Daniele Cecchini’s Post

Regardless of the starting point of a pump performance selection process, in certain situations, opting for a fully compliant API-610 pump may ensure the requested performance and suffice for a specific application without the complexities of a customized product. Customization may be necessary to achieve optimal performance or meet specific requirements. However, standardized pumps can often meet the needs of many applications efficiently and cost-effectively. Customization can be both costly and time-consuming, whereas standard pumps may already meet application requirements without customization. Additionally, customization may introduce complexity in terms of maintenance and spare parts availability. Several factors contribute to the expense and time consumption of pump customization: Engineering - Customizing a pump requires engineering expertise to design a solution tailored to the application's specific needs. This process involves analysis, testing, and iteration to ensure the customized pump performs as intended. - Manufacturing: Production costs may increase due to the necessity of modifying or creating new components. - Supply chain: Customized pumps may require unique materials or components to meet specific performance criteria. Sourcing these materials and components, especially in small quantities, can be costlier and lead to longer lead times. Customization may also entail coordination with multiple suppliers and subcontractors, complicating the supply chain. Standardized pumps compliant with API 610, without adherence to additional specifications, are designed and manufactured to high standards. They are engineered for optimal performance, efficiency, and durability and are recognized and accepted worldwide. API 610-compliant standardized pumps can yield economies of scale, resulting in lower production costs and shorter lead times. Maintenance, repairs, and spare parts management can be simplified due to the interchangeability of standardized components. Overall, while customization can offer benefits in terms of performance and functionality, it often comes at higher costs and longer lead times compared to standardized pump solutions. Standardized pumps strike a balance between performance, reliability, and affordability, meeting the needs of many applications without the complexities and costs associated with customization. See Trillium pump products at the following link: https://okt.to/vNhLns

With advancements in Additive Manufacturing, many manufacturers are utilizing this technology to test new ideas and optimize designs in ways conventional manufacturing wouldn’t allow. Almost any component of a pump can be 3D printed and further optimized, resulting in a pump with improved performance in a wide variety of ways. Rapid prototyping is also cost-effective and allows for the creation of complex structures with ease. From customized designs to faster production times, 3D printing will undoubtedly continue to revolutionize the manufacture of pumps. 3D printing is widely used for training purposes, as evidenced by Trillium recently unveiling two 3D printed pump models in PLA material at a recent tradeshow, shown in the images here. Not only do these new models provide an improved visual experience for booth visitors, but they also allow for a more comprehensive demonstration of the functionality of each product. Discover our pump capabilities at the link below: https://okt.to/fB5Er9

Join us for our upcoming "Vertical Pumps for Water Markets - Key Selection and Design Configurations" webinar. Learn how to select the most suitable vertical pump for your water application. Register now: https://okt.to/vjNHtb #VerticalPumps #WaterApplications

Thermal power plants are the primary source of electric generation. To maximize energy conversion, pumps, and other auxiliaries must operate at their best efficiency points. Often, the power required by these auxiliaries can be excessively high due to suboptimal operation. The primary cause of these off-design operating conditions is typically linked to fluctuations in flow rate and pressure conditions over time, requiring plant adjustments. In a recent case study, these requirements were addressed in barrel-type centrifugal pumps (BB5) by implementing a variable coupling, pump de-staging (removal of one or more impellers), and impeller trimming (reducing impeller external diameter). These multistage pumps were originally designed for fixed speed at 2970 RPM with 13 impellers measuring 300mm in diameter. However, with the new operating conditions, the pumps were deemed oversized for their duties. Hence, they were de-staged to nine impellers of diameter 290 mm, and a variable speed coupling was introduced to maintain high efficiency across various operating points. This new configuration is a non-standard design, where pump de-staging usually involves removing two or three impellers. To ensure plant integrity, specific numerical checks were conducted, particularly focusing on rotor stability through lateral analysis. One consideration is the adjustment of the optimal bearing lift to prevent rubbing during startup, resulting from changes in static deflection due to the removal of four impellers. Additionally, the new operating conditions and impeller trimming have impacted the pressure drop across annular seals, particularly on the balance drum. These modifications influenced the dynamic coefficients of annular seals and radial bearings, affecting the rotor's lateral behavior. Some options were identified and simulated: - #1 Full-stage pump (13), baseline rotor arrangement - #2 9-stage pump, rotor arrangement with alternated false stages - #3 9-stage pump, rotor arrangement with a central block of false stages The analysis showed that all configurations met the requirements of API 610 Annex I, with all bending natural frequencies falling within the acceptable range and being similar for the various cases. The final solution was chosen based on CFD calculations, selecting the option that provided optimal hydraulic performance.

