Centrifugal Pumps

JET Module 3
Centrifugal Pumps
Provisory
TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC
1 Introduction pg 04
2 Introduction to centrifugal pumps pg 05
3 Centrifugal pump main components pg 08
3.1 Impeller pg 08
3.2 Wear plates pg 10
3.3 Wear rings pg 11
3.4 Shaft pg 12
3.5 Volute pg 13
3.6 Bearings, bearing frame, and stuffing box pg 14
3.7 Packing seals pg 15
3.8 Rope packing or jam type packing pg 15
3.9 Mechanical seals pg 16
3.8 Lubrication system pg 17
3.8.1 Self lubricating packing pg 17
3.8.2 Oil (RA45, RA56, RB23) pg 16
3.8.3 Grease pg 17
3.9 Power sources pg 19
3.9.1 Diesel drives pg 19
3.9.2 Electric drives pg 19
3.9.3 Power-take-off (PTO) pg 19
3.9.4 Hydraulic drives pg 20
4 Centrifugal pump types pg 21
5 Fundamentals and pump performance pg 23
5.1 System head pg 24
5.1.1 Total static head pg 24
5.1.2 Total head pg 25
5.2 Vortexing pg 26
5.3 Horsepower and efficiency pg 27
5.4 Net positive suction head and cavitation pg 28
5.4.1 Net positive suction head pg 28
5.4.2 Cavitation pg 28
JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS TOC
6 Pump operation pg 30
6.1 Rigging up pg 30
6.2 Centrifugal pump priming pg 31
6.3 Pumping with centrifugal pumps pg 32
7 Parallel and service operations pg 33
7.1 Parallel operation pg 34
7.2 Series operation pg 35
8 Piping design pg 36
9 Centrifugal pump preventative maintenance pg 37
10 Servicing pg 39
10.1 Repacking procedure pg 39
10.1.1 Lip-type oil seals for RA45 and RA56 pumps pg 39
10.1.2 Lip-type oil seals for RB23 pump pg 40
10.1.3 Rope packing for RB23 pg 40
10.2 Overhauling centrifugal pumps pg 42
10.2.1 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps disassembly pg 43
10.2.2 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps assembly pg 49
11 Troubleshooting pg 53
12 References pg 54
13 Appendix 1 - Performance Curve pg 55
14 Check your understanding pg 57
15 Answer Key p 59
pg 80
JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory)

3
INTRODUCTION 1.0.0
This training introduces you to one of the most
common low-pressure pumps in the oilfield
industry, the centrifugal pump.
Objectives
Upon completion of this training, you should be
able to:
· explain the function of a centrifugal
pump
· identify the centrifugal pump various
components
· describe how the centrifugal pump
operates
· identify different pump models
· maintain and service the centrifugal
pump
· troubleshoot common pump problems
Safety warning:
Proper supervision is required during hands on
training. Request assistance from your supervi-
sor if you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with
an operation.
To prevent possible hazardous situations dur-

ing operations, anyone engaged in the service
or repair of equipment must ensure the safety
of personnel.
When working on the pump, follow the proce-

dures in Well Services Safety Standard 4 -
Facilities and Workshops.

4
INTRODUCTION TO CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS 2.0.0
Theory of Operation
When whirling a bucket full of water around, the
water stays in the bucket as long as the bucket
is moving at a certain speed. The same force
that keeps the water in the bucket is used in
centrifugal pumps. If the bucket has holes in the
bottom, the water squirts out of the holes as
you whirl the bucket. With a centrifugal pump
impeller rotating in water, the water is forced out
from between the blades just as it would squirt
out of the whirling bucket. The force that causes
the water to leave the impeller (or bucket) is
centrifugal force, which is how centrifugal
pumps get their name.
As you draw the fluid using a straw, the fluid
moves to the top of the straw. More fluid then
enters the bottom of the straw to replace the
fluid that moved to the top. The same operation
happens in the pump. The fluid continues to
move to the outer edge of the impeller and
then out of the volute while new fluid moves
into the vacuum in the center of the impeller.
The faster the impeller rotates, the faster the
fluid moves outward, increasing the flow rate.
Putting the impeller in a volute guides the

direction of the liquid towards a controlled des-
tination.
Discharge
A centrifugal pump employs a centrifugal force

to develop a pressure that moves a fluid. When
the pump is full of fluid and the impeller begins
Impeller
rotating, the fluid follows the impeller blades. As
Volute
the impeller speed increases, the centrifugal
force moves the fluid toward the outer edge of
the impeller blade. When the fluid moves away
from the center of the impeller towards the
outer edge, it creates a vacuum in the center of
the impeller in much the same way as when
you drink through a straw.
Suction eye

Volute
Impeller
Shaft
Bearings
Stuffing box Bearings

Frame

Most pumping applications involve pumping out
of a tank positioned higher than the truck. This
tank is usually 10-12 ft high. If we lose 2 ft of
head, we will only have 8-10 ft of head to feed
fluid into the pump, lowering the pump perform-
ance. When pumping out of a tank positioned
lower than the pump, then the pump perform-
ance is lowered significantly. As the example
illustrates, lifting fluid with the pump reduces
the discharge by an amount equal to the lifting
distance.
If the fluid level is above the pump, then the

discharge pressure is increased by an amount
equal to the distance above the pump.
It is important to keep the connections from the

fluid supply to the centrifugal pump as straight
and short as possible. The viscosity of the fluid
will also affect the pump performance. For
example, a fracturing fluid is pumped at a slow-
er rate than water.
92 ft 102 ft
102 ft 112 ft
10 ft
10 ft
Fluid
Tank

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP MAIN COMPONENTS 3.0.0
IMPELLER 3.1.0
The impeller is the rotating element in a cen- · Closed: Closed impellers have shrouds on
trifugal pump through which liquid flows. both sides to enclose liquid passages.
Energy is imparted to the liquid in the impeller.
Three types of impellers are available:

· Open: Open impellers have vanes
attached to a central hub with relatively
small shrouds or no shrouds (also called
walls).
The following table displays examples of

impellers with their related flow rates and pres-
sures.
· Semi-open: Semi-open impellers have a

shroud on one side only.

The impeller rotation, either clockwise or coun-
terclockwise, is determined by the rotation of
the shaft looking at the input or driven end of
the shaft. You can change the direction of
rotation by:
· reversing the volute
· installing the opposite impeller
· switching the hydraulic lines to the motor.
Clockwise rotation Counterclockwise rotation

WEAR PLATES 3.2.0
Wear plates provide a wear surface and seal A worn plate will quickly cause the impeller to
between the casing and impeller. Wear plates wear because the liquid flows in an uncon-
are located on either side of the impeller and trolled, or turbulent, manner. Therefore, replace
are generally either solid steel plates or steel the wear plates when installing a new impeller.
plates covered with rubber. For optimum performance, the correct clear-
ance between the impeller and the wear plates
is 1/16-in.
Shims are used to make fine adjustments to

the clearance between the plate and impeller.
Shims are laminated and made up of layers.

You can remove or add some of the layers to
get an exact fit.
For non-abrasive pumping services, all-steel

wear plates are generally the best choice
because they seldom require replacement. For
abrasive pumping services such as cementing,
use rubber-coated wear plates.
When pumping toluene, xylene, or other petro-

leum-based products, it is required to use all-
steel wear plates or wear plates covered with
70-durometer Buna N rubber because these
fluids cause the rubber on the wear plates to
swell. This swelling causes the pump impeller NOTE:
to stall or the rubber coating to come off the Removing shims moves the
wear plates. impeller closer to the wear
plate. Adding shims moves
the impeller away from the
wear plate.

