Design of Fire protection system 1

Dr. Abdullah Olimat

First semester 2015/2016
Subject 6: pumps
A pump is a machine ,powered by an external source , which imparts energy to a
fluid or gas. This energy can be expressed in two ways: an increase in pressure or
an increase in flow.
A pump may be driven by hand ,by an electric motor, by an internal combustion
engine, or by hydraulic or pneumatic means.

Pump types
1- Dynamic pump : pumps are used in conditions where high volumes are
required and a change in flow is not a problem. As the discharge pressure is
increased ,the quantity of water pumped is reduced.
2- Displacement pumps( positive displacement pumps) : pumps are used in
conditions where relatively small ,but precise, volume are required.
Displacement pumps will not change their volume with a change in discharge
pressure.
The most common type of pump used on fire appliances is the centrifugal
pump.
Centrifugal pumps configuration
1- End suction centrifugal (most common style)
2- Split case
3- Vertical turbines
End suction centrifugal pumps : the center of the suction line is centered
on the impeller eye. They classified as frame mounted and close coupled.
Types of end suction
1- close –coupled :
- it has only one shaft and one set of bearing for pump and motor.
- The pump impeller is placed directly on the motor shaft.
- Require less space
- Less expensive than frame mounted.
2- Frame mounted
- It has a shaft and bearing separate from the motor.
- a coupling is required to get the energy from motor to the pump.
- Couplings should have guards installed for safety purposes.
3-Split case pumps
a centrifugal pump designed so that the volute case is split horizontally. The
case divides on a plane that cuts through the eye of the impeller. The case has
a row of bolts that allow half of the case to be removed , providing access to
the entire rotating assembly for inspection or removal.
Vertical turbine pump: a classification of centrifugal pumps that are primarily
mounted with a vertical shaft ; the motor is commonly mounted above the
pump.
Styles of vertical turbines
1- line shaft
- The motor is mounted above the ground
- The pump unit is mounted below the water surface.
- A column extends from the pump to a discharge head found just below the
motor.
- A shaft extends on a straight line from the center of the motor to the pump.
- The pump may be mounted a few feet to several hundred feet away from the
motor.
2- axial flow pumps
- Uses a propeller instead of an impeller
- The energy is transferred into the water so that the direction of the flow is
directly up the shaft.

3- submersible turbine
- The entire pump assembly and motor are submersed in the water.
- The motor is commonly mounted below the pump

4- can turbine pumps

- The pump assembly is mounted inside of a sealed can.
- The inlet is mounted opposite the outlet on the discharge head.
- The can must always be under pressure.
Centrifugal pumps
 Principle of operation
- The energy is transferred from the shaft
to the impeller ( causing a rotating impeller
inside a pump casing) and from the impeller
to the water( which enters at the center or
eye of the impeller) due to the friction
between the impeller and the water.
- Throw the water outward away (the
outer edge of the casing) from the spinning
impeller due to centrifugal force.
- Water is collected inside the pump casing
and discharged from the pump outlet.
Advantages of a centrifugal pump for firefighting
Component functions
1- impeller
The impeller is the spinning part of a centrifugal pump that imparts energy to the
water. It is attached to a central rotating shaft.
There are three types of the impeller based on the number of shrouds( the front
and/or back an impeller)
1- closed impeller : when an impeller has a shroud in the front and in the back.
2- semi-open impeller: when there is inly a shroud in the back of the impeller.
3- open impeller: when there are no shrouds.
Water received at its eye(inlet) is thrown outward at high velocity by the radial vanes as
the impeller rotates, and then it discharged at its outer edge.
2- Volutes case
Around the impeller is the volute case.
The volute case gathers the water thrown from the impeller and directs it in a
single direction.
Tasks of the volute
1- to channel water from the periphery of the impeller to the outlet.
2- to reduce the velocity of the water as it passes through the volute.
3- to reduce the turbulence of the water leaving the impeller.
3- Guide vanes(diffuser)
Fixed guide vanes in the casing may be used to guide the water along its correct
path and to reduce turbulence.
The output pressure of a
centrifugal pump can be raised
by
1- increasing the speed of
rotation
( limited due to the power of
the engine)
2- the diameter of the impeller
( relatively inefficient )

