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Revision
Rev. 1
Initial issue
Rev. 1A
Cosmetic changes only (spell checking & revised disclaimer)
12-Oct-09
15-Dec-09
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As
with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
Introduction
This spreadsheet can be used to specify centrifugal pumps - in particular the 'Net Positive Suction Head' (NPSH) and
the pump power requirements.
The calculation is split into three worksheet. The key worksheet is the one entitled "Pump Calculation": in addition,
there are two other worksheets which can be used to calculate the suction side and discharge side pressure drops
- although these worksheets do not have to be used. The following colour coding is used in this calculation:
Boxes shaded light green require a user input.
Boxes shaded light blue give a calculated output.
2.0
2.1
2.2
Pump Details
The user enters the number of pumps operating and the pump speed. The number of pumps operating is
required to calculate the flow per pump. Thus if the flowrate is 100m 3/h and there are two pumps operating,
the flowrate per pump is 50m3/h.
The spreadsheet allows one of two pump speeds to be selected: 1750 rpm and 2900 rpm. This information is
not strictly necessary (it's used to estimate the required NPSH which can be over written anyway).
2.3
Liquid Properties
The user inputs physical property data of the liquid and the operating temperature of the pump.
2.4
2.3.1
Viscosity
The user enters the liquid viscosity in Centipoise (Cp). It should be noted that viscosity
changes with temperature - thus the user must ensure that the viscosity value entered
must be at the correct temperature.
2.3.2
Density
The user enters the liquid density in kg/m 3. As with viscosity, the user should enter the
density at the pump operating temperature.
2.3.3
Vapour Pressure
The user enters the liquid vapour pressure in bar absolute of the liquid. Again, this data
should be at the pump operating temperature. As the vapour pressure is a strong function
of temperature, it is important that the data is accurate. If in doubt, it is safer to over-estimate
the liquid vapour pressure.
Flowrates
The user enters the total liquid flowrate in kg per hour. The spreadsheet then calculates the total
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all
areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
volumetric flowrate (in m3/h and US gallons per minute), and the volumetric flowrate per pump (also in
m3/h and US gallons per minute).
2.5
Suction Vessel
H2
Pump
H1
Pump Centreline
H3
Grade
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
2.5.4
2.5.5
2.5.6
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all
areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
The user can enter the line losses between the Suction Vessel and the Pump
(in bar).
2.5.7
2.6
Termination
Point
Equipment
Item
H4
Pump
Pump Centreline
Grade
2.6.1
2.6.2
2.7
2.6.3
2.6.4
Pump NPSH
If the pump suction pressure is too low, there is a danger that the liquid will boil. This causes cavitation and
can result in loss of pumping power and possibly damaging the pump. This is avoided by ensuring that there
is sufficient 'Net Positive Suction Head' (NPSH). Calculating the NPSH is a key element when specifying a pump.
A more detailed discussion on pump cavitation and NPSH can be found via the following link.
Pump NPSH
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all
areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all
areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
2.8
3.0
Revision 1A
2.7.2
2.7.3
2.7.4
2.7.5
NPSH Available
The spreadsheet calculates the NPSH at the pump suction. For the pump design
to work correctly, the NPSH must be a positive number. The spreadsheet displays
a warning if the NPSH is negative. A discussion of what to do if there is
insufficient NPSH is given in Section 3.
2.8.2
2.8.3
2.8.4
3.1
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all
areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
3.2
3.3
Raise the level of the Suction Vessel / Lower the level of the Pump
By increasing the height of the Suction Vessel relative to the pump, the NPSH available increases. For installed
equipment, it may not be possible to relocate equipment. However, it may be possible to increase the minimum
liquid level in the suction vessel.
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all
areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
See "How to Use This Calculation" Worksheet for notes on its use.
rpm
degC
kg/m3
cP
bar(a)
kg/h
m3/h
US gpm
m3/h
US gpm
2
2900
20
996.00
0.9
0.02 Vapour pressure at operating temperature
300,000
301.20
1326.16
150.6
663.1
bar(a)
m
m
m
bar
bar
bar(a)
1.01
1.3
0.0
0.7
0.06
0.00
1.07
bar(g)
m
bar
bar(g)
1.00
22.1 - above pump centreline
0.00
3.16
m
m
m
m
m
5.1
1.0
6.1
10.9
10.8 Sufficient NPSH Available
bar
m
%
kW
3.10
31.8
69
18.92 N.B. This is power required per pump
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for specifying pumps. We cannot be held responsible for its use. As with all areas of
process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.