WEAR RINGS 3.3.0
Wear rings serve the same function as wear
plates but they are used in centrifugal pumps
that contain closed impellers (such as the RB
2x3x11). Wear rings are commonly made of
brass.
11
SHAFT 3.4.0
The centrifugal pump shaft supports the the impeller.

impeller. The shaft itself is supported with bear-
ings. The shaft transmits the torque from a In addition to these loads, the shaft can also be
power source to the impeller where it is sub- affected by abrasion in the sealing area. Some
jected to the following loads: shafts have interchangeable sleeves where
contact occurs. Shaft condition greatly affects
the packing life. Scored shafts wear out pack-
ing quickly.
Centrifugal pumps come in two drive styles:

Keyed or splined. The keyed shaft is extended
from the pump and is used for pumps driven by
a drive shaft or coupling. Splined shafts do not
extend past the mounting flange of the pump
· Radial loads are caused by the impeller

weight and pressure differences around the
impeller when it is moving in a liquid.
· Axial loads are caused by the pressure

differences between the high and low
pressure sides of the impeller.
· Torque loads are caused by the reactive and are used where a hydraulic motor is
force of the fluids being moved, due to mounted directly to the pump.
inertia, and viscosity and is transferred
from the impeller to the shaft, through a
Even with all these loads, the impeller deflec-
keyway that is notched into the shaft and
tion must remain less than the minimum clear-
ance between the rotating and stationary com-
NOTE: ponents.
The input rpm of the centrifugal
pump should not exceed the
manufacturers specified maxi-
mum rpm or severe damage
may result.
JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 ( Provisory)

12
VOLUTE 3.5.0
The centrifugal pump volute surrounds the The following table provides a general guide-
impeller. The volute directs the fluid flow from line for casings and their relationship with the
the pump inlet to its outlet. The volute converts flow rate and pressure.
the velocity energy into pressure and also
directs the flow of the fluid.
NOTE:
The volute and frame are gener-
ally made from cast iron.
Therefore, they should never be
welded or brazed because heat
will cause the volute to become
distorted, warped, or cracked.
Volute design depends on:

· maximum output rates and pressures
· sense of pump rotation or the intended rota-
tion direction
In some pumps, the volute can be used for

clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW)
rotation as in the RA45, RA56, and RB23
centrifugal pumps. The rotation sense can be
determined by watching the pump from the
driving end of the shaft.

BEARINGS, BEARING FRAME, AND STUFFING BOX 3.6.0
3.6.1 Bearings Stuffing box
The main function of bearings is to support the

shaft. The shaft must be held and supported
precisely. If the impeller is allowed to contact
the volute, failure of the impeller, volute, wear
plates, shaft, and keyway may result.
Bearings are lubricated with an oil bath, such
as the RB 2x3x11, or grease through a grease
nipple connection on the casing, such as the
RA 4x5. The bearings for the RA56 and RB23
are the same, but those for the RA45 are
slightly smaller.
3.6.2 Bearing frame and stuffing box

The stuffing box and packing material of a cen-
The bearing frame contains the bearing lubrica-
trifugal pump provide a seal against pump leak-
tion system and the bearings that support the
age along the shaft. Liquid can leak from a
shaft where the impeller is mounted.
pump and air can leak into a pump. Pack the
Bearing frame
pump correctly to ensure that the pump works
optimally. Worn or incorrect packing material
causes the seal to fail and scores the shaft.
A seal or packing contained in the stuffing box

is located between the stationary casing and
the rotating shaft. The stuffing box can either
be incorporated in the centrifugal pump casing,
such as the RB 2x3x11, or mounted separately,
such as the RA 4x5.

PACKING SEALS 3.7.0
Packing material counteracts the effects of the Schlumberger uses two main types of packing
fluid trying to leak along the shaft during pump- materials:
ing. · square braided rope packing rings, also
Packing seals
called jam-type, that are used on self-
lubricating pumps
· rubber oil seals, also called automatic or
mechanical type
NOTE:
The seals are not pure rubber as
rubber expands and degrades in
the presence of oil and thus will
not create a seal. The seals are
normally a rubber compound
such as viton.
3.7.1 Rope packing or jam-type packing

The packing material can be either seal pack- Rope packing is called jam-type packing
ings or oil seals. Seals are mounted in the because it is jammed into the stuffing box and
stuffing box to: adjusted periodically by tightening the nuts on
· prevent pumping fluid from leaking out of a gland to preserve its sealing ability as it grad-
the pumping chamber along the shaft ually wears down. Rope packing can be found
· prevent lubricating fluid from leaking out of in the Guinard and RB 2x3 pumps.
the stuffing box Rope packing seals
· prevent air from entering the pumping
chamber.
Packing materials must have the following fea-

tures:
· low coefficient of friction
· absence of abrasive affect on the shaft
· ability to prevent excessive leakage.

Rope packing in a centrifugal pump acts like a Mechanical seals
seal around the moving shaft, but only to the
extent that it throttles leakage. The packing is
in effect a bearing and must be lubricated as
such. Lubrication comes from a slight leak
through the packing or, in emergencies, from
a saturant in the packing itself. If the packing
is dry, it becomes hot, hardens, and then
scores the shaft.
Over-tightened packing will burn up quickly
and score the shaft, so it is important to pack
the stuffing box properly. Typically, the ring
next to the gland in jam-type packing does
most of the work because the mechanical
pressure on the gland is greater than the fric-
tion along the rod. Examples of pumps that use mechanical seals
are:
There are other considerations that affect
sealing, such as the packing shape, the mate-
· RA 4x5
rial used and the stuffing box design. · RA 5x6
· RB 2x3x11
Some common rope packing ring materials
are:
The sealing mechanism requires no gland nut
· asbestos rope
adjustment.
· Teflon-coated rope
· graphite-coated rope
NOTE:
3.7.2 Mechanical Seals Adjusting the gland nut where

mechanical seals are used will
Mechanical seals work by liquid pressure in have no effect on stopping a
the seal chamber forcing the mating faces leak if one should occur. The
together and providing a thin film of lubricant gland nut is only there to help
between them. The sealed fluid supplies the ensure that the mechanical
necessary pressure by forcing the packing seals do not work out of their
against the wearing face. Mechanical seals bore.
are usually lubricated with oil from an external
lubricating system such as an Alemite pump.
Pumps using oil seals have enclosed lubrica-
tion systems making them less susceptible to a
CAUTION: pressure loss. Pressure loss can occur with
Do not over-tighten the jam-type or jam type seals that are allowed to leak. Oil
seals hold pressure from one side only and
oil seals. have one correct way of insertion.

LUBRICATION SYSTEM 3.8.0
If the packing is not lubricated, it will quickly systems in both cementing and stimulation
burn up and score the shaft. Therefore, reliable services. The system is intended for use on
operation of the packing lube is essential to new construction and retrofit on existing pump-
protect the pump packing. During a job (even a ing equipment. The Air-over-Oil lube system
short one), the failure of any part of the packing relies on air pressure to force lubricant to the
lubrication system could damage the pump plunger packing. There are no moving parts to
packings, causing a job incident and loss. jam or fail. Refer to InTouch content ID
Schlumberger uses three types of lubrication: 4027077 for more details on the air-over-oil
self-lubricating packing, oil used for the RA45, lubrication system.
RA56, RB23 pumps, and grease. An air-operated pump, Alemite pump, delivers
3.8.1 Self-lubricating packing the lubricating oil to a divider block, such as
McCord divider, which in turn divides and deliv-
Self-lubricating packing is suitable for any ers equal amounts of oil to each packing set.
pump that is pumping a clean non-abrasive The divider is used in the lubrication system to
fluid. The pumped fluid must be allowed to leak ensure that each centrifugal pump will have a
or flow through the stuffing box to cool and metered oil supply.
lubricate the packing. Do not run the pump
without fluid or have the discharge closed A blockage in any of the delivery lines causes
because it will reduce the flow of the fluid pre- the failure of the entire packing lubrication sys-
venting the packing from cooling off and lubri- tem since the McCord divider does not operate
cating. properly if any of its outlet ports is blocked. The
outlet from the divider block is connected
The pump should be periodically checked to through a check valve to each individual stuff-
make sure lubrication is continuous. Lubrication ing box. From there, oil flows into the stuffing
occurs though a steady drip (2-3 drops per
second) out of the stuffing box. Any interruption
in the lubricating supply burns up the packing
within minutes causing severe pump damage.
3.8.2 Oil (RA45, RA56, RB23)

