PUMPS

What is a pump and what are the different types of marine pumps?
In the sketch below, some liquid needed to be transferred from a lower container to a
container at a higher level through pipe lines joining them. The forces in favour are
1. Atmosphericpressure
2. Force ofgravity

Liquid in this container needs

to be transferred into a higher
container

Higher container

Lower container For pushing the liquid more up

We need more energy

Level upto which liquid

Will transefer with atmospheric pressure and gravity force

Pipe lines

Both the atmospheric pressure and force of gravity together are not enough to move the liquid
into the higher container. They will move the liquid upto certain level. More energy is required
to transfer the liquid higher up.

This extra energy will be supplied by addition of a transfer pump which will add more energy to
push the liquid into the higher level container.
That means, we can define a basic pump as a device which adds energy to the transfer system.

Now, the container is placed below the pump center. Atmospheric pressure still help but force
of gravity is of no use. To compensate force of gravity, aa additional pump is required to be
supplementing the main transfer pump. The particular pump required is called an air pump,
which creates vacuum. This vacuum force will lift the liquid from lower container up into the
transfer pump and then pumped further up into the higher level container.

higher container

Air pump added to thetransfer pump

This p/p is a transfer p/p , not an air pump!!

The container is below the pump center

Atmospheric pressure still help but force of gravity is of no use

We find, from the discussion, there are two types of marine pumps used in cargo handling:
1. A self priming pump (STRIPPER P/P forstripping)
2. A non-self priming pump(CENTRIFUGAL P/P for bulkdisch)
A self priming p/p does the function of both transfer as well as air pump. That means it can
create suction force and discharge the cargo from the tank. Example of this type of pump is
Reciprocating positive displacement p/p i.e. stripper p/p used for stripping (discharging cargo
remaining in the tank after bulk cargo discharge)
A non self priming p/p is just a transfer p/p, it does not create suction force. It has to be primed
i.e. filled up before starting and remained filled during running, then only it will discharge!!
Example is the very prominent Centrifugal pump

92% oil to be
discharged by
centrifugal p/p

This cargo remaining

to bedischarged by
stripper p/p

Centrifugal p/p will not be able to discharge this remaining cargo because it is below the
p/p centre. No suction force available!!!!

Thus the cargo discharging operation is carried out out in two stage:

1. Forbulkdischargei.e.about 92%cargotobedischargedusingcentrifugalpumpasit has a

very high rate of discharge performance (2000 - 4000 cubm/hr)
2. Forcargoremaininginthetank(7-8%)willbedischargedwithstripperpump,though its
rate of pumping quiteless)
1. POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT RECIPROCATIING DISPLACEMENT PUMP

Prime mover (steam engine)

Air vessel

To discharge

#1 #2

Pump valves

Piston

Relief valve

To suction

Pump valves

Tosuction #4 #3

Operation :

The piston is dividing the internal pump volume into upper part and lower part volumes.

When the piston moves upward in its upward stroke movement, driven by the prime mover ( a
steam engine), from an initial extreme, say bottom position, the lower part volume, because of
expansion in an air tight space, creates vacuum and the upper part volume causes compression.
As a result pump valve #1 closes, valve# 2 opens in the upper part and valve # 3 closes and # 4
opens in the lower part, resulting in suction of liquid into the pump through valve #43 and
discharge of liquid through valve #2.

On the revrse stroke of the piston, opposite occurs causing suction through valve # 1 and
discharge through valve # 3.

This is called duplex pump, that is in each stroke of the piston there will be discharge.

This pump creates suction force because of changes in its internal volume space. It is called a
positive displacement pump because whenever the piston moves, it will create suction and
discharge by displacement of space and it has to discharge the liquid.That is why a relief valve
must be fitted on the discharge side in case the pump is started , by mistake, keeping the
discharge valve shut.

It is a self priming pump as it draws liquid into it by itself.

This pump must have an empty air vessel on the discharge side as shown in the sketch to
smoothen out the pulsating discharge pressure which otherwise will cause high vibration during
discharge.

When the piston moves from its initial position up, the pressure rises to maximum when the
piston reaches the mid position. Then the pressure drops to zero when the piston reaches final
top position. This causes fluctuating discharge pressure casing high vibration.

With the addition of the empty air vessel, when the pressure starts rising in the upward stroke
of the piston, the liquid tries to enter the empty vessel, but the air/ gas inside the vessel, gets
compressed and imparts back pressure on the liquid preventing discharge pressure to rise to
peak value. When the piston moves further up from mid position to final top position, because
of push by the release of compressed energy of the air/gas in the empty vessel, does not allow
the discharge pressure to fall to zero. Then the reverse stroke starts and same thing repeats.
This is how the pulsating discharge pressure gets smoothened out.
MID POSITION

INITIAL FINAL
POSITION POSITION

UPWARDSTROKE DOWNAWRD STROKEETC.

(a) Pulsating dischargepressure

(b) Steady discharge presuure, because of the empty airvessel

Remote monitoring units :

The pump is located in the cargo pump room whereas the operator is in the CCR ( Cargo Control
Room). So, how to ensure the operator operates the pump efficiently from a remote operation.

