Simplify the Equipment Selection Process

When the pump selection process starts, the required flow of the is often the only known variable for an application. For example, a system must move 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm) from a holding tank to another tank or process. What size pump do should be installed? The size and pressure of the piping and the power of the motor must also be determined. This column helps explain how to make these decisions.

Pump & Piping Size

The longer the piping, the more pressure its internal friction will generate. A good way to pick a pipe size is to calculate its diameter from an empirical but simple starting formula. This will help establish an approximate range. Pipe velocity is usually between 5 and 10 feet per second (ft/sec). The smaller a pipe’s diameter, the faster fluid flows through it. The larger the pipe, the more expensive it is. Also, flowing too slowly may cause particulate matter to settle and clog the line, but flowing too quickly will wear the pipe. The 5 to 10 ft/sec range is usually a good starting point. Equation 1 can used for a more accurate calculation. V = Q x 0.321 / A Equation 1 Where: V = velocity in ft/sec Q = flow in gpm A = pipe area in square inches (in²) In our example, 5 = 2,000 x 0.321 / A A = 2,000 x 0.321 / 5 = 128.4 in² pipe area, or 12.8 inch diameter This diameter can round to a 12-inch pipe with a velocity of slightly more than 5 ft/sec. The next step is to figure out the amount of pressure in the system if the pump is 5,000 feet away from the process’discharge. This determination is more complicated because some hydraulic information is needed. Several options can provide this information: come to class, consult a piping friction loss chart or take my word for it that the losses for cold water at 2,000 gpm in a 12-inch, 5,000-foot pipe are about 70 feet. With the flow and head determined, the motor can be sized (see Table 1). Also, an online Efficiency Estimator, which can be found at www.mj-scope.com/pump_tools/pump_efficiency.htm, offers useful formulas. To handle the process specifications, a single-stage pump was selected. The Efficiency Estimator calculated that a 42-horsepower and 84.5-percent pump efficiency can be expected from a typical pump. This number can be confirmed with quotes from pump distributors. The Efficiency Estimator also suggests an impeller size of 9.77 inches. This measurement is a good way to roughly verify the appropriate sizes of existing pumps. This process provides useful preliminary information for pump selection. Motor Size A 1,800-rpm motor speed was selected for this process because it is one of the most common motor speeds in the U.S. The horsepower recommendation can be rounded to select a 50-horsepower motor. If the pump is expected occasionally to operate outside the curve, choosing a 75-horsepower leaves a margin of safety. NPSHA Calculation The suction side must be considered. My last few columns discussed pump suction performance. For example, I discussed how the system affects the operation and the relationship between the flow (as a percent of the best efficiency point) and suction recirculation. Many end users question how much net positive suction head available (NPSHA) they need. If a pump has too little NPSHA, it could experience suction problems. Too much NPSHA leads to higher construction costs. Users must find the right balance. My next column will describe in detail the beginning of the selection process. For those interested in how to calculate the piping losses estimated (70 feet of head), my Pump School training covers this in-depth.