Oil lubrication is best used for pumps that have
low-discharge pressure and require an
enclosed lubrication system to prevent cavita-
tion. This enclosed lubrication system permits
the pumping of abrasive fluids, such as cement
slurries. For optimum packing life, it is essential
to properly lubricate the packing. Improperly
lubricated packing can be completely damaged
within seconds. Inadequate lubrication also
causes heat generation, which shortens the
packing life. Air-over-Oil lube system is a high-
reliability, low-maintenance lubrication system
intended to replace the conventional Alemite

box and enters the lantern gland for even distri-
bution to the packing. The packing lube pump
has two sections, the air-motor section, which
drives the pump, and the pump section.
In Schlumberger, two types of McCord divider

blocks are used: three outlets and four outlets
types. It is also possible to have up to six out-
lets by making up a proper valve configuration.
Each divider block is made up of a base plate
and metering valves. The 12S valve is a single
outlet and the 24T is a dual outlet-metering
valve.
3.8.3 Grease
Grease lubrication is a simple form of lubrica-
tion used on pumps that have a higher dis-
charge rate and low pressure. The
Schlumberger recommended lubricating grease
has Graphite or Moly to reduce friction and has
a very high melting point. Grease with a low
melting point will melt and turn into oil then leak
away through seals and bearings.
Summary of Lubrication Types

POWER SOURCES 3.9.0
Schlumberger uses centrifugal pumps that The shaft is usually extended and, as a safety
have a variety of drive mechanisms largely mechanism, overload breakers are incorporat-
chosen for practical and economic reasons. ed into the main power supply.
3.9.1 Diesel Drives Electric drive
Diesel-driven centrifugal pumps are generally

found on small pressurizer skids and blenders.
The pump is driven by an extended shaft,
which is generally connected (for alignment
purposes) by a drive coupling between the
engine and the pump.
Diesel drive
3.9.3 Power-take-off (PTO)

Power-take-offs are drive mechanisms coupled
directly from the transmission of the engine.
They are usually mounted on cementing units
to drive the various centrifugal pumps, such as
the RB23, RB45, or RB56 on the CPS-361
cementing skid.
Power-take-off drive
3.9.2 Electric drives

Electric driven centrifugal pumps are used on
the offshore recirculating cement mixers and
batch mixers and generally take the form of
pressurizer pumps, such as RA45 and RA56.

3.9.4 Hydraulic drives
Hydraulic drives power pressurizer centrifugal
pumps, such as the RA45-RA56 on cement
pump units, recirculating mixers, and batch
mixers. Although many are driven from the
hydraulic system of the unit, some have an
independent power pack. The hydraulic pump
of the unit drives a hydraulic motor that is con-
nected to the centrifugal pump using a close-
coupled splined shaft as a direct drive. The
system is often fitted with an over-pressure
relief mechanism that prevents any unwanted
hydraulic pressure build-up.
Hydraulic drive

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP TYPES 4.0.0
4.1 4x5 RA45 with open impeller If the volute increases in a CCW direction, then
it is a ccw rotation pump. To make CCW rota-
The RA45 is used on Schlumberger units as a tion pump into a CW rotation pump, reverse the
pressurizing and make-up pump. This centrifu- volute ( suction side now becomes the frame
gal pump is designed with a 5-in suction and a mounting side ) , and install a CW rotation
4-in discharge, for both sand and cement impeller.
pumping operations.
Impeller rotates clockwise
Impeller rotates counterclockwise
It has two designs using different shafts:

· Standard extended shaft for conventional
drive
· Short shaft with an internal spline with
hydraulic motor attached directly to the
frame.
This type is most widely used on Schlumberger

units.
This model generally uses mechanical oil

seals. The impeller can rotate clockwise (CW)
or counterclockwise (CCW). To determine the
rotation direction, observe from the shaft
towards the volute. If the volute increases in
size, going around the impeller in a cw direc-
tion, then it is a CW rotation pump.

4.2 5 x 6 RA56 with open impeller The RB23 has two designs using:
· a standard extended shaft for conventional
The RA56 pump is similar to the RA45. It has a drive
6-in suction and a 5-in discharge and is used · a short shaft with an internal spline used to
on recirculating mixers and paddle blenders. It mount either the hydraulic motor or electric
is also used as a pressurizing pump on motor.
CPS361 and slurry chiefs.
Rotation of the pumps can be either clockwise
4.3 10x12 RA02 and RB02 with closed or counterclockwise.
impeller
The RA02 and RB02 pumps are used on CAUTION:
blenders and PCMs and have 10-in discharge
Do not pump abrasive fluids using
and 12-in suction. The only difference between
the RA02 and RB02 is the frame and suction the RB23. The seals and shaft
adapters. becomes damaged. Damage also
could occur between the wear
On the RB02 pump, the frame can be mounted
plates and the Impeller.
on the right-angle gearbox. The suction
adapter fits the suction duct from the blender
mixer tank.
CAUTION:
Do not run the RB23 pump without

fluid. To run fluid continuously,
install a small tubing from the high-
est point of the volute returning to
the suction piping as far as possi-
ble from the pump. This will help
keep the pump cool and aid in
priming the pump.
On the RA02 pump, the frame is standard NOTE:

design. The suction adapter is standard
ASA150 flange for mounting as a deck pump On the PTO-driven pump,
the main engine must be
on blenders.
shutdown before the PTO
can be engaged or disen-
4.4 2x3x11 RB23 with closed impeller gaged.
The RB23 pump is used as a low pressure-
mixing pump on Schlumberger cementing
units. It has 3-in suction, 2-in discharge, and
11-in impeller.

FUNDAMENTALS AND PUMP PERFORMANCE 5.0.0
The flow developed by the centrifugal pump is an amount equal to 10 ft of hose. A fully open
controlled by the rotational speed of the butterfly valve has a restriction equal to 6.7 ft of
impeller and gravity or density of the fluid being hose. These numbers may seem small but
pumped. The faster the impeller rotates, the when they are all added together they become
higher the velocity, or speed, the fluid has as it significant.
leaves the outer edge of the impeller. This
means that the fluid will travel farther before The pressure at any point in a liquid is caused
stopping, which is why pump discharge pres- by a vertical column of liquid that due to its
sures are always given in feet of head. Feet of
head means that the pump will lift a column of 0‘
fluid a given distance, in feet, straight up - W
regardless of what fluid is being pumped. Thus, A
a pump that has a discharge head of 140 ft will T
lift a column of water or cement 140 ft. The dis-
E 5‘
charge pressure gauge reading will be different
but the discharge head, in feet, will be the
R
same.
All centrifugal pumps are rated or sized based

on a flow rate and feet of head discharge. 10‘
These ratings are measured at the pump out-
let, with water, under ideal conditions. The weight exerts pressure. This is directly related
table below provides some typical ratings for to the height of the column, which is called the
Schlumberger pumps. These are not the maxi- static head and is expressed in terms of liquid
mum rates or pressures that the pump pro- feet. The static head corresponding to any
duces. specific pressure is dependent upon the weight
of the liquid.
When the centrifugal pump is connected to a
treating line, the performance is decreased As the pump imparts velocity to a liquid, the
because of the number of hoses, valves, velocity energy is transformed into pressure
elbows, and tees used to move the fluid to and energy as the liquid leaves the pump.
from the pump. Therefore, the head developed is approximate-
A 4-in suction hose causes a pressure drop of ly equal to the velocity energy at the edge of
2.3 feet of head per 100 ft of hose at 5 bpm. A the impeller.
single 4-in pipe elbow restricts the flow of fluid
Pump Impeller Suction Discharge Total

Model RPM Efficiency %
Head ft Rate GPM Head ft
RA45 2200 + 10 298 102 70
RA56 2200 + 20 500 143 60
LaBour 2200 + 20 270 213 65
RB23 3200 ------- 65 460 -------

SYSTEM HEAD 5.1.0
System Head is the head that exists in a par- Suction lift
ticular piping network at a particular flow rate. Suction lift shows static heads in a pumping
The pump performance is shown in the total system where the pump is located above the
head capacity curve of that particular pump. suction tank (static suction lift).
The point on the head capacity curve where

the pump operates is dependent upon the sys-
tem head. If plotting a curve depicting system
head versus flow together with a pump’s Static Discharge
Head
capacity curve, the intersection of these two
curves is the performance of that pump.
200
Static Suction
Lift
System Head 2
System Head 1
Head
Head
Capacity
Static
Head
Positive suction head
Operating Positive suction head shows static heads in a
Range
pumping system where the pump is located
below the suction tank (static suction head).
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
The system head is composed of the follow-

ing:
Static Discharge
5.1.1 Total static head Head
Static Discharge
Head
Total static head is the difference between the
levels of the discharge and suction liquid. Static Discharge
Head
The static suction head is the difference in ele-
vation between the suction liquid level and the
pump centerline. When the liquid level is
below the pump centerline, the static suction
head is called a suction lift. The static dis-
charge head is the difference in elevation
between the discharge liquid level and the
pump centerline.