Thus the better choice is using a multi-stage pump which imparts the energy to the
water through two or more impellers.
Advantage of multistage pumps
achieving higher delivery pressures(high rise buildings) while maintain moderate
engine speeds.
 Series pumps
two or more single stage
centrifugal pumps are
arranged so that the
discharge from the first
pump is connected directly
to the second pump.

The amount of water passing through the second pump is the same as that
passing through the first pump.
Neglecting friction loss and assuming the pump impellers are equal ,each pump
will add an equal amount of pressure.
Series /parallel pumps
The pump may either be operated in a series mode(the first impeller passing
water to the second to build up pressure) , or parallel mode(each impeller feeding
directly to the pump outlet to produce high volume)
In series mode ,the transfer valve is closed and the discharge from the first
impeller is directed to the inlet of the second impeller, then to the pump
discharge.
In the parallel mode, water from the source enters the eye of both impellers
together at the same pressure, and is discharged from both impeller together into
a common delivery.
End suction centrifugal and split case piping
Suction conditions
End suction and split case pumps can be installed in suction lift or suction head
condition.
Suction lift : a pumping condition where the eye of the impeller of the pump is
above the surface of the water from which the pump is pumping.
Suction head : a pumping condition where the eye of the impeller of the pump
is below the surface of the water from which the pump is pumping.
Suction piping
Most pumps in the suction lift condition requires foot valve on the end of the
suction line to prevent the pump from losing prime. Most foot valve are large
glob valves. The suction piping is usually designed one pipe size larger than the
inlet of the pump with smooth piping material and fitting.
Isolation valves on the suction side of pump should only be gate or ball valves.
Butterfly valves cause high headless.
As the piping reaches the pump ,it reduced to meet the pump connection using
an eccentric reducer . The eccentric reducer prevents air accumulation in the
piping.
Discharging piping : starts with a concentric reducer , which takes the pipe up
to one pipe size larger than the pump discharge.
To reduce repair cost , a flange by flange spool or expansion joint is placed
between the isolation valve and the pump.
To prevent the flow of water back through the pump , a check valve is often place
in the discharge line unless flow or pressure control is installed.
Ball valves are installed at the base of the gauges( suction and discharge
conditions) to allow easy replacement and to shut the gauges off when not in use
, thus extending their life.
 Vertical turbine components

