The term ANSI pump refers to a class of pumps that meet minimum design requirements and are designed with standardized dimensions so interchangeable pumps that meet user expectations can be offered in the marketplace. This standardization increases the availability and reliability of the pumps and reduces the cost because it limits the need for custom solutions.
The acronym ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. This organization creates requirements that must be followed by an organization that develops standards. ANSI does not create or publish pump standards; however, they approve the standards development organization (SDO) that creates the standard. In the case of ANSI pumps, the SDO is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which publishes a suit of standards for chemical process pumps within their B73 committee. So, the term ANSI pump may be a bit of a misnomer since the standard is developed by ASME. However, their process for developing the ASME B73 suit of standards meets the ANSI essential requirements to achieve consensus, which are (1) openness, (2) lack of dominance and (3) balance. Therefore, they are published as American National Standards.
Image 1 is an example of an ANSI pump designed to ASME B73.1 Specification for Horizontal End Suction Centrifugal Pumps for Chemical Process. From asme.org, “this Standard is a design and specification standard that covers metallic and solid polymer centrifugal pumps of horizontal, end suction single stage, centerline discharge design. This Standard includes dimensional interchangeability requirements and certain design features to facilitate installation and maintenance and to enhance reliability and safety of B73.1 pumps. It is the intent of this Standard that pumps of the same standard dimension designation from all sources of supply shall be interchangeable with respect to mounting dimensions, size and location of suction and discharge nozzles, input shafts, baseplates and foundation bolt holes.”
To learn more about standardization, visit ansi.org and asme.org. To learn more about chemical process pump standards, visit pumps.org.