Pressure head (absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmos-
Pressure head is the difference in pressures on pheric pressure) and converted to feet of liquid,
the liquid surfaces: plus the velocity head at the point of the gauge
The pressure head is added or subtracted from attachment.
the system head depending on its conditions. If
there is a vacuum on the suction liquid level or Total dynamic suction lift is the static suction lift
a positive pressure on the discharge liquid less the velocity head at the pump suction
level, then these heads are added to the sys- flange plus the friction head on the suction
tem head. Likewise, if there is a positive pres- pipe. The pressure head is added if there is a
sure on the suction liquid level or a vacuum on vacuum on the liquid surface; otherwise, the
the discharge liquid level, then these heads are pressure head is subtracted if there is a posi-
subtracted from the system head. These pres- tive pressure on the liquid surface. In an exist-
sures are converted into feet. ing system, the total dynamic suction lift is the
gauge reading, at the pump suction flange, cor-
Friction head rected to psia and converted to feet of liquid,
less the velocity head at the point of the gauge
Friction head is the head required to overcome
attachment.
resistance to flow in the piping network.
Entrance and exit losses are also included in
To determine the total head (system head),
friction head considerations.
attach pressure gauges on the immediate dis-
Velocity head charge and suction of the pump and follow the
Velocity head is the energy of a liquid resulting above procedures for existing systems. You
from its motion at some velocity, which is the can use the calculated total head to determine
head required to accelerate the fluid. the pump’s operation by comparing it with the
pump’s performance curve.
5.1.2 Total head
The total head is the work (at a particular flow
rate) that a pump must do in a pumping net-
work for it to pump the fluid through the sys-
tem. For any flow at any particular time in a
piping network, the total head is equal to the
system head.
In an existing system, the total dynamic dis-

charge head can be found with a pressure
gauge on the discharge line.
Total dynamic suction head is the static suction

head plus the velocity head at the pump suc-
tion flange less the friction head. The pressure
head is subtracted if there is a vacuum on the
suction liquid level. The pressure head is
added if there is a positive pressure on the liq-
uid surface. In a current system, the total
dynamic suction head is the gauge reading, at
the pump suction flange, corrected to psia

VORTEXING 5.2.0
Vortexing occurs when using centrifugal pumps
and other pump types. The fluid that is being
sucked into the pump’s suction side begins to
rotate like a whirlpool. This is caused by the
rotation of the fluid while flowing through the
lines going to the pump rotation of the impeller
configuration of the tank opening amount of
hydrostatic head in the tank.
Vortexing becomes visible when the fluid level

becomes low in the tank. During vortexing a
column of air is inducted into the pump. The air
will then accumulate at the highest point after
the pump causing the pump to lose prime while
pumping. To minimize vortexing, do one of the
following options:
· install crossbars in the suction of the pump

and tank
· float a large piece of wood over the suction
opening in the tank
· lower the rate of the pump; however, this
option is not always feasible.

HORSEPOWER AND EFFICIENCY 5.3.0
Horsepower is the weight of the pumped liquid Brake Horsepower (BHP) is the actual horse-
in a period of time multiplied by the total head. power delivered to the pump shaft, defined as
follows:
Water Horsepower (WHP) is the hydraulic
horsepower delivered by the pump, which is
defined as follows:
in Standard Oilfield units:
Brake horsepower is always greater than

hydraulic horsepower due to the friction in the
pump. Pump efficiency is the ratio of these two
values.
The constant (3960) is the number of foot-

pounds in one horsepower (33,000) divided by
the weight of one gallon of water (8.33
pounds).
in Metric units:

NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD AND CAVITATION 5.4.0
5.4.1 Net positive suction head (NPSH) This is always complicated further by elbows,
When pumping liquids, there are pressure tees and other flow path alteration or restric-
losses as the liquid flows into the impeller. The tions, especially those located near the pump
losses are caused by: suction where they can set up uneven flow
· increase in fluid velocity patterns or vapor separation, causing uneven
· turbulence as the liquid strikes the impeller. filling of the impeller vanes. This can affect the
hydraulic balance of the impeller, leading to
NPSH is an analysis of energy conditions on possible cavitation, excessive shaft deflection
the suction side of a pump, which will deter- or even breakage, and premature bearing and
mine if a liquid will vaporize at the lowest pres- impeller retaining bolt failures.
sure point in a pump.
5.4.2 Cavitation
The majority of centrifugal pump problems are Cavitation is a frequent encountered problem
a direct result of less than NPSHrequired to the when having insufficient NPSH. Cavitation
centrifugal pump. occurs in pumps when the pressure of the liq-
uid being pumped is reduced to a value equal
IMPORTANT: to or below its vapor pressure, and small bub-
While you will not be expected to cal- bles move along the impeller blades to a high-
culate available NPSH it is important to
er pressure area where they rapidly collapse
understand this characteristic of cen-
trifugal pumps so as to avoid problems and implode. Therefore, if the pressure above
when laying and hooking up suction the liquid is below its vapor pressure at that
hoses and lines. temperature, the liquid starts to evaporate.
This is usually heard as a growling or rumbling
sound, much like the noise you would hear if
you were pumping gravel. The forces are
Although most factors of available NPSH are sometimes high enough to cause small fatigue
controllable, friction loss is usually easier than failures on the impeller vane surfaces. This is
the others. Keep suction lines as short and progressive under long pumping periods in this
straight as possible. The maximum flow rate condition and the pitting and fatigue failures
for a 4-in suction hose is 7 bpm for a straight are referred to as cavitation erosion which can
12½ ft hose under ideal conditions. The maxi- sometimes be severe enough to cause vibra-
mum rate can drop with long lines, high lift and tion, and then ultimately shaft and bearing
many other conditions, which would indicate a failure.
lower rate. The higher the flow rate, the higher
the friction loss, which results in air or vapor
separation.

The pressure within the pump must not fall
below the vapor pressure of the liquid at the
pumping temperature. If the pumping pressure
falls below the vapor pressure then the liquid
begins to boil, causing cavitation.
The only way to prevent the undesirable

effects of cavitation is to ensure that the
NPSHavailable to the system is greater than the
NPSHrequired by the pump.
In summary, whenever a system offers insuffi-

cient NPSHavailable, increase the NPSHavailable
or reduce NPSHrequired.
To increase NPSHavailable, perform the follow-

ing:
· raise the liquid level
· lower the pump
· reduce the friction losses in the suction
piping
· use a booster pump
· cool down the liquid to reduce the vapor
pressure Pv.
To reduce NPSHrequired, perform the following:

· lower the pump speed
· use a double-suction impeller
· enlarge the impeller-eye area
· use an oversized pump
· employ an inducer upstream of the
impeller.

