PT05 - Predicting Centrifugal Pump Type and NPSH in Early Facility Design

Abstract

This tutorial focuses on centrifugal pumps, which are generally the workhorse of industrial oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities, and the tutorial approaches an early assessment concept in several parts. First, it examines some of the theoretical hydraulic selection parameters that can be calculated for pump applications, some of the physical limiting factors pertaining to those hydraulic selection parameters, and the assumptions upon which those calculations might be based. Once the groundwork has been laid for those calculations, it examines the use of those hydraulic parameters in conjunction with the conditions of service to predict pump type and NPSHR against actual pump selections for two greenfield projects with a combined total of over 150 pump applications and identifies any shortcomings of these predictions. Lastly, this tutorial covers some examples of potential pitfalls due to lack of good design and testing practices not being implemented at the proper stage of facility design that may render the aforementioned predictions less accurate or may result in facility re-design. This tutorial's target audience are engineers and technical personnel involved in design and operation of facilities with a significant number of centrifugal pumps.