There are monitoring units provided:

1. Suction pressure
2. Dischargepressure
3. Stroke indicator

Advantages of thepump:

1. Selfprimingpump,soquiteefficientinstrippingthecargowhentheliquidisbelowthe pump
centrelevel.
2. Pump is independent of shore backpressure.
3. No cavitationproblem

Disadvantages: of thepump:

1. Complex construction, requiring pump valves, air vessel, reliefvalve.

2. Discharge rate isless
3. Because of piston movements, wear and tear is more and requires morefrequent
maintenance.
 CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

It is non self priming pump. It does not create suction force, only transfer operation.
The pump is required to have filled up with the liquid which is to be pumped out

VOLUTE CASING

Pump discharge

VOLUTE SPACE (SPECIAL DESIGN)

Pump
IMPELLER +
suction
VANES

Impeller will turn anti clock wise

Construction:

The pump consists of an impeller, which has vanes (curved plate). The impeller is housed inside the
pump body. The space between the impeller and the pump internal casing is called volute space.
Volute is designed specially. The spacing between the volute casing and the impeller is continuously
increasing.

Pump suction and pump discharge are perpendicular to each other.

In the sketch above, the pump suction is perpendicular to the plain of the board and pump discharge is
along the plain of the board
The prime mover of the p/p is a steam turbine located in the engine room and connected by shaft
passing through specially designed gland on the bulkhead between p/p room and engine room.
Working:

THE PUMP WORKS ON CENTIFUGAL FORCE, WHICH THROWS THE LIQUID OUTWARDS AND BECAUSE OF
PARTICULAR DESIGN OF THE VOLUTE SPACE THE LIQUID IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE DISCHARGE SIDE
OF THE P/P.

SO, ONE FUNCTION OF THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED VOLUTE SPACE IS TO GIVE DIRECTION OF FLOW.

IT HAS GOT ANOTHER MORE IMPORTANT JOB

THIS VOLUTE SPACE DESIGN HELPS IN CONVERTING KINETIC ENERGY INTO PRESSURE ENERGY

AS THE PUMP IS TRANSFERRING THE OIL TO A SHORE, THE LIQUID MUST HAVE HIGH
PRESSUREENERGY.

IT IS REQUIRED TO PUSH THE LIQUID AGAINST EXCESSIVE BACK PRESURE DUE TOHEIGHT OF
SHORETANK AND ALSO DISTANCE FROM SHIP

Cargomanifoldconnection Shoretank

Ship’s cargo tank

Centrifugal p/p

So, reason for special design of the volute casing is that ,it results in two important functions:

1. It gives direction of flow of liquid which are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force ofthe
impeller to flow along the dischargeline.
2. It converts kinetic energy created by churning of liquid inside the pump into pressure energy, so
that liquid can be pushed up and away into shore tank by overcoming back pressure of the
dischargeline.Backpressuredevelopsduetotheliquidintheshoretankwhichisatmuchhigher height
and away from shipspump.

Remote monitoring devices:

Monitoring units will ensure that the p/p is working efficiently from a remote location, like, CCR.

These monitoring /controlunits are:

1. Suction pressure (should be side positive on the lower)

2. Discharge pressure(should be positive on higherside)
3. RPMoftheimpeller(shouldbeabletothrottlethep/ptooperatewhenthelevelofliquidinthe tank is
low to avoid p/pcavitation.
Advantages :

1. Centrifugal p/p has high discharge rate. More RPM, more cargoflow.
2. IncomparisontoReciprocatingp/p,itisquitesimple.NOreliefv/visrequired. Also,noair vessel
and p/p internalvalves.
3. Wear and tear is much less, because no contact between moving parts and p/p internalcasing.
4. Less maintenance in comparison to Reciprocatingp/p

Disadvantages:

1. The p/p in not self priming, it is not suitable forstripping.

2. The risk of cavitation is high, if, the p/p is not operatedproperly.

CAVITATION

The Centrifugal Pump Cavitation is one of the major factor to be considered to avoid pump
failureCavitation is the formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in a liquid.The cavitation process occur
in two phasesFirst Phase – Bubble formation occurs at a point where the pumping liquid pressure is less
than the vapor pressureSecond Phase – The bubble collapse or implosion occurs at a point where the
pressure will increase above the vapor pressure.

Bubble Formation Phase:

In this phase, the pumping liquid flow is reduced as the liquid is displaced by vapor. Due to this, a
mechanical imbalance occurs as the impeller passages are fill with lighter vapors. This results in vibration
and shaft deflection, eventually resulting in bearing failures, packing or seal leakage, and shaft breakage.
In the case of multi-stage pumps, this can cause loss of thrust balance and thrust bearing failures.
Bubble Collapse Phase:

1. Mechanical damage occurs as the imploding bubbles remove segments of impellermaterial.

2. Noise and vibration result from the implosion.The noise that sounds like gravel is the user’s first
warning ofcavitation.

Reason for bubble formation

1. NPSH(Required) exceeds NPSH (Available)

Due to low pressure, the water vaporizes (boils) and forms vapour bubbles.

2. Suction or discharge recirculation

The pump is designed for a certain flow range if there is not enough or too much flow going through the
pump. The resulting is turbulence and vortexes, which, forms vapour bubbles

Results of Cavitation in Pumps

The following are the damages in pump due to cavitation.
 Erosion of impeller due to cavitation will cause unbalance of theimpeller.
 Cavitation produces high vibration and damagebearings.
 Due to cavitation, pump life will reduce and also cause premature failure of thepump. 

Cavitation Prevention Methods

 NPSH available shall be higher than then the NPSH required by the pump.This can be done
by lowering the pumpRPM.