R

ecent strong activity in the

global chemical process indus-
tries (CPI) has brought good
news for pump manufactur-
ers, among other equipment vendors.
Theres tremendous growth in the
chemical, petrochemical and oil and
gas markets, and business for us is
good, says Dave Flinton, product &
marketing manager with ITT Goulds
Pumps (Seneca Falls, N.Y.).
But both engineering contractors
and pump end-users are demand-
ing more for their money in terms of
reduced pump-lifecycle costs, Flin-
ton points out. For API 610 centrifu-
gal pumps such as Goulds Model
3700 (photo), one way to do this is to
broaden the range of impeller and cas-
ing sizes so that the best efficiency
point (BEP) of each pump can be more
closely matched to the actual operat-
ing conditions.
Accordingly, Goulds has recently
made available eight new hydrau-
lic combinations for the Model 3700,
with a further 17 or so to come later
this year. Energy is a big portion of
the cost of owning a centrifugal pump,
especially the high-horsepower ma-
chines found in the oil and gas mar-
ket, Flinton says. By dramatically
increasing the density of our coverage,
we will more often be able to provide
our customers with the optimum se-
lection for efficiency.
For engineers seeking a similarly
wide range of hydraulics in ISO
pumps for chemical service, the CPX
from Flowserve Corp. (Dallas, Tex.) is
available in 40 sizes, and in materials
ranging from ductile iron to titanium.
The CPX and Flowserves Mark 3
ANSI B73.1 pump are both available
in a wide range of configurations, in-
cluding mechanically sealed, dynami-
cally sealed, low-flow, self-priming,
vertical-sump and recessed-impeller
versions. Available flowrates are up
to 1,680 m
3
/h, heads up to 300 m, and
temperatures from 80C to 370C.
All CPX pumps share the same hy-
draulics, sealing options, and bearing-
frame options, thereby minimizing
spares inventory requirements.
To avoid problems with insufficient
suction, lifting fluids from sumps and
boreholes is often best done with a
purpose-designed centrifugal pump.
Vertiflo Pump Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio),
offers its Series 900 vertical sump
pump for pit depths up to 7.9 m, heads
up to 52 m, and flowrates up to 100 l/s.
The Series 900 (photo) is designed for
dirty fluids and minimal maintenance,
says the company, and is available in
316 stainless steel.
High-pressure pumps for boiler feed
water, reverse osmosis, chemical injec-
tion or seal flushing include plunger
types, multi-stage centrifugals of vari-
ous kinds, and very-high-speed single-
stage centrifugals such as the Sunflo
series from Sundyne Corp. (Arvada,
Colo.), whose impellers run at 6,000
32,000 rpm. An alternative to these is
the SPS, a novel multi-stage, horizon-
tal centrifugal design developed from
submersible borehole pumps by Wood
Group ESP (Houston, Tex.). Accord-
ing to SPS general manager Neil Fer-
rier, the pumps oil-industry heritage
makes them very reliable, so mainte-
nance costs are lower than those for
plunger pumps, while their capital
costs are lower than those of split-case
centrifugal pumps.
An SPS pump contains up to 400 ra-
dial or mixed-flow impellers on a sin-
gle horizontal shaft. Flowrates are up
to 2,000 gal/min, and discharge pres-
Newsfront Newsfront
PUMPING PERFORMANCE
Energy efficiency,
protection against plant
upsets, and ease of
maintenance are key
improvements in the
latest generation of
process pumps
A wide choice of
hydraulic sizes makes the
Goulds Model 3700 (left) energy-effi-
cient; sump pumping with Vertiflo (top right)
This pump protection kit includes a tem-
perature, pressure or current sensor,
solenoid valve and bypass flow orifice
A single no-moving-parts sensor for
flow, level and temperature protects
against overheating and dry running
ITT Goulds Pumps
Opti-Valve
Fluid Components International
Vertiflo Pump
ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com april 2007 33
sures up to 6,000 psi. We did think the
length of the pumps might be a prob-
lem, Ferrier admits, but there has
been a lot of interest from refineries,
even if they have to be installed along
walkways. So far, six refineries have
bought the pumps. Fluids pumped in-
clude wash water for desalting, and
light hydrocarbons.
