical Seals • Required • No requirements
Shaft Critical • Lateral critical speed • No requirements
Speed greater than 120% of
maximum pump speed
• Three-year life for ball
Bearings • Ball bearings with two-
bearings
year life
• Hydrodynamic and thrust
bearings where bearing
diameter (mm) X pump
rpm > 300,000 or, pump
rated hp X pump rpm >
2.7 X 106
Baseplates • Drip lip or drain pan • No requirements
required
• Adequate to limit shaft
displacement at coupling
to 0.005 in.
Testing • Hydrostatic test to 1.5 • Hydrostatic test to 1.5 times
times allowable casing allowable casing pressure for
pressure for 30 10 minutes
minutes
• Performance test required • No performance test required

Applications

Flow conditions: Low head, moderate flow rate

Service rating: Non-critical
Typical uses: 1. Service water
2. LACT charge pump
3. Oil transfer
 EXTERNAL IMPELLER DOUBLE ROW HEAVY DUTY SHAFT. BONUS CASING FULLY OPEN
ADJUSTMENT FOR THRUST BEARING. Designed for toughest THICKNESS. IMPELLER.
CONTINUOUS HIGH Provides minimum services, insures long All 150 PSI pumps have With back pump-out
PERFORMANCE. shaft end play (.001") seal and bearing life, 300 PSl wall thickness vanes—best design
Original high efficiency for effective stuffing less maintenance. as standard, for longer for solids handling,
maintained by simple box sealing and long life \mttet corrosive/ stringy material and
adjustment resulting in mechanical seal life. erosive conditions. corrosives/ abrasives.
long-term energy
savings.

MAXIMUM INTER- STANDARD BEARING ACCURATE MACHINED POSITIVE LiQUtO

CHANGEABIUTY FOR COOLING. FITS MAINTAIN POSITIVE SEAUNG AT IMPELLER.
MINIMUM Standard pump can AUGNMENT. Impeller threaded on
INVENTORY. operate up to SQO0F Achieved by rabbeted shaft with Teflon* " 0 "
Frame completely without modification joints and dowel pins ring for positive seal,
interchangeable with for flexibility in process for long seal life and no baft to corrode or *E.I. DuPont
five pump models changes. maximum hydraulic gaskets to leak. Registered
(52 sizes). efficiency. Trademark

Figure 11-5. ANSI pump (courtesy of Goulds Pump, Inc.).

Single-Stage API Pump (Figure 11 -6)

Description

Mounting = Horizontal
Casing split = Radial
Impeller type = Radial
Mounting feet = Centerline of pump casing
No. of stages = Single
Figure 11-6. Single-stage API pump (courtesy of Bingham-Williamefte Pumps, Inc.).

Applications

Flow conditions: Low head, moderate flow rate, high temperature

Service rating: Critical
Typical uses: 1. Hot oil pumps
2. Rich oil pumps
3. Raw products pumps
Vertical In-Line Pump (Figure 11-7)

Description

Mounting = Vertical, in-line with piping

Casing split = Radial
Impeller type = Radial
Mounting feet = None
No. of stages = Single
Figure 11-7. Vertical in-line pump [courtesy of Goulds Pump, Inc.).

Applications

Flow conditions: Low head, moderate flow rate

Service rating: Non-critical
Typical uses: 1. Service water
2. LACT charge pump
3. Oil transfer
API Multistage Split Case Pump (Figure 11 -8)

Description

Mounting = Horizontal
Casing split = Axial
Impeller type = Radial
Mounting feet = Centerline of pump casing
No. of stages = Multiple

Applications

Flow conditions: High head and flow rate, high specific gravity
Service rating: Critical
Typical uses: 1. Pipeline booster
2. Water flood
3. Hot oil pumps
API Barrel Pump (Figure 11-9)

Description

Mounting = Horizontal
Casing split = Radial

Figure 11 -8. API multistage split case pump.

Figure 11-9. API—barrel pump (courtesy of Bingham-Williamette Pumps, Inc.).

