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HowtodoPumpPipingwithLayoutExplained|PIPINGGUIDE

HowtodoPumpPipingwithLayoutExplained
PostedbyAnkitChughon1:04PM

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1.0PURPOSE
To provide the layout designer guidelines for developing pump piping designs that fully consider safety, operation,
maintenanceandeconomics.
2.0EXCLUSIONS
Allorpartofthisguidemaybesupersededbyclientmandatorystandardsorbythecodesandregulationsimposedby
governmentaljurisdictionscoveringthelocationwherethepipingisinstalled.

3.0DISCUSSION
3.1SAFETY
Properconsiderationforpersonnelsafetyaroundpumpsrequirespipingandvalvearrangementsthatdonotobstruct
access for operation, maintenance or egress. Care must be exercised not to create tripping hazards with auxiliary
piping.
3.2OPERATION
Pumps normally require minimal attention during operation. Valves however, must be located for easy access this is
particularly true for paired or spared pumps. Where manual valves cannot be operated from grade, chain operators
shallbeused.Ifchainoperatorsarenotallowedperclientspecifications,platformaccesstovalvesshallbeconsidered.

3.3MAINTENANCE
Pipingshallbearrangedinamannertoallowadequateaccesstothepumpwithoutrequiringexcessivedismantlingof
thepipingsystem.Thecouplingbetweenthepumpanditsdrivermustbeeasilyaccessedinordertoalignthepump
anddriver.Pumpsealaccessmustalsobeconsidered.Pipingmustbekeptclearfromabovethepumpforhorizontally
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splitpumpcasingstoallowmaintenance.Forverticallysplitcasings,accessmustbeprovidedinfrontofthepumps.
Clearance for forklifts or mobile cranes should be provided for maintenance. In cases where pumps are located in a
buildingorotherareaswhereoverheadaccessislimited,monorailsorriggingbeamsshouldbeconsideredforremoval
ofthepumpand/ormotor.
4.0TYPESOFPUMPS
Pumps are available in many different types. The most common are centrifugal, reciprocating and rotary.
Reciprocating and rotary pumps are positive displacement pumps. Centrifugal pumps will usually be one of three
types horizontal, vertical inline or vertical can type. They may have electric motor or steam turbine drivers. (See
Figure 1 for examples of horizontal, vertical inline and vertical can type centrifugal pumps) Reciprocating pumps
mayhaveadirectsteampistondriver.

TypesofCommonCentrifugalPumps

Rotarypumpsusuallyhaveanelectricmotordriverbutmaybesteamturbinedriven.Inmanycases,thefluidpumped
byrotarypumpsissoviscousthatblockvalvesarenotnecessary.Inthatcase,thereliefvalvemaynotbenecessary.If
turbinedriven,therewillbeagearboxbetweenthepumpandturbine.
5.0PUMPLOCATION
Pumplocationwillaffectthepipinglayoutandhowthepipingcanbesupported.Pumpsinflammableserviceshallbe
located outboard of overhead piperacks or structures. Those in nonflammable service may be located beneath the
piperack (subject to allowance in client specifications). Pumps shall be located as close as possible to the source of
suction in order to minimize pressure drop in the system while satisfying piping flexibility requirements and nozzle
loadallowable.Linesizeandtemperatureshouldbedeterminingfactorsinroutingthepiping.
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6.0GENERALPUMPPIPING
Pump suction piping shall be arranged such that the flow is as smooth and uniform as practicable at the pump
suction nozzle. To accomplish this, the use of tees, crosses, valves, strainers, near runsize branch connections, and
shortradiuselbowsshallbeavoidednearthesuctionnozzle.Suctionpipingshallbedesignedwithouthighpointsto
preventcollectionofvapors.Suctionpipingshallnotbepocketed.Whenpumpflangesareflatfaced,matingflanges
mustalsobeflatfacedandthejointmadeupusingfullfacedgaskets.
Multiplepumparrangementsthatconnecttoacommondischargeheadershallhavethedischargesconnectedtothe
headersuchthatthedischargesfrompumpsoperatingsimultaneouslydonotopposeoneanother.
The suction line for all systems designed to API recommendations that connect to API pumps with end, top or side
suctionnozzles,orAPIinlinepumps,shallhaveastraightrunoffivepipediameters(nozzlesize)betweenthesuction
flangeandthefirstelbow,tee,valve,reducerorpermanentstrainer(Figure4).Thesuctionlineforpumpsotherthan
API,shallhaveaminimumstraightrunlengthofthreepipediameters.Thisstraightrunlengthshouldbemaximized,
butinanycasethepumpmanufacturersrecommendationsshouldbefollowed(Figure5).
6.1REDUCERTYPEANDLOCATION
Eccentricreducersinhorizontalpumpsuctionlinesshallbeflatontopinordertopreventanyentrainedvaporsinthe
liquid from accumulating in the high point and possibly causing cavitation in the pump. Pumps in boiler feed water
serviceoperatingatclosetothevaporpressureoftheliquidareparticularlysusceptibletothisproblem.
The reducer shall be concentric for overhead piping into a top suction pump. (See Figure 2) Reducers in pump
discharge lines shall be concentric and located as close as possible to the pump discharge nozzle. In cases where a
combination of nozzle size, nozzle location, pipe size and insulation thickness create flange to pipe/insulation
interference,eccentricreducersmaybeusedtogaintherequiredclearance.