Although many manufacturers
these days offer magnetically coupled
and canned-motor pumps, one of the
pioneers in this market is Hermetic-
Pumpen (Gundelfingen, Germany and
Humble, Tex.), which has delivered
more than 120,000 such units. At the
beginning of March Hermetic took
over sister company Lederle (Gun-
delfingen, Germany), which special-
izes in liquid-ring vacuum pumps and
rotary piston pumps.
Another canned-motor specialist,
Hayward Tyler Inc. (Colchester, Vt.),
recently delivered a canned-motor
pump and spare motor together worth
$520,000 to a U.S. specialty chemical
manufacturer. The pump will handle
1,4-dimethyl cyclohexanedicarboxyl-
ate (DMCD) saturated with hydrogen
at 1,850 psi and up to 500F, and will
run continuously for 18 months be-
tween catalyst changes.
Wanner Engineering (Minneapolis,
Minn.), a firm noted for its Hydra-Cell
positive displacement pumps, recently
introduced magnetically coupled ver-
sions of its Stan-Cor non-metallic
ANSI centrifugal pumps. The Stan-
Cor MK pumps feature an impeller
that can be replaced or trimmed with-
out replacing the magnetic drive. All
Stan-Cor pumps have casings made
from thick, carbon-fiber-filled Kynar,
which eliminates the permeation that
can occur with plastic-lined metal cas-
ings, the company says.
Protecting valuable assets
While good pump design is the foun-
dation for low lifetime costs and reli-
ability, suitable control systems can go
a long way to aid both these objectives.
Version 5.0 of the PumpSmart PS200
variable-speed drive system from ITT
Monitoring and Control (Seneca Falls,
N.Y.) can cut pump energy use by up to
65%, the company says, through intel-
ligent control. After calibration based
on just four data points flowrate
34 ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com april 2007
Newsfront
1 - 8 6 6 - 7 5 8 - 6 0 0 4
P R O V E N S A F E T Y S O L U T I O N S F O R O V E R 6 0 Y E A R S
V I S I T W W W . F I K E . C O M
DONT DISCOVER THAT YOUR
PROTECTION IS INADEQUATE
DEPEND ON FIKE for engineered,
proven solutions.
Engineering and application specialists
Over 60 years of experience in safety
Process and code compliance knowledge
Total Explosion Protection Solutions:
- Testing - Isolation
- Venting - Suppression
The IMPACTof an EXPLOSION
is COSTLY.
The IMPACTof an EXPLOSION
is COSTLY.
Circle 28 on p. 82 or go to adlinks.che.com/6894-28
ProVane sliding-vane pump (left) for economical pumping at low
flowrates; the Viking RTP20 (right) for transport applications
Blackmer Viking Pump
and power at the BEP, rated speed,
and shut-off power the system uses
the current and frequency supplied
to the motor to predict flowrate to a
claimed accuracy of 5% without the
need for pressure or flow sensors. The
result is improved controllability, en-
ergy savings, and low-flow protection
for both centrifugal and positive-dis-
placement pumps.
For applications that simply require
protection against overheating, Fluid
Components International (FCI; San
Marcos, Calif.) offers the FlexSwitch
FLT pump protection device (photo,
p. 33). By detecting flow, level and
temperature, the FlexSwitch FLT
provides two levels of alarm: the first
when the flowrate falls below a preset
value in the range 0.013 ft/s, and the
second when the pump inlet actually
runs dry. The FlexSwitch FLT has no
moving parts.
Detecting problem conditions is
only useful, of course, if protective ac-
tion follows. To make this as easy as
possible, Opti-Valve LLC (Broomfield,
Colo.) offers a package of equipment
including sensor, bypass valve and
flow-restriction orifice (photo, p. 33).
The sensor detects low flow caused by
a closed downstream valve through
rises in temperature or pressure, a
drop in motor current, or a combina-
tion of these. At this point, it opens the
bypass valve, creating a flow of liquid
large enough to stop the pump from
overheating.
To help pump users understand
hydraulics, Pump Systems Matter
(www.pumpsystemsmatter.org), an
educational initiative backed by the
Hydraulic Institute (Parsippany, N.J.;
www.pumps.org) has made its Pump
Systems Improvement Modeling Tool
(PSIM) software freely available for
download. PSIM allows users to model
pumping systems using a drag-and-
drop interface. PSIM models pump and
system curves, pump efficiency, NPSH
calculations, impeller trimming, and
ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com april 2007 35
1-877-4UMOYNO
www.moyno.com
Patented
Quiet, clean
VFD controls
Non-pulsating
flow
Closed piping
system
Compact heavy duty
Ultra-Drive

gear joint design

Twin screw feeder
Optional slip injection system
High-efficiency Ultra-Feed

rotor
Moves a higher
percentage of solids
longer distances than
any other progressing
cavity pump!