PUMP OPERATION 6.0.0
RIGGING UP 6.1.0
When rigging up the pumping unit, consider the NOTE:
rate, distance or pressure, and viscosity of the
If the suction hose for the centrifu-
fluid you will pump. The maximum rate that can gal pump is run from a dirty pit or
be safely sucked through a 4-in diameter hose tank, place a screen over the suc-
tion end of the hose to prevent any
is 7 BPM. If the pumping rate for the job is loose material from being picked
above 7 BPM, connect more hoses to the up. Debris can easily clog or dam-
pump. Each pump’s maximum pumping rate is age the pump.
dependent on the suction and discharge pres-

sures.
Piping connection to the pump should be as

straight and short as possible. Each bend or
change of flow direction becomes a restriction
in the line reducing the pump rate.
Grease the bearings of the pump and check

the oil level according to the unit’s STEM
checklist. The packing lube system must be full
of lube and operational.
To provide maximum sealing, clean all connec-

tions on the suction side with a wire brush and
lubricate the threads. It is important that the
pump does not suck air into the system. A
small amount of air leakage (4%) results in a
large drop (43.5%) in pump performance.
IMPORTANT:
Use only soft hoses for discharge and

hard hoses for suction. Refer to
JET 1 - Treating Equipment, Section
3.0 for more information.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PRIMING 6.2.0
A centrifugal pump is considered primed and If the packing lube system fails, it is possible to
capable of pumping when its suction lines are suck air into the pump through the packing or
seals. This can cause a loss of prime in the
full of fluid. A pump that contains air in either pump.
the volute or lines turns without developing any
flow. If there is no flow then pressure cannot be
developed. Always prime the centrifugal pumps
on cementing units or batch mixers first before
starting any job to make sure they are ready to
pump.
NOTE:
Air can enter the suction hose

through loose unions, a hole in
the hose itself, or a vortex in the
tank causing the pump to lose
prime and eventually to become
A centrifugal pump is automatically primed damaged.
when it sucks fluid from a tank positioned
above the pump. Gravity forces the fluid into
the pump.
You must prime the pump if the fluid tank is In a rig up using more than one suction hose, it
placed at a lower level. To prime the pump, pull is easier to prime one hose at a time rather
fluid using a positive displacement triplex pump than all the hoses at once.
through the centrifugal pump discharge side
with fluid until the volute and suction lines are
full of liquid.

PUMPING WITH CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS 6.3.0
Once the pump is rigged up and primed, it is Maintain the required discharge pressure. Any
ready to pump. If the pump has jam-type pack- pump speed that produces more than the
ing, check the proper flow of the lubricant. To required pressure results in excessive pump
check the flow, ensure that there is either pack- wear and shorter life.
ing lube or the fluid being pumped is dripping
out of the stuffing box. If the pump must be kept running with the dis-
charge side closed, rig up a bypass system
Unlike a triplex pump, a centrifugal pump can that allows the fluid to return either to the tank
be closed at the discharge side for a brief time or the pump’s suction side. It is recommended
without damaging the pump or piping. With the to return the fluid to the tank. The fluid will heat
RA45 and RA56 pumps, you can close the dis- up if it is returned to the pump suction even at
charge side for several minutes. On the other a much slower rate.
hand, you can close the discharge side of the
RB23 and BJ pumps for only 15 seconds.
If the pumps are pumping against closed

valves for a long period of time, the fluid inside
the pump overheats and then burns the pack-
ing or seals. The pumps may also get hot
enough to melt the grease out of the bearing
housing. Correct operating procedures do not
require the pumps to operate against closed
valves for extended periods of time. The follow-
ing are some guidelines for operating the
pump:
Slow down the pump if it is not needed for a

few minutes.
When the pump is sucking fluid from a pit,

leave it running to maintain prime.

PARALLEL AND SERIES OPERATIONS 7.0.0
Sometimes it is necessary to operate two or
more pumps in conjunction with one another.
The pumps will either be parallel or in series
depending on the requirements of the opera-
tion. The pumps must be similar in rate and
pressure in order to operate in parallel or in
series.

PARALLEL OPERATION 7.1.0
An operation is called parallel if the discharge
EXAMPLE:
sides of two pumps are connected into the
same outlet. The total rate is the sum of the Two pumps are to be operated
two individual rates. The pressure does not together in parallel. Each has the
change.
capacity of 20 bpm at 100 ft of head.
In a parallel operation, the discharge head is
equal to that of one pump and the volume is Volume:
equal to the total of the two pumps. In this 20 BPM + 20 BPM = 40 BPM
case, ensure continuous flow through the suc-
tion manifold of the centrifugal pumps. The dis- Discharge Head = 100 ft
charge capacity of each pump must be the
same to avoid one pump moving fluid back
through the second pump.

SERIES OPERATION 7.2.0
Series operation occurs when one pump is Although the theoretical head for a series oper-
pumping into the suction of the another pump. ation is 200 ft, the actual discharge head is
The total pressure is the sum of the individual always lower. This is due to the friction loss in
pressures. The rate does not change. the manifold between pumps and the different
volumes and manifold arrangements.
The volume is limited to the capacity of one
pump. The discharge head is equal to the sum
of the two pump discharge rate.
Due to the high incidence of seal failures in the

second pump, this type of operation is not
recommended.
EXAMPLE:
If two pumps will be operated in

series and each has the capacity of
20 BPM at 100 ft of head.
Volume = 20 BPM
Discharge head:
100 + 100 < 200 ft

PIPING DESIGN 8.0.0
The design of a piping system has an impor-
tant effect on the successful operation of a cen-
trifugal pump. Criteria such as pump design,
suction piping design, suction and discharge
pipe size, and pipe supports must be carefully
evaluated.
Discharge pipe size is largely a matter of eco-

nomics. The cost of the various pipe sizes
must be compared to the pump size and power
cost required to overcome the resulting friction
head.
Suction piping design and size is of primary

importance to the performance of the pump.
The suction pipe must never be smaller than
the suction inlet of the pump, and in most
cases should be one size larger. Suction pipes
should be as short and straight as possible.
Higher velocities than 5 to 8 ft per second

increase friction losses and can result in trou-
blesome air or vapor separation. Elbows and
tees further complicate this process, resulting
in uneven flow patterns, vibration, cavitation,
and shaft deflection. Shaft breakage or prema-
ture bearing failure is the final result.
On pump installations with a suction lift, the

suction pipe should be as horizontal with a
slight slope upward. Ensure that there are no
areas where air pockets can collect and cause
the pump to lose its prime.
Run the piping from the pump to a point sever-

al feet away where the final connection is
made to minimize excessive pipe strain on the
pump nozzles. Always support the piping by
attaching brackets to the main frame of the
equipment. This reduces the weight the pump
requires to carry and the risk for hand traps
when performing pump maintenance. Always
align the pipe and pump flanges.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE 9.0.0
Proper maintenance and repair is necessary the reservoir periodically to prevent any
for the safe, reliable operation of all objects from being sucked into the system.
Schlumberger equipment. To prevent possible
service quality incidents or hazardous situa- · Periodically add a small amount of high
tions during operations, all employees must
quality chassis grease to lubricate the
confirm to the Well Services Safety Standards
bearings. The rear (farthest from the
to ensure personal safety.
impeller) Grease Zerks is distorted to allow
Keeping packing lubricated and adjusted the air to escape. Grease the housing until
grease comes out of the rear zerk.
The packing lube system must be operating
properly. The use of mechanical or lip type
seals reduces maintenance. Perform the · Turn bearing seals lips inward to retain
following to extend the life of jam-type packing: grease in the housing. When installing new
bearings that have shields, remove the
· Ensure adequate lubrication. In the case of
shields before assembling the bearings
a centrifugal pump with a square braided
onto the shaft. Shields prevent proper
packing, make sure that the fluid being
future lubrication of the bearings. Over
pumped drips continually through the pack-
greasing can also damage the seals and
ing. Any interruption in the lubrication flow
cause premature bearing failure. The only
burns the packing and scores the shaft.
way to properly inspect and lubricate the
drive splines is by removing the hydraulic
· Do not over-tighten the packing nut. Over-
motor.
tightening results in a shorter packing life.
To tighten a packing gland, tighten the two
hexagon nuts 1/6 of a turn then wait for
about ten minutes to allow the packing time NOTE:
to readjust itself and reduce excessive It is recommended to use mechani-
leakage. If excessive leakage persists after
cal or lip-type seals. Rope packing
ten minutes, re-tighten the two nuts. Make
is only used in emergency situa-
sure to tighten the two nuts the same
tions, where mechanical seals are
distance to evenly distribute the load.
not readily available.
· Loosen the packing gland in case the

centrifugal pump will be shut down for any
length of time. This allows the packing to
be thoroughly saturated by the pumping
fluid when it is started up again and before
it is tightened, thereby reducing the chance
of packing failure and grooved shafts.
· Drain the packing lube system and clean