Inlet : water enters the vertical

turbine through the suction bell.it
then passes into the pump bowel
which serves the same function as
the volute case on the an end
suction centrifugal .
Impellers : most line shaft and
submersible turbine have more
than one impeller. Each impeller
and pump bowel is referred to as
a pump stage.
Pump ratings
The rated capacity of a fire pump is not necessarily the maximum capacity of the
pump. The actual capacity of a centrifugal pump is limited by
1. The intake diameter
2. Impeller eye diameter.
3. Impeller outside diameter
4. Width of the impeller
5. Shape and number of vanes in impeller.
6. Design of volute chamber.
The pressure at the inlet of a centrifugal pump decreases as water is thrown
outwards by centrifugal force.
The changes in pressure that occur as water travels through the section hose,
impeller, and volute before passing out through the delivery may be shown
graphically:
The velocity of the water also changes as it flows through the various stages of
the pump .
The impeller increases both the pressure and the velocity of water. The volute
decreases the velocity of the water thus increasing the pressure still further.
At any given speed the pressure and discharge vary inversely. The pump will
give either a low volume of water at high pressure or a high volume at a low
pressure..
This means that the pump can run at full throttle either with large output and
low pressure or with closed deliveries with no output and high pressure or at
any intermediate point without damage to the pump.
Fire pumps
NFPA20 , Standard for the installation of centrifugal fire pumps.
Centrifugal fire pump : a pump that develops pressure by forcing water to rotate
around a shaft ,creating centrifugal pressure that boasts the water supply.
fire pumps installation
1- suction side : is the side connected to water supply.
2- discharge side : is the side to which the sprinkler or standpipe system is
connected to receive pressurized water from the pump.
3- piping and components on the suction side must meet certain criteria:
A- Piping on the suction side of the pump must be galvanized or specially coated
to minimize corrosion or flakes of piping material from being drawn into the
pump.
B- Control valves on the suction side must be OS&Y valves.
C- All piping especially the reducer directly attached to the pump must be
designed to eliminate air pockets that could cause cavitation, or destructive
vibrations caused by the churning of a fire pump when it is drawing air into the
pump instead of water.
Cavitation : destructive vibrations caused by the churning of the a fire pump
when it is pumping air instead of water.
Pump relief valve : a valve installed to prevent over pressurization and damage
to sprinkler components.
Jokey pump : a very small pump that boosts the static pressure within the
piping system when the fire pump is not running.
Schematic of a fire pump layout
Net positive suction head for centrifugal pump
To a void cavitation in centrifugal pumps, the pressure of the fluid at all points
within the pump must remain above saturation pressure.
The quantity used to determine if the pressure of the liquid being pump is adequate
to avoid cavitation is the net positive suction head(NPSH).
Net positive suction head available(NPSHA) is the difference between the pressure
at the suction of the pump and the saturation pressure for the liquid being pump.it
is a function of system
Net positive suction head required(NPSHR) is the minimum net positive suction
head necessary to avoid cavitation.it is a function of pump design.
To avoid cavitation the following condition mist be met

𝐍𝐏𝐒𝐇𝐀 ≥ 𝐍𝐏𝐒𝐇𝐑
The basic equation for the net positive suction head a available is
𝐍𝐏𝐒𝐇𝐀 = ∓𝐇𝐒 − 𝐇𝐋 + 𝐇𝐀 − 𝐇𝐕
Where:
𝐇𝐒 = static suction head(+ ) or lift(-), how high above or below the pump
suction is the level of the fluid.it is measured to the center of the pump suction
eye on horizontal pumps or center of discharge of the impeller on vertical .
𝐇𝐋 = suction line losses (friction ,entrance and fitting),use Hazen William
formula
𝐇𝐀 = absolute pressure at the liquids free surface in feet of liquid pumped, in a
closed system it is the system pressure, while in open system it is atmospheric
pressure. At sea level ,it is equal 14.696psia (33.96ft of head)
𝐇𝐕 = vapor pressure of liquid at pumping temperature converted to feet of
liquid handled.it varies with temperature ,the temperature the higher vapor
pressure
Graphical representation
Line ABC represents the hydraulic
gradient in the piping system.
Gradient AB represents entrance
loss, pipe friction, and elbow loss
in the vertical run of piping.
Gradient BC represents pipe
friction loss through the horizontal
run of piping.
Distance DE represents the vapor
pressure of the liquid.
Distance CD represents the
NPSHA.
Performance curves for different cases, normal, abnormal, cavitation
Example(1) open tank

𝐇𝐒 = 20ft
 Example 2. closed pressure vessel

𝐇𝐒 = 20ft
Example 3. open tank at 2000feet above sea level
Example 4. feed water heater
Example 5. pump under suction lift

𝐇𝐒 = 15ft

Normally pumps are not recommended for suction lifts of more than 20ft due
to difficulty in maintaining prime even through the NPSHR would indicate the
pump could handle greater than 20ft lift.
Calculating pressure differentials
A sprinkler demand is compared to a city water supply by graphing the two
curves as shown.
The system demand exceeds the available supply by a bout 7 psi.
To determine the exact pressure differential ,calculate the pressure
available at the gpm flow of the sprinkler system using the formula:
Graphing a fire pump supply
Graph of a fire pump curve
problems