A common question and topic of discussion with purchasers and end users of centrifugal pumps is wear rings, most commonly wear ring clearances and materials. A centrifugal pump wear ring (or wear surface) is a close clearance device present in most (but not all) centrifugal pumps. You will see these fitted on one or both sides of the pump impeller - basically, anywhere a pressure differential exists. The primary purpose is to limit fluid leakage from the high-pressure (outlet side) of the impeller to the low-pressure side of the impeller—typically the impeller eye. Without the presence of the wear ring, fluid would be free to flow between these regions, and the efficiency of the pump would be significantly reduced. There are several things that guide or control wear ring material selection: Specifications: API 610 and some customers will have specifications defining acceptable wear ring materials based on their experience in a specific service. For example API 610 Table H1 identifies the wear ring materials to be used for a specific material class. (Note that API also allows certain non-metallic wear rings in accordance with Table H3). API 610 also requires that "hardenable" wear ring materials have a hardness difference of 50 Brinell between the rotating and stationary surfaces (refer to clause 6.7.2). For applications with Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), NACE MR0103 or MR0175 will likely be invoked. In these cases, API 610 will limit the hardness of the rotating wear ring to less than Rockwell C (HRC) 22. Clearly, this has implications when trying to achieve a 50 Brinell differential hardness, and the pump OEM will have a specific material combination to meet these requirements (clause 6.12.1.14.1) Tribology: While the ideal state is that wear rings operate at all times with separation between the stationary and rotating surfaces, the reality is that contact between wear rings will happen. • Transient events such as thermal shock, water hammer, etc., can result in momentary contact • Rotor misalignment (from coupling loads, poor driver alignment, external piping loads, etc.) can result in varying degrees of contact • In most multistage pumps, the rotor wear rings will contact the stationary rings during startup and shutdown Consequently, it is important to pick wear ring materials that can tolerate at least some degree of contact. There are literally thousands of possible material combinations. The table shown here lists a few pairings and their overall scoring on key criteria: galling resistance, resistance to wear by solids, and applicability/cost to help you start the materials conversation with your pump OEM. Trillium Flow Technologies is an expert in pump material selection and can help you minimize total LCC for both your new and existing pumps. Find out more here: https://okt.to/UwISD5.

Trillium is well-positioned to support operators in achieving higher efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in their industrial water-related applications. Read this article recently published on World Pumps and discover how, due to our capacity to innovate, extensive experience in the water sector, and a wide portfolio of pumps and services, we can contribute to water security. https://okt.to/Wz7dUv

Boasting over 40 patents to its name, the Roto-Jet pump is the original pitot tube pump design. Upon entering the marketplace, Roto-Jet found its niche with industrial users who needed a dependable, low-flow, high-pressure pump solution. Some 50 years later, the Roto-Jet pump’s stellar reputation, combined with continuous development, has created a vast range of applications across numerous industries. From sites operating a single pump at a rural food processing plant to a high-pressure water injection pump system utilized in power generation, the Roto-Jet design has universally proven to be the premier choice for high-pressure pumps. To learn more, watch our webinar on low-flow, high-head pumps: https://okt.to/exU9bc.