Excessive throttling shortens pump life Throttling accelerates erosion when
Never operate a centrifugal pump continuously pumping abrasives
near shutoff or zero capacity. It will shorten the Pumping liquid that contains abrasive parti-
pump’s life and increase down time and main- cles, such as cement slurry causes erosion in
tenance. The difference between input horse- the impeller and other pump parts. It also
power and water horsepower is transferred to shortens the pump’s life.
the liquid in the pump as heat. When only a
small percentage of rated flow is allowed A pump can become damaged when it pumps
through the pump, the casing becomes unable fluid that contains abrasive particles and is
to dissipate the generated heat, which danger- throttled to operate continuously near shutoff.
ously increases the liquid and pump tempera- Erosion is greatly accelerated due to internal
ture. recirculation. If particles were in a fluid flowing
in a pump that is operating near its efficiency
The hydraulic radial thrust becomes unbal- point, the particles flow one time through the
anced when the pump is operating near shut- impeller and then discharged.
off and causes irregular deflection of the shaft.
The pump becomes noisy and starts to vibrate When a pump is throttled to operate near shut-
excessively, which may lead to catastrophic off, fluid with abrasive particles recirculates
shaft failure. within the impeller and strikes the metal vane
surfaces many times before it is discharged.
To relieve the pump of undue strain, extend a This internal recirculation quickly erodes the
bypass line from the pump discharge back to impeller vane tips. Leakage clearances
the source of fluid. Place a throttle valve or an increase rapidly once the impeller is damaged.
orifice plate in the bypass line.
Return sufficient flow to the pump so that it will

operate at a capacity reasonably near its rat-
ing. Do not return the bypassed liquid to the
suction line immediately upstream from the
pump. Return discharge fluid back to the sup-
ply source below the liquid level to avoid air
entrainment.
If excessive throttling at the discharge valve is

required with the bypass line open, select a
new rating for the actual system head and
capacity requirements.

SERVICING 10.0.0
REPACKING PROCEDURE 10.1.0
In order for the packing to work efficiently, the sleeve, shaft, bearings, and stuffing box must be in
good condition. Replace any bent shafts. If the stuffing box bore is damaged due to pitting,
a Leak free seal between the OD of the seal and the stuffing box housing is difficult to obtain.
Use the correct type of packing for the application.
10.1.1 Lip type oil seals for RA45 and RA56 pumps
To remove and replace the lip type oil seals for the RA45 and RA56 pumps, complete the follow-
ing steps:
Remove the old packing or oil Inspect the stuffing box for clean-
STEP 01 seals from the stuffing box. STEP 02 liness and wear. Clean as
required.
Install the two oil seals with lips Install the lantern gland. Ensure
STEP 03 facing the impeller (10 x 12 will STEP 04 that the groove in the lantern
have 3 seals before the lantern gland is aligned with the oil hole
gland). in the stuffing box.
Install the next seal with the lip Install the last seal with the lip
STEP 05 facing away from the impeller. STEP 06 facing the impeller in the same
This seal prevents air from enter- way as the first seals were
ing the stuffing box and pump installed. Some pumps require a
and allows lubrication to flow past small spacer behind the last seal.
its lip to lubricate the final seal. Use a spacer if the last seal is
not flush with the rear of the stuff-
ing box.
Install the packing gland or the Make sure that the oiler is oper-
STEP 07 stuffing box nut and tighten. STEP 08 ating properly.
Start the pump and circulate Check for leaks and make sure
STEP 09 water for five minutes. STEP 10 that the oiler cycles while the
pump is running.
NOTE:
Further adjustments are not

required during the seals life.

10.1.2 Lip type oil seals for RB23 pump
To remove and replace the lip type oil seals for the RB23 pump, complete the following steps:
Remove the old packing or oil Inspect the stuffing box for clean-
STEP 01 seals from the stuffing box. STEP 02 liness and wear. Clean the stuff-
ing box as required.
Install two oil seals with the lip Install the lantern gland and
STEP 03 facing the impeller. STEP 04 ensure that it is aligned with the
oil hole in the stuffing box.
Install 2 more oil seals with lips Install the spacer.

STEP 05 facing the impeller as the first two STEP 06
seals were installed. See Step 3.
Install the packing gland with the Tighten the nuts to 8-12 ft lb.
STEP 07 flat side toward the spacer. STEP 08
Make sure that the oiler is oper- Start the pump and circulate
STEP 09 ating. STEP 10 water for five minutes. Check for
leaks and make sure that the
oiler cycles while the pump is
Further adjustments are not
STEP 11 required during the seal's life.
running.
10.1.3 Rope packing for RB23 pump

To remove and replace the rope packing for the RB23 pump, complete the following steps:
Remove the old packing. Aim the Check for bent shaft, grooves, or
STEP 01 STEP 02 shoulders. If the neck bushing
packing hook at the bore of the
clearance in the bottom of the box is large, use
stuffing box to keep it from scratching the shaft.
stiffer bottom ring or replace the neck bushing.
Clean thoroughly so that the new packing does
not hang up.

Install a dial indicator on the shaft To determine the correct packing
STEP 03 and rotate it to check for any
STEP 04 size to install, measure the stuff-
bending. If the run out exceeds 0.003-in, ing box bore and subtract the shaft diameter,
straighten or replace the shaft. Check the con- then divide by 2
dition of the bearings and the impeller balance.
If any of these conditions exists, the pump
vibrates and the packing fails prematurely.
Wind enough packing to fill the To have packing rings with paral-
STEP 05 stuffing box around a rod of the STEP 06 lel ends, cut the packing while it
same size as the shaft. Supporting the rod in a is wrapped around the rod. When the packing
vise makes this task easier. Cut through each is cut while stretched out straight, the ends and
turn of the packing while it is coiled around the gap will be at an angle, making it a problem
rod. Place each turn on a clean piece of paper when installing the packing. In order to install
and then roll it out with a pipe as you would packing that has been cut at an angle,
use a rolling pin on dough. squeeze it into the top of the gap and ring and
prevent it from closing.
Slide the ring off the rod side- Using a split wooden bushing,
STEP 07 ways, especially lead-filled and STEP 08 install the first turn of packing
metallic types to prevent distorting the molded then force it into the bottom of the box by tight-
circumference by breaking the ring at the gap. ening the gland against the bushing.
Stagger the packing ring joints to Install the packing so that the
STEP 09 ensure that there they are not STEP 10 lantern ring lines up with the flush
lined up together to ensure that oil does not or cooling liquid opening. Remember that this
flow through the packing once installed. ring moves back into the box as packing is
compressed. Leave space for the gland to
enter.
Snug the gland nut up using a Tighten each hex nut and wait
STEP 11 packing wrench. Back off and STEP 12 ten minutes for the packing to
retighten the gland nut to finger readjust itself before tightening
tight. Allow the packing to leak for 15 minutes the nuts any further. The packing should leak
when first running the pump. Tighten the pack- 2-3 drips per second with the pump shaft run-
ing slowly to allow it to settle before readjusting ning close to optimum speed.
to achieve the 2 -3 drops per second lubrica-
tion flow through the packing.
When preparing to pump latex or other fluid where no leakage can be tolerated, use the special
graphite packing. Slowly tighten the packing until the leak stops. If the latex leaks into the pack-
ing area, continue tightening the packing until the leak stops. This might cause the packing to
smoke. Do not be alarmed since the packing is rated to 800 degF, and as soon as the latex
burns off the sealing surface, the smoking stops.

OVERHAULING CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS 10.2.0
To safely conduct repairs to centrifugal pumps,
make sure that you wear the following personal
safety gear:
· steel-toed boots
· hard hat
· Nomex coveralls
· gloves
· safety glasses or goggles
· dust mask (if required)
You will need the following tools:
· 2 heavy screwdrivers or thin pry bars

· rubber mallet
· socket set
· allen key set
· spanner set
· 12 in pipe wrench
· chisel or punch
· small hammer
· pliers

10.2.1 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps disassembly
To disassemble the 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps, complete the following steps:
Remove the motor retaining bolts Carefully pull the hydraulic motor
STEP 01 that attach the hydraulic motor to
STEP 02 from the frame. Do not remove
the pump frame. For shaft driven models, the hydraulic hoses. If the hoses must be
remove the drive shaft flange bolts or coupler removed, mark and cap the hoses then plug
set screws. them. For shaft driven models, carefully pull the
drive shaft or coupler back from the pump.
Tie the motor or drive shaft Remove the oiler line and lay it
STEP 03 securely to the frame of the unit
STEP 04 aside. Place a cap on the oiler to
out of the way to prevent it from prevent any leakage.
falling.
Remove the bolts attaching the

STEP 05 base support to the frame.
Remove the bolts holding the pump housing to the volute and mark the pump
STEP 06 housing and volute so that they can be re-installed in the same position.
CAUTION:
The impeller blades can be EXTREMELY sharp due to fine abrasive fluids. Use extreme
caution!

