𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐬 - 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬' 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬/𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

When a process engineer decides to purchase a centrifugal pump to be installed for

a particular process application, the following are the typical activities and steps
involved as I have simplified them.

▪️The process engineer will perform line/pump hydraulic and other necessary
calculations to determine suction pressure, discharge pressure, Net Positive Suction
Head Available (NPSHA), power and the total differential head required for the pump
to be able to deliver liquid at the required flow and pressure (check previous post for
sizing and specification of centrifugal pumps)

▪️The process engineer then prepares a datasheet with the results of these
calculations. The datasheet will be consolidated with mechanical specification by a
mechanical/package/equipment engineer (check previous post for process
datasheets).

▪️The consolidated datasheet is then sent out to pump manufacturers/vendors

through a request for quotation for the detailed design of the pump.

▪️The pump manufacturers will now perform a detailed pump design taking into
consideration, the specifications and fluid properties stated in the datasheet.

▪️The pump manufacturer will prepare a bid/quotation and revert to the process
engineer.

Usually, more than one pump manufacturer will offer their designs with quotations.

▪️The process engineer will then review, evaluate, compare, and then select from the
vendor who meets the specification stated in the datasheet and whose design is best
suited for the intended application and at a considerable cost.

The pump datasheet is the reference document used for technical evaluation. This is
because the pump manufacturers will develop a pump design based on the technical
data provided in the datasheet.

In evaluating and selecting a pump, the system curve (which is generated by the
process engineer) is matched with the pump performance curve (to be provided by
the pump vendor).

The system curve and pump performance curves are plotted on the same graph to
determine the intersection which will denote the pump's duty/operating point.

This duty/operating point should be checked to make sure it falls within allowable
range of the best efficiency point (BEP).

The following are the parameters that are critically analyzed, reviewed and compared
among vendors' technical proposals in order to select a suitable pump.

▪️NPSH Required

▪️Pump Efficiency

▪️Minimum Flow Requirement

▪️Pump Speeds (Suction Specific Speed)

▪️Motor Size

▪️Pump's Physical Size

▪️Seal Arrangement Type

▪️Pump Design Code (ANSI, API, etc)

▪️Design Temperature and Pressure

▪️Availability of onsite startup assistance

▪️Inclusion of Pump Accessories

▪️Pump Cost
Image Courtesy: Crane Engineering

#processengineering #chemicalengineering #mechanicalengineering #pumpsolution
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