Centrifugal Pumps in Oil and Gas

Centrifugal Pumps in Oil and Gas

Pumps are used to transfer non-compressible fluid from one place to another. Process industries, where almost all process confined in pipes cannot run without pumps.

By definition , Pump is a mechanical machine that transfer the fluids by converting the mechanical energy into the pressure energy . This mechanical energy can be sourced from a prime mover i.e. electric motor or steam generator . 

The types of pumps used in Oil and Gas industry are:-

  1. Centrifugal Pump.
  2. Reciprocating Plunger Pump
  3. Metering Pump
  4. Gear Pump
  5. Diaphragm Pump
  6. Progressive cavity pump

Out of this list , centrifugal pumps are widely used in Oil and gas industry. Centrifugal pump uses centrifugal force to generate pressure energy and then transfer of fluid. Hence called centrifugal pump. 

For an engineering student , pump has following component:-

  1. Casing
  2. Impeller
centrifugal pump
Centrifugal pump for Engineering student

 

However, for industry profession there are so many major component of pump for design and cost point of view , For a professional ,pump has following major components:-

  1. Casing
  2. Impeller
  3. Motor
  4. Mechanical Seal
  5. Shaft
  6. Coupling
  7. Bearing

 

Centrifugal pump
Actual Centrifugal pump Cross section view

 

Oil and gas industry’s pump compliance with API 610. It is main governing guidelines for selection of pump. Further industrial centrifugal pumps has different classification based on their  configuration and number of stages. Below table will give you a better understanding of difference between different types of centrifugal pump as per API 610 12th Edition.

Centrifugal Pump Type
Centrifugal Pump Type

 

API 610 defines various classes of material for pump. The description of these class can be tabulated as below:-

centrifugal pump material selection
Centrifugal pump material

Various Manufacturer of Centrifugal Pumps for Oil and Gas sector are:

  1. Sulzer Pump
  2. Flowserve Pump
  3. ITT
  4. Arai
  5. KSB
  6. KEPL

 

 

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