Impeller type = Radial

Mounting feet = Centerline of pump casing
No. of stages = Multiple

Applications

Flow conditions: High head and flow rate, all specific gravities
Service rating: Critical
Typical uses: 1. Pipeline booster
2. Water flood
3. Lean oil pumps
Sump Pump (Figure 11-10)

Description

Mounting = Vertical
Casing split = Radial
Impeller type = Radial
Mounting feet = Mounting plate
No. of stages = Single
 Figure 11-10. Sump pump (courtesy of Afton
Pumps, Inc.).

Applications

Flow conditions: Low head and moderate flow rate

Service rating: Non-critical
Typical uses: Primarily used to pump water or hydrocarbons
from shallow pits or compartments
API Vertical Turbine or Can Pump (Figure 11-11)

Description

Mounting = Vertical
Casing split = Radial
Impeller type = Mixed or radial
Mounting feet = Mounting plate
No. of stages = Multiple

Applications

Flow conditions: High head and high flow rate, low NPSH available
 Figure 11-11. API vertical turbine or can
pump [courtesy of Hydraulic Institute).

Discharge
Seal

Shaft coupling

Column

Diffusers
Impeller vanes

Suction

Service rating: Critical

Typical uses: 1. Firewater pump offshore
2. Pipeline pump
Submersible Pump (Figure 11-12)

Description

Mounting = Vertical
Casing split = Radial
Impeller type = Radial
Mounting feet = Mounting plate
No. of stages = Multiple

Applications

Flow conditions: High head and moderate flow rate, low NPSH available
Service rating: Critical
 f WELLAND
PUMP
Figure 11-12. Submersible pump [courtesy of
SURFACEPLATE
JUNCTION
OFFSET Bryan Jackson, Inc.).
BOX

WELL CASING
FLANGE

CABLE & PIPE

-COUPLING
COLUMN

CABLE CLAMP
& COLUMN

OVERALL BOWLS
LENGTH & CABLE

BOWLS.
PUMP

MOTOR

MOTOR
WELL I.D.

Typical uses: 1. Firewater pump offshore

2. Downhole in well

BEARINGS, SEALS, AND WEAR RINGS

Bearings

Ball bearings transmit a load from a rotating surface to a fixed surface

via a series of rotating balls. They are generally inexpensive, do not
require any separate lubrication system, and can be designed to be self-
aligning. However, they have limited ability to handle thrust, high loads,
or high speeds.
Roller bearings transmit load from a rotating surface to a fixed surface
via a series of rotating cylinders. They have high thrust capability, and do
not require any separate lubrication system. However, like ball bearings
they have a limited load/speed capability.
Hydrodynamic sleeve bearings (journal bearings) transmit the load
through a thin oil film between a rotating shaft and a fixed bearing sur-
face. They are particularly well suited for high load/speed applications.
API 610 requires them on all barrel pumps when the product of the bear-
ing diameter in millimeters times the pump speed in rpm exceeds
500,000 or when the product of pump rated horsepower and pump rpm
exceeds 5.4 million. Sleeve bearings have long lives because there is no
rubbing between surfaces and they provide some degree of vibration
dampening. However, they require a continuous, contaminant-free oil
system and have no thrust capability.
Hydrodynamic thrust, or Kingsbury bearings, are the most expensive.
The load is transmitted through a thin oil film between a rotating shaft
and a fixed bearing surface that consists of multiple pads that tilt. These
bearings have all the advantages of sleeve bearings, but in addition they
have high thrust loading capability.

