problems cooling centrifugal pumps
problems cooling centrifugal pumps
(OP)
We have several centrifugal pumps in our process pumping liquid at high temperatures back into the reactor. These pumps get really hot so we use cooling water to cool them down. The problem is that we cannot send this cooling water back into the cooling water return line because there is not enough pressure differential, so we have to dump the water on the floor...
Does anybody have any ideas on how to solve this problem?
Thanks
Does anybody have any ideas on how to solve this problem?
Thanks





RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
If the pumps are designed to operate at high temp, cooling the lube oil and mech.seal flushing line will be sufficient.
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
http://www.ppcmechanicalseals.com/API/API-23.pdf
Regards
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
We cool some of them by spraying...any ideas on how to fix this problem without having a cooler for each pump.
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
What type of pump and operating temperature?
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
In any event, I doubt that the pumps were designed to be cooled in this fashion. I would address this to the extent possible with air cooling, or else look for a different type of pump.
The other thing you might try is give CSI (Controls Southeast Inc) a call and give them your pump vendor drawings. They might be able to design a jacket system for the pump casing, which would facilitate you towards then adding a closed CW loop. You could go, for example, from open top tank full of water, through a small pump to the casing and back to the tank and let the exposed surface area of the tank take care of the heat rejection; it would likely equilibriate at some acceptable point if the tank was large enough.
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: problems cooling centrifugal pumps
There is something missing to you story. The pumps get hot and this is a problem because...(why). Reading into your story I think that the pumps were designed for the service they are in and have a cooling jacket, but the cooling water system cannot deliver the flow because of low differential pressure in the supply and return header. The spray is a work around.
On the assumption that the above assessment is correct and that the CW system was properly designed at one time; the cooling water system either has more load on it because of the addition of more users, or it is not balanced properly. These pumps are probably not the only thing struggling for cooling. Install some pressure gages as part of a CW survey, and try balancing the flows better- maybe more dP is possible by reducing CW flow elsewhere. Otherwise run a more adequate CW supply header by finding better tie-in points in the network.
best wishes,
sshep