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Reducerslocationsatpumps

Careshouldbeexercisedwhenusingatopflatreducernexttoapumpsuctionnozzlewherethechangeindiameters
exceeds4in/100mm,asthiscouldresultinadisturbedflowpatternintotheimpellerandcausevibrationandrapid
wear.
6.2VALVELOCATIONANDORIENTATION
Valvehandwheelsshallbeorientedinamannerresultingingoodaccesstothevalveandpump.Thesuctionlinevalve
shallbeinstalledwiththesteminthehorizontal.(i.e.installvalveintheverticalrunofpipe).Gatevalvesinstalledin
thehorizontalcanaccumulatevaporinthebonnetcavityandcausecavitationinthepumpwhenthetrappedvapor
breaksloose.
6.3HORIZONTALDISCHARGEOFFSET
If existing steel is not available for support of the discharge piping, or if the check valve must be installed in a
horizontalrun,thenAlternate1inFigure3shallbeused.

TypicalPumpDischargePiping

Whendischargepipingishorizontallyoffset,caremustbeexercisednottoblockaccesstothepumpcoupling,sealsor
bearings(Seefigures3&12).
6.4TEMPORARYANDPERMANENTSUCTIONSTRAINERINSTALLATION
Specialattentionmustbegiventothelocationoftemporarysuctionstrainerstoallowforremoval.Figures4&5show
examplesofsuctionstrainerinstallation.

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TYPICALPIPINGFORENDSUCTIONTOPDISCHARGEPUMPS(APIPUMPSONLY)

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TYPICALPIPINGFORENDSUCTIONTOPDISCHARGEPUMPS(NONAPIPUMPSONLY)

For permanent Ttype and Ytype strainers installed in a horizontal suction line, the preferred position of the clean
outconnectionis30to40degreesfromtheverticalmakingsurethatthereisenoughclearanceforstrainerremovalat
grade.
ConsiderationshallbegiventothehandlingoflargeTtypestrainercovers,andapermanenthandlingdevice(e.g.a
davit)suppliedifaccessbymobileequipmentisnotpossible.
6.5COMMONSPARE
Occasionally,onepumpisinstalledasacommonsparebetweentwootherpumpsindifferentservices.Thepumpmust
bemanifoldedinsuchawaythataccomplishesthis.Figure6illustratesanarrangementcommonlyused.

