Pump base designs
Pump base designs
(OP)
Trying to get pointed in the right direction about bases used for pump skids.
I will first start by saying I am a mechanical engineer but with high interest in structural. I know most pump skids use a concrete pad to anchor too. Problem is that we want to use a 8" concrete pad and then mount a metal platform on top (around 2.5-3 feet tall).
I was assuming there are some sort of guidelines/standards for bases that may tell us the natural frequency of the platform.
Any good sources to start looking at?
I will first start by saying I am a mechanical engineer but with high interest in structural. I know most pump skids use a concrete pad to anchor too. Problem is that we want to use a 8" concrete pad and then mount a metal platform on top (around 2.5-3 feet tall).
I was assuming there are some sort of guidelines/standards for bases that may tell us the natural frequency of the platform.
Any good sources to start looking at?






RE: Pump base designs
Besides that, if you make your foundation three times the weight of the equipment, you're going to be all right most of the time.
RE: Pump base designs
Why the platform by the way? Are you trying to get some elevation to match up?
As far as calculating the natural frequency goes….most software (like STAAD) can do that for a multi-degree of freedom system (which a platform unquestionably is). But if you are going to that length you should probably (also) do a time-history analysis (to get an idea as to what kind of displacements/velocities/accelerations you’ve got and to compare them to allowables). You’ll need to make a guess at the unbalanced force to do that.
RE: Pump base designs
Raising it up this height will help us tremendously. Pump with motor weight is around 3900 lbs (fairly light).
Would it be wise to have a concrete pad under a metal platform though? I'm trying to find any type of book or source that may have standard base structures? Such as, how many beams are needed, etc.
My structural guy seemed worried that it would be pretty extensive calculations but since it is non-safety related and non-seismic I don't see any issue with the calculation.
RE: Pump base designs
I can’t think of too many books that have pump base details. I’ve just always relied on some standard details that were developed at some large companies I’ve worked for.
Some pump bases I’ve seen: I’m not even sure they could go on steel (it was obvious they intended them to go on concrete)….so check that first.
RE: Pump base designs
RE: Pump base designs
Depending on the thickness if the slab (and what the calculations show), a pad on the floor may not be necessary…..but it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
RE: Pump base designs
http://www.scribd.com/doc/14882252/63/Design-and-d...
RE: Pump base designs
http://www.waterworld.com/articles/2010/11/pump-ba...
RE: Pump base designs
http://www.mcnallyinstitute.com/14-html/14-07.htm
RE: Pump base designs
I was in the Nuclear business for 20 years. We would spend countless hours designing supports for 3/4 inch instrumentation pipes. This sounds important enough, even if it's in the NS side of the plant, to put in a couple of days.
RE: Pump base designs
This is non-safety related so if our pumps were to fail it would have no effect on the reactor or other vital components.