8152MIPad.qxd 9/5/06 2:40 PM Page 1
Circle 61 on p. 82 or go to adlinks.che.com/6894-61
Larox calls the LPP80 peristaltic pump
the first real change in 30 years
Unique gear joint on the Moyno 2000
progressing-cavity pump
Watson-Marlow Bredels SPX peristaltic
handles corrosive and abrasive fluids
Larox Flowsys Moyno Watson-Marlow Bredel
automatic pump curve viscosity cor-
rections, and calculates energy costs
over time using net present value.
Positive performers
Positive displacement pumps may be
preferred over centrifugals for viscous
liquids, for low flowrates at moderate
or high pressures, when self-prim-
ing is needed, and when flowrates
or system conditions change widely.
Blackmer (Grand Rapids, Mich.) re-
cently launched a new sliding-vane
pump, the SX3, that is suitable for
many chemical duties, thanks to its
stainless steel construction and Du-
ravane carbon-filled resin vanes. Ex-
ternal bearings provide durability and
easy maintenance, says John Pepper,
Blackmers VP of sales and market-
ing for North America; and the pump
can run dry for short periods without
damage. Capacity is 100250 gal/min,
at pressures up to 125 psi.
Last year Blackmer launched a
smaller pump, the ProVane, that has
proved popular in biodiesel plants, says
Tom Stone, the firms director of mar-
keting. Available in ductile iron and
stainless steel, five sizes of ProVane
cover flowrates up to 100 gal/min. A
small rotor diameter keeps vane tip
speed down, allowing the pumps to
operate reliably at full motor speed
(1,200, 1,800 and 3,600 rpm), while
the large diameter of the product-lu-
bricated bearing ensures good per-
formance even with dry fluids like
methanol, pentane and liquid carbon
dioxide, Pepper says (photo, p. 34).
Waukesha Cherry-Burrell (Delavan,
Wisc.) manufactures a wide range of
pumps, including the Universal series
of twin-rotor positive displacement
pumps, which have hooked rotors;
tri-lobe rotary pumps; and centrifu-
gal pumps for sanitary applications.
A recent development is the Tru-Fit
gearbox, which the company says re-
duces baseplate length by 2025% and
eliminates shaft alignment problems.
Viking Pump (Cedar Falls, Iowa) has
launched a new tri-lobe positive dis-
placement pump for OEM transport
applications (photo, p. 34). The RTP20
can transfer up to 264 gal/min at pres-
sures up to 145 psi and viscosities to
55,000 cSt. A longer sealing land at
the rotor tips improves efficiency with
lower-viscosity products, says John
Stillman, director, global OEM sales.
Viking also makes internal and exter-
nal gear pumps, and vane pumps.
A specialist in progressing-cavity
(PC) pumps is Moyno (Springfield,
Ohio). The companys Moyno 2000
pump features a unique gear joint
36 ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com april 2007
Newsfront
Circle 29 on p. 82 or go to adlinks.che.com/6894-29
PUMP EXPERTS
Barnant Co. (Thermo
Fisher Scientific) edlinks.che.com/6894-580
Bio-Chem Valve edlinks.che.com/6894-581
Bioengineering edlinks.che.com/6894-582
Blackmer edlinks.che.com/6894-583
BOC Edwards edlinks.che.com/6894-584
Bran + Luebbe edlinks.che.com/6894-585
CAT Pumps edlinks.che.com/6894-586
Flowserve edlinks.che.com/6894-587
Fluid Components
International edlinks.che.com/6894-588
Fluid Metering, Inc. edlinks.che.com/6894-589
Hayward Tyler Group edlinks.che.com/6894-590
Hermetic Pumpen
(Lederle) edlinks.che.com/6894-591
Hydraulic Institute edlinks.che.com/6894-592
ITT Goulds Pumps edlinks.che.com/6894-593
ITT Monitoring & Control edlinks.che.com/6894-594
Jaeco edlinks.che.com/6894-595
Larox Flowsys edlinks.che.com/6894-596
that provides excellent torque trans-
mission and control of thrust, reducing
the radial load on the drive shaft and
bearings and simplifying maintenance
(photo, p. 35). The Moyno 2000 HS sys-
tem, meanwhile, uses a G4 pump with
a twin-screw feeder as a cost-effective
alternative to piston pumps for the
transfer of semi-dry materials such as
sewage sludge.