Remove the pump assembly Remove the anti-rotation lock
STEP 07 from the volute and place it on STEP 08 screw from the retaining stud by
the workbench. It may be necessary to use pry inserting an Allen wrench and turning 3-4 turns
bars to equally pry the wear plate out of the until it no longer makes contact with the
volute. impeller.
IMPORTANT:
Do not use a hammer to remove the
pump assembly.
STEP 09 Remove the impeller retaining bolt and the impeller lock.
Remove the impeller from its slip-fit position on the shaft. Cement build-up may
STEP 10 make this difficult. If necessary, insert two pry bars underneath the impeller 180
degrees apart.
CAUTION:
Use caution not to tear the rubberized
coating of the backing plate. If the
impeller cannot be removed, remove
the bearing retainer bolts, then slide up
the assembly to create a gap between
the back plate and the impeller. Insert
two equally thick steel bars between
the impeller and the backing plate.

STEP 10, continued WARNING:
Do not attempt to hold the Impeller with
your bare hands.
Remove the keyway and the two nuts from the rear of the back wear plate, and
STEP 11 use two heavy screw drivers to separate the wear plate from the pump frame.

Remove the lubricator fitting from Lift the stuffing box out of the
STEP 12 the stuffing box and mark the
STEP 13 frame.
stuffing box to the frame.
Use a hammer and a punch to Remove the four bolts and nuts
STEP 14 remove the cap from the locking STEP 15 from front bearing retainer bars.
assembly, applying light pressure to the cap.

Using a hammer, lightly tap the shaft and bearing assembly out from the housing.
STEP 16 The shims will fall on the ground. The shims will be used later to provide
proper head space on the impeller.
To replace the bearings, pry the Press off the rear of the shaft.
STEP 17 locking washer tang out of the
STEP 18 Clean and inspect the shaft for
slot in the bearing retainer nut. any signs of damage. Replace shafts that have
any grooves or worn areas more than 0.01-in
(0.254-mm) deep.

Remove the oil seals, lantern
STEP 19 gland, spacer and snap ring from
the inside of the stuffing box. Carefully clean
and inspect the inside of the stuffing box for
signs of damage. Rough spots can cause leak-
ing seals, vibration, and even shaft and bearing
failure.

10.2.2 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pump assembly
To assemble the 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps, complete the following steps:
If installing new bearings with Lightly oil the shaft and press the
STEP 01 grease shields, remove the
STEP 02 new bearings and spacer onto it.
grease shields.
Install the lock and nut. Use a

STEP 03 small amount of nylon thread lock
on the threads.
Carefully tighten the bearing nut

STEP 04 without damaging the new shaft.
An old impeller clamped into a bench vise work
well for holding the shaft from rotating. Insert
the shaft assembly into the pump frame.
Place the shims that were Measure the shims with a dial
STEP 05 removed during disassembly STEP 06 caliper to ensure that both sides
under the front bearing snap ring, and slide the are of equal stack height.
front bearing cap cover with seal onto the
shaft.
Install the bearing retainer bars
STEP 07 and bolts. It is not necessary to
completely tighten these bolts until after the
pump has been installed and the clearance
between the impeller and front wear plate is
set.

Install the new packing in the
STEP 08 stuffing box in the following order: IMPORTANT:
to install the stuffing box and packing
a) spacer (not used with new style stuffing properly onto the shaft, be sure to use
box. a packing installation tool to prevent
NOTE: damaging the lips of the seals.
With new style stuffing

box, which does not
use a spiral locks ring,
you do not install the
first spacer.
b) two oil seals (6679) with their lips facing

the impeller
c) lantern ring
d) one oil seal (6679) with the lip facing
away from the impeller to prevent air
pick up around the shaft
e) one last oil seal (6679) with the lip
facing the impeller.
Make up the stuffing box and tap it tight with a small punch. When installing the
STEP 09 stuffing box, ensure that the lubricating hole with the grease fittings in the pump
frame are in the same position as before.

Reassemble the locking assem- Apply a very light coat of oil to
STEP 10 bly and tighten the cap with the
STEP 11 the back of the wear plate and
small pipe wrench. Install the pointed edge off housing.
the lock toward the stuffing box nut right side.
This will lock the nut in position.
Align the rear wear plate with the

STEP 12 two bolts for the retaining nuts
and hand tighten the nuts. This will allow the
wear plate to center when the rotating assem-
bly is inserted back into the volute.
Install the impeller, key, slotted washer and lock (bolt). Be sure there is 1/8-in of
STEP 13 key sticking out to hold slotted washer in position, then install the bolt. Use a small
amount of thread locking compound to make sure that the bolt stays locked in.

Torque the lock screw to the
STEP 14 value shown:
PUMP ft lb NM
4x5 75 ± 10 100 ± 15
5x6 150 ± 20 200 ± 25
Install the lock screw to ensure

STEP 15 that the lock (bolt) remains
securely in place during operation. Use a small
amount of thread locking compound. The lock
screw should seat into an indention in the
impeller bolt washer. It may become necessary
to rotate the washer 180 degrees if it does not
align with the indention at the proper torque.

TROUBLESHOOTING 11.0.0
The following chart lists various solutions to complaints resulting from the imperfect performance
of a centrifugal pump.
TROUBLESHOOTING
SYMPTOM SOLUTION
Pump will not prime a. The pump is too high above the fluid source.
b. The seals or packing are taking in air around the shaft.
c. Too much clearance between the impeller and front wear plate.
d. The pump speed is too slow.
e. There is restriction or blockage in the suction.
f. There are worn parts, impeller, wear plates or volute.
g. The impeller is loose on the shaft or the key is broken.
a. There are worn parts, impeller, wear plates or volute.

Low discharge pressure
b. There is restriction in the suction.
c. The pump speed is too slow.
d. There is too much clearance between impeller and front wear plates.
a. Cavitation
Pump noisy or vibrates b. Worn bearings
c. Out of balance
d. Loose mounting bolts
e. Misaligned coupling
f. Speed too high
g. Broken impeller vane
h. Aeration
Pump leaks around a. Wear plates are not sealing at the volute.
bolts at volute b. There is excessive clearance between the volute and frame.
Pumps will Slurry pumps will sometimes hold a normal discharge pressure,
not pump slurry and on hydraulically driven pumps, the hydraulic pressure will be
normal when pumping water. As the slurry weight increases,
the pump and hydraulic pressures become erratic, the pump
suddenly stops pumping, and the hydraulic pressure usually
drops to 25% of normal. This condition can almost always be
traced to defective shaft seals in the pump or seals that have
been installed improperly with all the seal lips facing the impeller.
The next to last seal in any mechanical seal arrangement must
always face away from the impeller to prevent air pick up
around the shaft.
To determine if the problem is seals or a hydraulic problem, install the pump (on a hydraulically
driven unit only) and observe the hydraulic pressure. If it is normal (usually 2600-2800 psi), then
the problem is in the seals not the hydraulic system.

