ME-44 Pumps & Compressors: Key Learning Points

ME-44 Pumps & Compressors
7-11 October 2012
Key Learning Points

8th October
1. 2 types of pump – kinetic & PD

2. Suction Head = elevation (static) + pressure – friction
Discharge Head = elevation (static) + pressure + friction
3. Relation of head to pressure
4. Effect of flow velocity – pump curve, kinetic/pressure energy exchange
5. Cavitation – correct name is erosion fatigue
a. Caused by either VP issues or air entrainment
b. Only affected by suction conditions
c. Cure VP issues by raising suction pressure (elevation or pressure) or by reducing friction
on suction
6. Gauge pressure used for pumps while absolute used for compressors
7. Head used to identify pump curve – independent of SG
8. NPSHA>NPSHR + 3ft (to 5ft) min
a. NPSH required properties
9. Never run your pump past the runout point as it WILL cavitate
10. Centrifugal pump maintains same head while PD pump maintains the same flow
11. VS driver should be used when the system is friction dominant.
12. Our hearts are PD pumps
13. The pump will operate where the pump curve and the system curve intersect
14. A discharge flow control valve closing in will cause the system curve to shift to the left
15. Acceptable suction head operating range for pump
16. Suction head calculation & basic pump selection calculations
17. The rules of thumb (Roy).
9th October
18. Double volute splits the flow – increases efficiency and reduces radial thrust on the bearing.
Equal pressures across the impeller.
19. Packed glands should always leak otherwise the packing will burn out resulting in shaft damage.
(About 3 to 10 drips/minute).
a. All seals leak. Some more than others
20. Triplex pumps have lower amplitude pulsations (and higher frequency) than duplex and simplex
because there are more pulsations and they overlap.
21. PD pumps must have relief valves for over pressure protection. Must be designed for full flow.
22. Discharge of the PSV should go to reservoir rather than suction on the PD pump.
23. PD pumps are more efficient than centrifugal pumps. Centrifugal pump efficiency depends on
pump geometry, BEP and specific speed. PD pump is independent of these factors.
24. Dry gas seals
a. Buffer gas may be nitrogen or instrument air.
25. Particularly on centrifugal pumps there should be a minimum of 5D on the section line before
any fittings or bends.
a. Use eccentric reducer on suction side of the pump with the flat on the top to minimize
turbulence and gas pockets.
26. Vibration on pumps may be due to vibration or misalignment among other factors.
27. Wear rings should be checked / replaced periodically. These are a consumable item.
28. PD pumps may be controlled by variable speed, PCV, variable stroke and start/stop.
29. Mechanical seals can have different flush plans depending on process, types of failures.
30. Identified several types of PD pumps
31. Identified and calculate various performance factors including system curve, head, flow, power,
pressure etc.
10th October
32. Identified that there are 2 basic types of compressor

a. Kinetic
b. Positive displacement
33. Identified the various types of kinetic and PD compressors
34. Discussed the Ideal Gas Equation
a. PV=zmRT
b. V1/T1=V2/T2
c. P1V2=P2V2
35. Identified and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of positive displacement
compressors
36. Discussed compressors performance curves
37. Considered compression laws
a. Isentropic & adiabatic
b. Polytropic
c. Isothermal
d. Use curves to carry out polytropic to
isentropic conversions
38. Reciprocating compressors do not surge as they generate pressure by virtue of positive
displacement
39. Gas turbines are highly affected by ambient temperature – ie high ambient leads to high exhaust
temperatures so that fuel must be limited, thereby limiting power.
40. Do not use CP pumps for oil/water mixture as the high shear often leads to emulsion formation.
Use PD pumps
41. Progressive cavity pumps (PCP) are preferred for pumping slurry or liquid with sand.
42. To avoid high nozzle loads the piping should be fitted before positioning the pump/compressor.
43. Rotary pumps:
a. Are used for higher viscosity fluids
b. Have higher efficiencies
c. Cavitate less
44. Pressure Relief Valves are a must for all rotary pumps (and reciprocating)
45. Higher liquid viscosities give less slip and lower efficiency
46. Compressors are designed in stages to limit maximum temperature and operate closer to
isothermal resulting in less work.
47. For compressors with fixed flow rates use vaned diffusers, for variable flow rates use vaneless
diffusers because of the differences in efficiency at different flow rates.
11th October
48. Parameters that affect the system head of a compressor system include:
a. Pressure loss
b. Gas velocity
c. Gas properties
49. Avoid running at critical speed for any length of time to avoid high levels of vibration
50. Reciprocating gas compressors are immune to surge irrespective of the gas properties.
51. Compressor discharge temperature depends on:
a. Suction temperature
b. Compression ratio
c. Gas composition
52. Typical recip compressor inlet cooling water temperature should be about 60ºC.
53. Elevation has negligible effects on the system curve for compression systems
54. Recip compressors are not preferred offshore due to large footprint and heavy weight
55. Compressor seal types include
a. Labyrinth
b. Liquid film seal
c. Restrictive ring seal
d. Mechanical contact seal
e. Dry gas seal
56. Discussed the equation for volumetric efficiency of a recip compressors
57. The major parts of a recip compressor include
a. Crankcase
b. Crankshaft
c. Connecting rod
d. Crosshead
e. Piston
f. Cylinder
g. Valves
58. Compression ration changes affect the volumetric efficiency
59. The suction line going to a recip compressor should be at the top – not the bottom due to
possible liquid accumulation
60. P.V. diagrams show pressures and work.
61. If pumping oil/water mix PD pumps are better because centrifugal pumps have high shear
leading to

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ME-44 Pumps & Compressors

7-11 October 2012

Key Learning Points

1. 2 types of pump – kinetic & PD

32. Identified that there are 2 basic types of compressor

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