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PipingforPumpswithacommonSpare

7.0CENTRIFUGALPUMPPIPINGLAYOUT
7.1HORIZONTALCENTRIFUGALPUMPS
Horizontalcentrifugalpumpsusuallyfitintothreecategories:
(1)EndSuctionTopDischarge
(2)TopSuctionTopDischarge
(3)SideSuctionSideDischarge
Themostcommonareendsuctionortopsuction.Suctionpipingshallbesupportedatgradebelowtheelbowforend
suctionpumps.Thedischargeline(topdischarge)shallbesupportedfromoverheadsteelwheneverpossibletoallow
as much free area as possible around the pump for operation/maintenance. Figure 7 illustrates how piping may be
designedforthesepumps.

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TypicalarrangementforEnd/TopSuctionCentrifugalPumps

7.1.1TypicalEndSuctionTopDischargearrangement
Figures4&5showcommonpipingarrangementsforendsuctiontopdischargecentrifugalpumps.Thesuctionline
shall have a straight run between the suction nozzle and the first elbow, tee, valve, reducer or permanent strainer as
dictatedbythetypeofpumpand/ormanufacturersrecommendation.
7.1.2SideSuction/SideDischargePumpPiping
Pumpsmaybesinglestageormultistage.Multistagepumpsareusuallysidesuctionsidedischarge.Thesepumps
require significantly more space, and present special layout considerations. The pump suction line for side suction
pumps shall have a minimum straight run of three pipe diameters (for nonAPI pumps) or five pipe diameters (for
APIpumps)betweenthesuctionflangeandthefirstelbow,tee,valve,reducerandpermanentstrainer.Ifahorizontal
suctionlinecannotbeavoided,thenthestraightrunlengthshouldbefive
diametersminimumforallpumps(Figure8).

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PipingArrangementforSideSuctionSideDischargePumps

7.2VERTICALCENTRIFUGALPUMPPIPING
Verticalcentrifugalpumpsmaybeinline,can(selfcontained)orsumppumps.Inlinepumpsaremountedintheline
and supported by the piping as the name implies. A pedestal is often required for larger inline pumps or where the
load is too high for the nozzles to handle. The designer must consider access for maintenance and operation in the
samewayasforhorizontalpumps.
Verticalcantypepumpsareinstalledinaconcretecylinderbuttheprocessfluidiscompletelycontainedinthepump
"can." They are used when there is a high NPSH requirement or at surface condensers. This allows the surface
condenser to be mounted at a lower elevation. The same is true for a vessel connected to a vertical can pump. The
primaryconcernforthedesigneristoprovideadequateoverheadclearancetoremovethepumpformaintenance.
Verticalsumppumpsareusuallyusedtopumpwasteproductsorwaterfromacollectionsump.Hereagainaprimary
concernistoprovideadequateoverheadclearancetoremovethepumpformaintenance.Theclearancerequirements,
between the sump walls or bottom and the pumps inlet nozzle as well as the pumps length must be given careful
considerationduringthelayoutphaseoftheproject.ThesumpdesignatthepumpintakeshallbebasedonHydraulic
InstituteStandards.
8.0RECIPROCATINGPUMPPIPING
Reciprocating pumps are used when high head is required. These pumps require a pressure relief valve (PRV) to be
installedbetweenthepumpandthedischargeblockvalve.ThePRVcanbeexternal,inthepiping,orintegralwiththe
pumpcasing.
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Due to the pulsating action of reciprocating pumps, the designer must consider space requirements for pulsation
dampeners.Theseareusuallyfurnishedwiththepumpbuttakeupadditionalspace.
Pumpaccessisevenmoreimportantforreciprocatingpumpssincetheyrequiremoremaintenancethanotherpumps.
Do not install any bend (i.e. 90 degree elbow) directly adjacent to the pump discharge. For typical egress and
clearancerequirements,refertoDesignGuideforCompressorPipingLayout(ReciprocatingCompressors)3DGP22
00008.
Thedischargepulsationdampenermustbeinstalledasclosetothedischargeaspossible.Pipesupportsmustbegiven
specialconsiderationduetothepulsations.
9.0ROTARYPUMPPIPING
Rotary pumps are used for very heavy or viscous fluids. They deliver a constant pulsationfree flow. Piping for these
pumps is very similar to that of centrifugal pumps but is usually characterized by the absence of block valves in the
suction and discharge piping. If block valves are used, a pressure relief valve must be installed between the pump
dischargeandtheblockvalve.ThePRVdischargeisusuallyroutedbacktothepumpsuction.
10.0PUMPSOPERATINGBELOWATMOSPHERICPRESSURE
Pumps operating below atmospheric pressure (e.g. Vacuum Tower Bottoms Pumps) present special problems. Since
the system operates at a negative pressure and very high temperature, the pumps must be located very close to the
suction source. This is often directly below the tower or immediately outside the tower support columns. Pumps
locateddirectlybeneaththetowercanbemountedonaspecialspringbaseasshowninFigure9.

