Refinery processes can involve high pressure, low flow, viscous liquids, and difficult process fluids. Pump selection should reflect the complete duty range, fluid composition, plant standards, and reliability requirements.
Pitot tube pump technology can be evaluated for selected refinery pump applications that require high differential pressure at relatively low flow rates.
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Refinery pump duties vary across process units and operating modes. Hydraulic conditions, fluid behavior, maintenance history, and site requirements should be reviewed together.
Suction pressure, discharge pressure, system resistance, and transient conditions influence hydraulic selection.
Selected process duties combine relatively low flow demand with substantial pressure or head requirements.
Fluid composition, density, viscosity, temperature, and contamination should be included in the application review.
Startup, normal operation, shutdown, and seasonal conditions may produce a significant viscosity range.
Entrained gas level, vapor behavior, suction conditions, and process stability can affect pump operation.
Duty cycle, maintenance access, seal history, equipment availability, and operating variability should be considered.
A pitot tube pump uses a rotating casing and stationary pitot tube to convert fluid velocity into pressure. This technology can be considered for selected refinery applications requiring high pressure low flow operation.
Suitability should be evaluated using the full duty range, available suction conditions, fluid properties, materials, seal requirements, installation constraints, and applicable refinery standards. An engineering recommendation should be based on project-specific operating data.
Review Pitot Tube Pump TechnologyThe following parameters support refinery pump hydraulic review, material selection, sealing evaluation, and configuration development.
| Parameter | Consideration |
|---|---|
| Flow Rate | Minimum, normal, maximum, startup, and expected control range. |
| Pressure | Suction pressure, discharge pressure, differential pressure, total head, and design pressure. |
| Temperature | Minimum, normal, maximum, startup, shutdown, and cleaning temperatures. |
| Viscosity | Dynamic or kinematic viscosity across the expected process temperature range. |
| Specific Gravity | Minimum, normal, and maximum fluid specific gravity. |
| Gas Content | Entrained gas, dissolved gas, vapor conditions, and expected variation. |
| Materials | Fluid chemistry, corrosion or erosion risk, and refinery material specifications. |
| Seal Requirements | Seal arrangement, flush plan, emissions requirements, utilities, and maintenance standards. |
Pitot tube pump technology can be evaluated for selected refinery duties requiring high differential pressure at relatively low flow.
A single-stage pitot tube pump configuration may offer a compact arrangement for suitable duties, subject to installation and service requirements.
Centrifugal pitot tube pump operation may provide reduced pulsation compared with some positive displacement pump options, depending on the application.
Materials, seals, configuration, and performance can be reviewed against the specific refinery process and project requirements.
Review operating principles, configurations, performance range, and pump selection information.
Explore engineered pump options for selected low flow, high head, and high pressure applications.
Submit existing pump and process data for an application-specific replacement review.
Evaluate pitot tube pump technology for selected multistage pump duties.
Provide the stream composition, expected contaminants, minimum and maximum temperature, specific gravity, viscosity, and vapor pressure where applicable. Identify how these values change during startup, normal operation, shutdown, or process upsets.
Available suction pressure must be reviewed with fluid vapor pressure, temperature, piping losses, and operating range. This assessment helps determine suction margin and whether the proposed pump arrangement is appropriate for the service.
Submit viscosity at relevant temperatures, expected gas content, and minimum, normal, maximum, startup, and transient duties. Engineering uses those conditions to review hydraulic behavior, power, suction performance, and operating stability.
Material and seal review uses the full fluid composition, temperature, pressure, contaminants, plant specifications, and emissions or leakage requirements. Compatibility must be confirmed for the stated stream rather than assumed for all hydrocarbon services.
Provide the current model, nameplate, performance curve, actual operating points, motor and speed, materials, seal plan, nozzle and base drawings, controls, and maintenance history. Include the operating concern or process change that initiated the review.
Send your operating range, pressure data, fluid properties, temperature, viscosity, materials, seal requirements, and current pump information for engineering review.