References 12.0.0
Safety Standards for Well Services Operations (ID# 3038426)
Well Services Safety Standard 4 - Facilities and Workshops
Well Services Safety Standard 5 – Location Safety
Well Services Safety Standard 15 – Lock Out-Tag
Centrifugal Pump Performance (Engineering Version) Manual (InTouch ID 3015892)

APPENDIX 1 - PERFORMANCE CURVE 13.0.0
The performance of a centrifugal pump can be Mixed Flow
shown graphically on a characteristic curve · the head curve is steep.
that depicts the inter-relationship of total · brake horsepower remains constant
dynamic head, brake horsepower (BHP), effi-
ciency, and net positive suction head (NPSH) Axial
for a specific impeller and casing. The capacity head and brake horsepower both increase
curve shows the relationship between capacity dramatically near shut-off
and total head while a system head curve is
obtained by combining the friction head with The following is a hypothetical engineering
the static head and any pressure differences in problem to illustrate the use of the perform-
the pumping system. ance curves.
Example
Assume that we have a piping network that
requires a flow of 700 gal/min at a total head
of 140 ft of water.
The maximum and minimum system heads
are 500 gpm at 143 feet and 1,050 gal/min at
125 ft, respectively.
These curves are important for determining the

type of pump you will need for a certain appli-
cation, and can show the differences in the
major classes of pumps:
Radial or Volute
· the head decreases gradually as the flow
increases A vertical line is drawn from the X-axis at 700
· the brake horsepower increases gradually gal/min. A horizontal line is drawn from the left
over the flow range with the maximum Y-axis at 140 ft. The operating point of the
normally at the point of maximum flow pump is the intersection of these two lines.
Looking at the accompanying figure, the

intersection of these two lines falls on the
2,200 rpm capacity curve (Total Head Curve).
Therefore, the pump will be specified to oper-
ate at 2,200 rpm.
We also need to know the operating range of

the pump, which is the entire capacity curve.
In most cases, design restraints, such as the
system heads of the pipe system, will deter-
mine the operating range.
For this example, we have calculated the max-

imum and minimum system heads, which will
set the pump’s operating range. Vertical lines
are drawn from the X-axis at 500 gal/min and
1050 gal/min up to 143 and 125 ft. These lines
should intersect the 2,200 rpm capacity curve.
Since the operating range of the pump is
known, we choose the BHP that is required for
the maximum operating point that will be
encountered, which is 1050 gpm at 125 ft of
head. We look for the BHP line that is above
our operating range (i.e. it does not intersect
the 2,200 rpm capacity curve). In this case, the
50 BHP line totally contains our pump's operat-
ing range. Therefore, a 50 BHP drive mecha-
nism is specified.
The final information we get from the perform-

ance curve is efficiency. Efficiency can be
used when you need to choose among several
different pumps. Each efficiency curve depicts
the boundary of the curve labeled efficiency.
For our pump, the efficiency increases from
52% at the minimum operating point to 74% at
the maximum operating point.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 14.0.0
Which of the following is the rotating ele-
Q 01 ment where liquid passes in a centrifugal
Q 06 How do centrifugal pumps convert
mechanical energy into hydraulic energy?
pump:
By pushing air into the system
Wear ring By pushing fluid into the system
Impeller By pushing mud into the system
Packing By pushing gas into the system
Wear plate
Q 07 How does the volute affect the velocity of
Q 02 Wear rings serve the same function as
wear plates
energy of the liquid?
Converts it into pressure

True Converts it into heat
False
Q 08 Total head can be increased by increas-
ing the rpm.
Which of the following is used to make
Q 03 fine adjustments to the clearance True
between the plates and impeller: False
Wear plates
Bearings
Q 09 Bearings support the shaft.
Shims True
Packing False
Q 10 Which of the following lubricate bearings?

Q 04 Bearings support the shaft. (Select all that apply).
True Oil bath

False Gel
Grease
Which of the following drive mechanisms Water
Q 05 are used in for the Schlumberger cen-
trifugal pumps (Select all that apply): Q 11 A centrifugal pump primes itself.
Power-take-off True
Hydraulic False
Electric
Diesel Q 12 Worn packing can cause the seal to fail
Water
True
False

Rope packing is used in RB23 centrifu- An operation is called parallel when the
Q 13 gal pumps. Q 19 discharge sides of two pumps are con-
nected to the same outlet.
True
False True
False
Centrifugal pumps that use mechanical
Q 14 seals are (select all that apply):
Q 20 You can operate centrifugal pumps con-
tinuously near shutoff or zero capacity.
RA 4x5
RA 5x6 True
RB10x12 False
RB 2x3x11
Total suction head is the difference

Q 21 Pumping liquid that contains abrasive
particles does not cause erosion.
Q 15 between the levels of the discharge and
suction liquid. True
False
True
False Q 22 Air is mixed in the liquid being pumped
due to (select all that apply):
Q 16 To minimize vortexing, Leaky suction lines

Improperly assembled stuffing box
Install crossbars in the suction of the inadequate seals on the suction lift hook-
pump and tank up
Increase the pump rate All of the above
Lower the pump rate
Float a large piece of wood over the
suction opening in the tank Series operations are not recommended
Q 23 due to high incidence of seal failures in
The pressure within the pump must not the second pump.
Q 17 fall below the vapor pressure of the liquid
at the pumping temperature. True
False
True
False When rigging up the centrifugal pump,
Q 24 take into consideration (select all that
Q 18 To increase NPSH-A (select all that
apply):
apply):
Rate
Raise the liquid level Distance
lower the pump Pressure
use and oversized pump Viscosity of the fluid
use a booster pump All of the above

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS 13.0.1
A 01 Impeller A 16 Install crossbars in the suction of the

pump and tank
A 02 True
Lower the pump rate
A 03 Shims
Float a large piece of wood over the
A 04 True suction opening in the tank
A 05 Power-take-off A 17 True
Hydraulic
Electric
Diesel raise the liquid level
A 18 Lower the pump
Use a booster pump
A 06 By pushing fluid into the system
A 19 True
A 07 Converts it into pressure
A 20 False
A 08 True
A 21 False
True
A 09
A 22 All of the above
Oil
A 10 Grease A 23 True
A 11 False A 24 All of the above
A 12 True
A 13 True
A 14 RA 4x5
RA 5x6
RB 2x3x11
A 15 True
ANSWERS

Centrifugal Pumps

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JET Module 3

2 Introduction to centrifugal pumps pg 05

3 Centrifugal pump main components pg 08

3.2 Wear plates pg 10

3.3 Wear rings pg 11

3.6 Bearings, bearing frame, and stuffing box pg 14

3.7 Packing seals pg 15

3.8 Rope packing or jam type packing pg 15

3.9 Mechanical seals pg 16

3.8 Lubrication system pg 17

3.8.1 Self lubricating packing pg 17

3.8.2 Oil (RA45, RA56, RB23) pg 16

3.9 Power sources pg 19

3.9.1 Diesel drives pg 19

3.9.2 Electric drives pg 19

3.9.3 Power-take-off (PTO) pg 19

3.9.4 Hydraulic drives pg 20

4 Centrifugal pump types pg 21

5 Fundamentals and pump performance pg 23

5.1 System head pg 24

5.1.1 Total static head pg 24

5.1.2 Total head pg 25

5.3 Horsepower and efficiency pg 27

5.4 Net positive suction head and cavitation pg 28

5.4.1 Net positive suction head pg 28

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 2

6.2 Centrifugal pump priming pg 31

6.3 Pumping with centrifugal pumps pg 32

7 Parallel and service operations pg 33

7.1 Parallel operation pg 34

7.2 Series operation pg 35

9 Centrifugal pump preventative maintenance pg 37

10.1 Repacking procedure pg 39

10.1.1 Lip-type oil seals for RA45 and RA56 pumps pg 39

10.1.2 Lip-type oil seals for RB23 pump pg 40

10.1.3 Rope packing for RB23 pg 40

10.2 Overhauling centrifugal pumps pg 42

10.2.1 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps disassembly pg 43

10.2.2 4x5 and 5x6 centrifugal pumps assembly pg 49

13 Appendix 1 - Performance Curve pg 55

14 Check your understanding pg 57

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory)

To prevent possible hazardous situations dur-

When working on the pump, follow the proce-

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory)

Putting the impeller in a volute guides the

A centrifugal pump employs a centrifugal force

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 5

Stuffing box Bearings

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 6

If the fluid level is above the pump, then the

It is important to keep the connections from the

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 7

Three types of impellers are available:

The following table displays examples of

· Semi-open: Semi-open impellers have a

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 8

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 9

Shims are used to make fine adjustments to

Shims are laminated and made up of layers.

For non-abrasive pumping services, all-steel

When pumping toluene, xylene, or other petro-

JET 3 - Centrifugal Pumps v1.0 (Provisory) 10

The centrifugal pump shaft supports the the impeller.