TypicalPumpSuctionPipingatVacuumTower
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11.0AUXILIARYPIPING
Consideration must be given to lube oil and seal oil systems and any cooling water requirements. Care must be
exercised not to block access to the pump seals, bearings, seal pots, starter button stations and motor conduit
connection when routing these lines. (Figure 10) The pump data sheet shall always be reviewed to make sure these
requirementsarenotmissed.Forverylargepumpsthesemaybeonseparateskids.

PreferredAuxiliaryPipingArrangementandAccessZones

Firewater deluge piping shall be routed so that it does not interfere with pump operating or maintenance access. If
the deluge piping design is subcontracted, the vendors design should be checked to ensure that safety egress,
operatingandmaintenanceaccesswaysaremaintained.
12.0FIELDWELDS
Considerationshouldbegiventotheplacementoffieldfitupweldsinshopfabricatedpiping2andlarger.Earlyin
theproject,PlantDesignshouldreviewtheoptionswithConstructionandthedecisiondocumented.Optionsinclude:
(i) Tack weld the flange adjacent to the pump suction and discharge nozzles to permit piping installation in
accordancewiththemachineryflangefituprequirements.
(ii)Providefieldweldsthatallowfitupinthreedirections.
(iii)Nofieldweldsotherthanthoserequiredbyspooltransportationsizelimitations.
13.0STEAMTURBINEPIPING
Pipingatsteamturbinespresentsomewhatdifferentconsiderationsfromthatofpumps.Thepipingmustbedesigned
topreventthepossibilityofintroducingaslugofcondensateintotheturbine,whichcoulddestroytheturbinevanes.
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The inlet piping must have the block valve or control valve installed in the horizontal run with a drip leg and steam
trap upstream of the valves whether the turbine is setup for manual or automatic operation. In cases where the
throttling valve is furnished with the turbine and located on the inlet nozzle, the drip leg and steam trap shall be
locatedimmediatelyupstream.(Seefigure11).

TypicalSteamTurbinePiping

Reducersinstalledintheinletpipingtosteamturbinesshallbeeccentricwiththeflatsideonthebottomtopreventthe
accumulationofanyliquid.
14.0SUPPORTOFPUMPPIPING
Itispreferredthatpumpdischargepipingbesupportedfromoverheadsteelwheneverpossible.Thisallowspipingat
thepumptoberemovedformaintenance.(Seefigure12).

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PumpDischargePipingSupportOptions

The piping layout must permit both suction and discharge pipes to be supported independent of the pump(s), such
thatverylittleloadistransmittedtothepumpcasing.
15.0DIFFERENTIALSETTLEMENT
Whendifferentialsettlementisaproblem,itispreferredthatthepumpsuctionpipingbesupportedfromthepump
foundation.ThiscanbeaccomplishedbyextendingthefoundationasshowninFigure13.

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PumpSuctionSupportforDifferentialSettlementProblem

16.0REFERENCES
HydraulicInstituteStandards
PumpHandbook(ISBN0070333017)
DesignGuideforGasCompressorPiping(ReciprocatingCompressors)3DGP2200008

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