Tuesday, September 29, 2009

When to Choose API Pump?

Process engineers are often required to make a choice between API and ANSI pumps for hydrocarbon service. API is the conservative and safe option, but also very expensive and not always warranted. Though there are no clear cut guidelines on when to opt for API pump, Heinz Bloch provides the following Rule of Thumb in his book Improving Machinery Reliability – Volume 1

From a reliability point of view, API pumps are preferred for toxic, flammable or explosion prone services if one or more of the following conditions exists:

1) Head > 350 ft (107 m )
2) Temperature > 149 degs C on pumps with discharge flange > 100 NB or > 177 degs C on pumps with discharge flange <> 100 hp (74 KW)
4) Suction pressure > 75 psig
5) Rated flow > flow at BEP
6) Pump speed > 3600 rpm

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