Seals

Seals are necessary to prevent leakage at the point where the shaft
enters the pump case. The most inexpensive seal is made of packing
material that acts as a pressure breakdown device. Packing must be flexi-
ble and capable of being compressed for proper operation. Packing mate-
rial may be made of flexible metallic strands with graphite or oil lubri-
cant impregnation. Asbestos is another material that was common in the
past, and though its use has decreased, there are applications where
asbestos is the only choice, especially in very-high-temperature service.
Besides low cost, packing has the advantage of being easy to replace.
However, it has the disadvantages of requiring both some small leakage
rate for proper operation, and continuous adjustment as it wears. Packing
is generally limited to water service where leakage can be tolerated.
Mechanical seals provide a continuous contact between two flat seal-
ing surfaces located on a plane perpendicular to the shaft centerline as
shown in Figure 11-13. They have the advantage of essentially eliminat-
 Note 2 Note 2

Seal gland

Throttle bushing
Seal chamber (auxiliary sealing device)

Throat bushing

Rotating Stationary
seal memDer seat memoer
Shaft

SINGLE SEAL
Not* 2 Note 2

Pumping ring
(for forced circulation)

UNPRESSURJZED DUAL SEAL

Note 2 Not«2 Note 2

PRESSURIZED DUAL SEAL

Notes:
1. These illustrations are typical and do not represent any specific design or brand of seal.
2. Refer to appropriate piping plan (see API 610) for required connections.

Figure 11-13. General mechanical seal arrangement [courtesy of API).

ing the leakage rate under normal conditions, requiring less frequent
adjustment and maintenance, and no run-in time. Besides higher initial
and operating costs than packing, they have the disadvantage that when
failure occurs it tends to be swift and with large leakage.
There are several types of mechanical seal arrangements. Unbalanced
seals are used for pressures less than 150 psi. Balanced seals are used for
pressures in excess of 50 psi.
A throttle bushing is a restrictive bushing or sealing device designed to
limit flow out of the seal in the event of failure. Since a leaking seal will
increase pressure between the seal and throttle bushing, throttle bushings
are used whenever a seal failure alarm is required.
Tandem seals are used in critical service where leakage due to seal
failure must be prohibited. They are constructed of two seal assemblies
acting in series and separated by a buffer fluid at less pressure than the
sealing pressure. Should the primary seal fail, the pressure or reservoir
level in the buffer fluid system would increase, triggering an alarm.
There is normally a throttle bushing and alarm downstream of the sec-
ondary seal to provide warning of secondary seal failure as well.
Double seals are used in toxic services where a pressurized clean seal
fluid is designed to leak into the lower pressure process should there be a
failure in the primary seal. A throttle bushing and alarm downstream of
the seal between the clean fluid and the atmosphere is normally installed
to warn of failure of this seal.
In order to clarify seal type descriptions with a concise and brief tech-
nique an API Seal Classification Code is used. It is a five-letter code
described by:
First Letter B = Balanced
U = Unbalanced
Second Letter S = Single
D = Pressurized dual (double)
T = Unpressurized dual (tandem)
Third Letter P = Plain end plate seal gland
T = Throttle bushing seal gland
Fourth Letter Gasket material, see Table 11-2
Fifth Letter Face material, see Table 11-3
 Table 11-2
Fourth Letter of Mechanical Seal Classification Code
Fourth Letter Stationary Seal Ring Gasket Seal Ring to Sleeve Gasket

E FKM PTFE
F FKM FKM
G PTFE PTFE
H Nitrile Nitrile
I FFKM FFKM
R Graphite Foil Graphite Foil
X As Specified As Specified
Z Spiral Wound Graphite Foil
FKM—Fluoroelastomer, such as DuPont Viton
PTFE—Polytetrafluoroethylene, similar to DuPont Teflon
Nitrile—B.F. Goodrich Hycar, Buna N or similar
FFKM—Perfluoroelastomer such as DuPont Kalrez

Table 11-3
Fifth Letter of Mechanical Seal Classification Code
Fifth Letter Sealing Ring Face Material
Ring 1 Ring 2

L Carbon Tungsten Carbide 1

M Carbon Tungsten Carbide 2
N Carbon Silicon Carbide
O Tungsten Carbide 2 Silicon Carbide
P Silicon Carbide
X As Specified

For example, a BTPFL seal is a balanced, tandem seal with plain end
plate, fluoroelastomer "O" rings, a carbon steel seal ring, and a tungsten
carbide-1 mating seal ring.
API 610 establishes standard piping systems for mechanical seals.
These systems provide a flushing fluid across seal faces, establish flow
paths for various seal configurations and establish location for compo-
nents (e.g., coolers, reservoirs, pressure switches).
Table 11-4 is a general guide to seal usage to provide a starting point
for making a cost-benefit decision for any installation.

