The design of pump inlet piping defines the resulting hydraulic conditions experienced at the

pump inlet/impeller. If the design fails to produce a uniform velocity distribution at the pump
inlet, noisy operation, random axial load oscillations, premature bearing or seal failure,
cavitation damage to the impeller and inlet portions of the casing, and occasional damage on
the discharge side due to liquid separation can occur. Any of these issues could lead to pump
failure (ANSI/HI 9.6.6., 2009). Part of the pump inlet piping design includes the selection of
reducer fitting type.

A reducer fitting is typically used in pump station pipe work to reduce the size of the suction
pipe to match the size of the pump suction end flange. Reducer fittings used in pump inlet
pipe work are divided into two types—concentric and eccentric reducers. The two types of
reducer fittings can be described as:

 Concentric reducer—The reduction of the pipe size is achieved by decreasing the

diameter of the fitting at a constant rate over a specified length, maintaining symmetry
around the fitting (see Figure 1).
 Eccentric reducer—The reduction of the pipe size is achieved by decreasing the
diameter of the fitting at a constant rate over a specified length, maintaining one side
of the fitting horizontally (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Difference between eccentric and concentric reducers in pump inlet piping (Article
graphics courtesy of the authors.)

Design guidelines, pump operating manuals and design standards mostly prescribe the
selection of an eccentric reducer with the flat side on top for horizontal flow to the pump.
This configuration prevents air pocket accumulation at the upstream end of the reducer (see
Figure 1). The non-uniform velocity distribution results from the acceleration of flow along
the eccentric reducer’s sloped side resulting in an unbalanced force that is not addressed. An
unbalanced force on the impeller could lead to potentially detrimental radial thrust
harmonics.

Abstract from the Design Standards

ANSI/HI 9.6.6 American National Standard for Pump Piping for Rotodynamic Pumps (P4,
2009) specifies the following for the selection of reducer type in pump inlet piping: “A
concentric reducer is recommended for vertical inlet (suction) pipes or horizontal installations
where there is no potential for air vapor accumulation.

Eccentric convergent reducers are normally used for horizontal installations where there is
potential for air vapor accumulation. The flat side shall be located on top, unless the inlet
(suction) line approach from above, in which case either a concentric reducer or eccentric
convergent reducer (with the flat side on the bottom) should be used.”

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ANSI/HI 9.8 American National Standard for Pump Intake Design (P21, 1998) states, “There
shall be no flow disturbing fittings (such as partially open valves, tees, short radius elbows,
etc.) closer than five suction pipe diameters from the pump. Fully open, non-flow disturbing
valves, vaned elbows and reducers are not considered flow disturbing fittings.”

This standard eliminates any reference to the possible flow distribution that could be
generated by the reducer. This standard (P28, 1998) also requires that, “Time-averaged
velocities at the pump suction in a piping system shall be within 10 percent of the cross-
sectional area’s average velocity.”

This requirement can be used to assess the extent of flow disturbance caused by a reducer.
ANSI/HI 9.8 also recommends a maximum flow velocity of 2.4 meters per second (m/s) in
the suction pipe work.
ANSI/AWWA C208 American Water Works Association Standard – Dimensions for
Fabricated Steel Water Pipe Fittings (P7, 2008) directs the length of a reducer (Lr) to be
calculated with the following formula.

Equation 1
Lr = 4 (DL – Ds)

Figure 2. Calculation of reducer angles

Where:
Lr = Length of the reducer
DL = Larger pipe diameter
Ds = Smaller pipe diameter

The reducer angles for the ANSI/AWWA C208 were calculated with the method in Figure 2
to compare it to the requirements in Table 1. The calculated angles are:

 ANSI/AWWA C208 Eccentric Reducer Angle = 14.04°

 ANSI/AWWA C208 Concentric Reducer Angle = 7.13°
The minimum number of straight pipe lengths required is determined by the number of pipe
reductions, regardless of the reducer angle staying constant. For a single pipe reduction, the
standard ANSI/AWWA C208 reducer has no requirement for downstream pipe lengths
before the pump.

REDUCER

Reducer
Pipe reducer is a kind of pipe fitting that joins two pipes of different diameter. The pipe
reducers are available in a range of materials depending on the end use of the products and
these fittings are manufactured in inch and metric size.

Ordering Information:

 DN (nominal diameter)
 O.D. (outside diameter)
 Distance from end to end (H)
 Standard: GB, HG, HGJ, SH, SY, DL, ASME, AN, SI, JIS, and DIN
 Whether seamless or welded
 Materials of construction
 Corrosion resistance
 Durability

Types of reducers

Concentric Reducer
Concentric Reducers are used to join pipe or tube sections on the same axis. They provide an
in-line conical transition between pressurized pipes of differing diameters. A pipe reducer can
be a single diameter change or a multiple diameter change. The pipes cannot recognize what
the outside configuration of the pipe reducer looks like. The pipe flow is affected by the
inside diameter conical transition configuration which can be axially moved and externally
reconfigured to provide for more economical reducer fittings. Thus, concentric reducers
connect pipes of unequal size but have a common centerline. In other words, it is a type of
pipe fitting with different size ends to join pipes of different diameter that joins pipe sections
on the same axis.
Concentric reducers are designed with the small and large diameters on opposite ends and
joined by a cone shaped transition section. They are available in both seamless and welded
construction.
How to take measurements of concentric reducers?
Get the measurements of outer diameter (OD) and inner diameter (ID) , height (H), and the
total dimension (T1, T2).
Uses of concentric reducers:
Some uses of concentric reducers are as follows:

 Concentric reducers will transition gracefully between the piping and the pump.
 The concentric reducers help in transporting slurries or abrasive liquids.
  They are useful in services where cavitation is present.
 When transporting between flanges or pipes of different ratings and wear protection is
necessary, concentric reducers are ideal.
 Concentric reducers are used in discharge of the pump.

Eccentric Reducer
An eccentric pipe reducer fitting is manufactured with the smaller outlet off center to the
larger end, which allows it to align with only one side of the inlet. The reducer must be
installed with straight side up so that it can prevent trapping air at the pump suction. The
eccentric pipe reducers allow simple connection of different sized pipes.
Uses of eccentric reducers:

 Keeping big pipes and small pipes together.

 Reducing noise and vibration at the same time.
 Requires less installation space.
 Absorbs pipe wall and fluid borne noise.
 Less turbulence or material entrapment.
 Eccentric reducer are used with flat side up in pump suction to avoid cavitation.

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