The new LPP80 high-capacity
peristaltic pump from Larox Flow-
sys (Lappeenranta, Finland) delivers
up to 176 gal/min (photo, p. 35). The
companys design focus on minerals
processing and metallurgical applica-
tions has resulted in a pump with ex-
ceptional performance and reliability,
says Matti Riihimki of Larox Flow-
sys Pump Products. The pump uses a
patented roller design that is said to
generate twice as much flow per revo-
lution as a conventional pump, as well
as increasing hose life and reducing
energy consumption.
The SPX peristaltic pump from
Watson-Marlow Bredel (Wilmington,
Mass.) is suitable for abrasive and
corrosive fluids, thanks to its Bioprene
hose material (photo, p. 35). The com-
plete Watson-Marlow Bredel peristal-
tic range covers flowrates up to 350
gal/min and pressures up to 230 psi.
For demanding hygienic applica-
tions, Bioengineering (Waltham,
Mass.) offers a dual-diaphragm pump
(photo). For the pharmaceutical, food
and cosmetic industries it offers ac-
curate and controlled flow in either
direction, thanks in part to the use of
positively actuated diaphragm valves.
Made from mirror-polished 316L
stainless steel and PTFE, the pump
delivers pressures up to 6 bar, has zero
dead volume, can be sterilized and
cleaned-in-place, is self-priming, and
can run dry without damage.
Charles Butcher
ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com april 2007 37
Wood Group ESP
Surface Pumps
SPS APPLICATIONS:
Booster
Transfer
Circulation
Injection
SP1000: rated 100 to 1000 HP
(SP2000: rated 1000 to 2500 HP
also available)
Low tolerance for pump problems?
No problem.
www.woodgroup-esp.com
Pressure to lower ever-increasing maintenance
costs and reduce environmental impact has paved
the way to better surface pumping solutions.
Our multi-stage centrifugal SPS

Surface Pump-
ing Systems provide versatile, low-maintenance
alternatives to many split-case centrifugal,
positive-displacement and vertical-turbine pump
applications. The SPS is a cost-effective solution
for processing, petroleum, mining, water and other
industries that require high-volume movement of
fluids. Proven benefits include:
Lower initial and whole-life cost
Short construction lead-time
Increased reliability and runtime
Low noise and vibration levels
Remote monitoring and control
Worldwide support.
Call this number: 281.492.5160.
Or e-mail sps@woodgroup.com.
WG SPS ad_CE_half_2-07.indd 1 3/1/07 11:03:02 AM
Circle 30 on p. 82 or go to adlinks.che.com/6894-30
MAAG Pump Systems
Textron edlinks.che.com/6894-597
Moyno, Inc. edlinks.che.com/6894-598
MV Products edlinks.che.com/6894-599
Neptune Chemical
Pump Co. edlinks.che.com/6894-600
Nikkiso Pumps edlinks.che.com/6894-601
Opti-Valve LLC edlinks.che.com/6894-602
Pulsafeeder edlinks.che.com/6894-603
Pump Systems Matter edlinks.che.com/6894-604
Seybert & Rahier edlinks.che.com/6894-605
Sulzer Pumps edlinks.che.com/6894-606
Sundyne Corp. edlinks.che.com/6894-607
Travaini Pumps USA edlinks.che.com/6894-608
Tuthill Pump Group edlinks.che.com/6894-609
Vertiflo Pump Co. edlinks.che.com/6894-610
Viking Pump edlinks.che.com/6894-611
Wanner Engineering edlinks.che.com/6894-612
Watson-Marlow Bredel edlinks.che.com/6894-613
Waukesha
Cherry-Burrell edlinks.che.com/6894-614
Wood Group ESP edlinks.che.com/6894-615
This dual-diaphragm pump is designed
for aseptic feeding and metering in hy-
gienic applications
Bioengineering