PR-471-16206-R01 Suction Piping Effect on Pump Performance Testing

Pump suction piping testing was performed to measure the influence on pump performance and mechanical operation, and also provide a benchmark for comparing, verifying and improving CFD modeling techniques. Testing was performed in Sulzer’s pump test laboratory, in Winterthur Switzerland, using a single stage double suction model pump a with similar specific speed and design as used in many crude oil pipeline installations. Testing included a baseline test with a straight pipe with a flow straightener at the pump suction and two arrangements with pipe elbows directly at the pump suction. All tests were performed with mineral oil at viscosities ranging from 90 to 500 cSt. Pump performance as well as several static and dynamic measurements were taken, including static pressure measurements along the suction pipe, dynamic pressure measurements at the pump suction and discharge, pump axial thrust and displacements and pump torque. The tests with elbows at the pump suction are compared to the baseline test results.

This work will benefit the liquids pipeline station designers and operators and also CFD analysts by providing actual tested comparisons and benchmark measurements.