Wear Rings

These are easily renewable leakage seals between the impeller or shaft
and casing designed to prevent leakage from high pressure to low pres-
 Table 11-4
Seal Usage Guide
Pressure Seal Piping
Service psi Seal System Plans

Water <100 Packing

>100 Balanced mechanical seal Plan 12 or 13
Hydrocarbons—
lease facilities <100 Mechanical seal Plan 12 or 13
100 to 500 Balanced mechanical seal Plan 12 or 13
>500 psi Balanced tandem seal Plan 12 or 13
with 52
Hydrocarbons—
major installations
and plants <100 Mechanical seal with Plan 12 or 13
throttle bushing
>100 Balanced tandem seals Plan 12 or 13
with throttle bushing with 52
Toxic fluids All Double balanced seal Plan 12 or 13
with throttle bushing with 52

sure areas. They require a difference in hardness to avoid galling, and in

sandy service a flushing fluid for cleaning.

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
Figure 11-14 shows a typical mechanical flowsheet for two centrifugal
pumps installed in parallel. It is presented to illustrate some of the con-
siderations necessary for a good pump installation. Every installation has
different objectives and very few will be exactly like this one.
The suction piping is sized for about 2-3 ft/sec and the discharge pip-
ing for about 5-6 ft/sec. Although suction and discharge velocities are
not as critical for centrifugal pumps as for reciprocating pumps, field
experience indicates lower maintenance when the velocities are kept
below this range.
Each pump has isolation valves to enable it to be maintained while the
other is running. Because of the possibility that a discharge valve could be
left open while a suction valve is closed, the suction line up to and includ-
 FROM TANK

TO TANK

FROM TANK
LEVEL CONTROL

TO PIPELINE

Figure 11-14. Typical mechanical flowsheet for two centrifugal pumps installed in
parallel.

ing the block valve should be rated for discharge pressure. As an alterna-
tive, a relief valve could be installed in each pump's suction piping.
A check valve is installed in each pump's discharge to prevent
reverse rotation of the pump when it is not operating and its isolation
valves are open.
A throttling valve (FCV) is installed to control flow without having to
start and stop the pumps. It is also possible to start and stop one or both
pumps based on level in the feed tank or to use a variable speed driver to
control pump speed on level. Since it is possible for the throttling valve
to close or for a pump to be started with a blocked discharge, a minimum
flow bypass with an orifice (RO) sized to provide sufficient flow to avoid
overheating the pump is installed. The bypass is piped back to the tank
for further cooling, but this requires a valve on the bypass line that could
be left closed, and it does not protect the pump from a closed suction
valve. It would be possible to protect against these problems by piping
the recycle directly back to the pump suction. The drawback of this type
of bypass is that with the short loop from discharge to suction, the liquid
will eventually overheat. The continuous bypass effectively reduces the
efficiency of the pump. On large installations it could be attractive to
install a pressure control valve on the pump discharge that would only
bypass liquid when the pump discharge pressure approached the shut-in
pressure. There is much debate on which scheme to use.
It is common to install low- and high-pressure switches in the dis-
charge line (PSHL). The low-pressure switch usually has a delay for
start-up. If the pump starts against a closed valve, the pressure will reach
the high setting, and the switch will shut the pump down and trigger an
alarm that indicates the reason for the shutdown. If the suction valve is
closed, the pump pressure will remain low until the low-pressure switch
delay expires, and the pump will be shut down. If a large leak develops
in the piping downstream of the pump and the pressure drops below the
normal operating range, the low-pressure switch will sense the abnormal
pressure and shut-in the pump.
The pump is provided with vent and drain connections and a cone-type
strainer (SP-I) for startup. Piping must be arranged to allow removal and
replacement of the strainer and to allow easy access to the pump for
maintenance.