Head pressure centrifugal-pump

Inequality constraints, g x, are expressions that involve any or all of the set of variables, i, and are used to bound the feasible region of operation. For example, when operating a centrifugal pump, the head developed decreases with increasing flow rate according to a pump characteristic curve. Hence, if the flow rate is varied when optimizing the process, care must be taken to make sure that the required pressure increase (head) does not exceed that available from the pump. The expression might be of the form. 

Similitude for centrifugal devices volumetric flowrate ratios = (diameter of impeller ratio) times (impeller rpm ratio) head ratios = (diameter ratio) times (the impeller rpm ratio) power ratio = (diameter ratio) times (impeller speed ratio). Positive displacement reciprocating pumps head"-capacity curve is almost vertical flowrate decreases only slightly with higher discharge pressure. Although we usually consider head for centrifugal pumps, pressure is more appropriate for positive displacement. Suction velocity < 1 m/s. 

The centrifugal pump is the type most widely used in the chemical industiy for transferring liquids of aU types—raw materials, materials in manufacture, and finished produc ts—as well as for general services of water supply, boiler feed, condenser circulation, condensate return, etc. These pumps are available through avast range of sizes, in capacities from 0.5 mVh to 2 X 10 mVh (2 gal/min to 10 gaJ/min), and for discharge heads (pressures) from a few meters to approximately 48 MPa (7000 Ibf/iu"). The size and type best suited to a particular apphcation can be determined only by an engineering study of the problem. 

These pumps are particularly useful when low volumes of low-viscosity liquids must be handled at higher pressures than are normally available with centrifugal pumps. Close clearances limit their use to clean liquids. For veiy high heads, multistage units are available. 

Fiqiially, the pump will generate less flow as the discharge head or pressure requirements are increased. Obviously, both flow and head should be known before selecting a centrifugal pump. 

In the left upper corner of Figure 3.4.1, the centrifugal pump performance is shown. As ean be seen, the head generated depends on RPM but is independent of the flow, within a 10 % error, up to a eertain limit. The pressure staits to deeline when that point is reaehed at whieh the flow is high enough that the pump itself limits the flow beeause of its eross-section. 

API mandates that the pressure drop across a clean filter element be no more than 15% of the allowable pressure drop when dirty. An upper limit of 5 psi drop is set for clean filters. This is a reasonable criterion. If a little arithmetic is performed, the head rise for a centrifugal pump may be calculated. The specifications on both of these items must be coordinated and made compatible. 

Volume 1 explains that pumps ean be classified as either positive-displacement or kinetie. The same is true for compressors. In a positive displacement compressor the gas is transported from low pressure to high pressure in a device that reduces its volume and thus inereases its pressure. The most common type of positive displacement eompressors are reeiprocating and rotary (serew or vane) just as was the ease for pumps. Kinetic compressors impart a veloeity head to the gas, which is then converted to a pressure head in accordance with Bernoulli s Law as the gas is slowed down to the velocity in the discharge line. Just as was the case with pumps, centrifugal compressors are the only form of kinetic compressor commonly used. 

Figure 3-40C. Pressure head. (Adapted by permission. Centrifugal Pumps Fundamentals, Ingersoll-Rand Co., Washington, N.J. 07882.)...

For general service the average centrifugal pump should lift about 15 feet of water on its suction side. However, since each process situation is different, it is not sufficient to assume that a particular pump wll perform the needed suction lift. Actually, certain styles or models of a manufacturer s pumps are often specially adapted to high lift conditions. On the other hand it is unnecessary to select a high lift pump when pressure head or flooded suction conditions prevail. Proper evaluation of suction lift conditions cannot be over emphasized. 

The pressure at any point in the suction line must never be reduced to the vapor pressure of the liquid (see Equation 3-6). Both the suction head and the vapor pressure must be expressed in feet of the liquid, and must both be expressed as gauge pressure or absolute pressure. Centrifugal pumps cannot pump any quantity of vapor, except possibly some vapor entrained or absorbed in the liquid, but do not count cm it. The liquid or its gases must not vaporize in the eye/entrance of the impeller. (This is the lowest pressure location in the impeller.)... 

Another centrifugal pump classification is whether the pump is a single-stage pump (the pressure head is developed by a single impeller) or a multistage pump (the pressure head is developed by two or more impellers). 

Centrifugal pumps, 181 Discharge systems, 187 Example calculation, 186 Flow friction losses, 185. 186 Friction losses, pipe, see Chapter 2 Friction, 188 Pressure head, 184—186 Static head, 184-186 Suction head, 184, 185 Suction lift, 184, 185 Suction systems, 186 Hvdroclones, 265—267 Application system, 267 Ignition, flammable mixtures, 493 Impellers, centrifugal, reducing diameter, 203 Impellers,... 

Total head, centrifugal pumps, 180, 183 Discharge, 205 Head curve, 198 Suction head, 184, 186 Suction lift, 184, 186 Type, 184 Tubing, 63, 64 Two-phase flow, 124 Calculations, 125-127 Flow patterns, chart, 124 System pressure drop, 125 Types of flow, 124, 125 Utilities check list, process design, 34 Vacuum,... 

The head against which the liquid is to be pumped. This will be determined by the difference in pressure, the vertical height of the downstream and upstream reservoirs and by the frictional losses which occur in the delivery line. The suitability of a centrifugal pump and the number of stages required will largely be determined by this factor. 

A centrifugal pump is required to circulate a liquid of density 800 kg/m2 and viscosity 0.5 x 10 3 Ns/m" from the reboiler of a distillation column through a vaporisor at the rate of 0.004 m3/s, and to introduce the superheated vapour above the vapour space in the reboiler which contains a 0.07 m depth of liquid. If smooth-bore 25 mm diameter pipe is to be used, the pressure of vapour in the reboiler is 1 kN/m2 and the Net Positive Suction Head required by the pump is 2 m of liquid, what is the minimum height required between the liquid level in the reboiler and the pump ... 

A centrifugal pump is to be used to extract water from a condenser in which the vacuum is 640 mm of mercury. At the rated discharge the net positive suction head must be at least 3 m above the cavitation vapour pressure of 710 mm mercury vacuum. If losses in the suction pipe account for a head of 1.5 m. what must be the least height of the liquid level in the condenser above the pump inlet ... 

The static pressure difference will be independent of the fluid flow-rate. The dynamic loss will increase as the flow-rate is increased. It will be roughly proportional to the flow-rate squared, see equation 5.3. The system curve, or operating line, is a plot of the total pressure head versus the liquid flow-rate. The operating point of a centrifugal pump can be found by plotting the system curve on the pump s characteristic curve, see Example 5.3. 

Injection pump. An injection pump is used to force the waste into the injection zone, although in very porous formations, such as cavernous limestone, the hydrostatic pressure of the waste column in the well is sufficient. The type of pump is determined primarily by the well-head pressures required, the volume of liquid to be injected, and the corrosiveness of the waste. Single-stage centrifugal pumps are used in systems that require well-head pressures up to about 10.5 kg/cm2 (150 psi), and multiplex piston pumps are used to achieve higher injection pressures. 

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