Improper service for existing pumps?
Improper service for existing pumps?
(OP)
Hi everyone,
I have a sump pit (see attachment for details) that drains via a lead lag pumping system. The fluid being pumped out is 90oC WFI (water for injection/very pure water). I am taking the vapor pressure of the water at this temperature to be 526 mmHg. The pit is arranged such that the pumps are bolted to the top of the sump pit, have legs that extend into the pit and have 2" clearance from the floor of the pit. The maximum distance from the surface of the water in the pit to the center line of the pump is ~70 inches (70 inches length of the legs is by best approximate to center line of the pump given the drawings).
Pump details:
GPM = 25
Head (ft) = 110
RPM = 3500
Discharge line is 2"
HP = 3
One of the maintenance techs has noticed that this pit is pumping out slower than normal. My initial diagnosis is that the pumps were
not designed for this fluid temperature, so the NPSHr is too high (Can I get a stupid check on this thought?). The first complicating factor is that the stream of water into the sump generates a lot of steam as it flows into the and waits to be pumped out. Could the steam alone be forming a vapor lock situation that impedes the flow?
If further system details are needed, please ask and bear with me as I hunt for them. I will be on site tomorrow so I will have a better chance to get information.
Thanks,
~J
I have a sump pit (see attachment for details) that drains via a lead lag pumping system. The fluid being pumped out is 90oC WFI (water for injection/very pure water). I am taking the vapor pressure of the water at this temperature to be 526 mmHg. The pit is arranged such that the pumps are bolted to the top of the sump pit, have legs that extend into the pit and have 2" clearance from the floor of the pit. The maximum distance from the surface of the water in the pit to the center line of the pump is ~70 inches (70 inches length of the legs is by best approximate to center line of the pump given the drawings).
Pump details:
GPM = 25
Head (ft) = 110
RPM = 3500
Discharge line is 2"
HP = 3
One of the maintenance techs has noticed that this pit is pumping out slower than normal. My initial diagnosis is that the pumps were
not designed for this fluid temperature, so the NPSHr is too high (Can I get a stupid check on this thought?). The first complicating factor is that the stream of water into the sump generates a lot of steam as it flows into the and waits to be pumped out. Could the steam alone be forming a vapor lock situation that impedes the flow?
If further system details are needed, please ask and bear with me as I hunt for them. I will be on site tomorrow so I will have a better chance to get information.
Thanks,
~J





RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
Were the pumps previously operating satisfactorily under the conditions stated? If so then there is likely another cause apart from fluid properties for drop in performance. Clean fluid, but can anything drop into the pit causing blockage? Have any changes been made to the discharge piping arrangement? Wear in the pumps?
What is the NPSHr? Can you provide the pump performance curve? Are the head/flow numbers from the pump nameplate, or actual data. If actual, how does that compare with the design point from the pump curve?
Sorry, so many questions, but not sure how else I can help.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
Has temp changed?
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
- 90 oC = 194 oF
- absolute vapor pressure of water = 24.3 ft
- S.G water = 0.965, therfore the barometric pressure available (ft) = barometric pressure (ft)/.965
- Suction lift = 70" (5.8 ft)
- you fill in the rest
- I can tell you right now you do not have enough NPSHa
- Get the NPSHr from the manufacturer
It is possible you also have air locks in the piping. You do afterall have a lot of vapor being offgassed. Check your pump and piping arrangement for trapped high spots.RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
The poster did not say if this was a long time installation or a new installation or a change in service conditions. All he said was that he thought the pump was not designed for this temperature.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
Assuming @QualityTime value of sat vap pressure of water at 90degC = 24.3ft = 7.4m
Assume for now that head loss in suction line = 1m of water head
Suction lift = 70inches = 1.8m
So NPSHa = 10.7-7.4-1-1.8=0.5m (!)
A typical centrifugal pump NPSHr= 2-3m or so , and if you add a metre head margin, we are short on NPSHa by about 3.5m or so.
Is there a foot valve on the suction leg entrance in the pit? How do you prime this pump's suction line for startup ? Any devices on this suction line close to pump suction nozzle elevation that could be pulling in air for example?
By these calcs, and if this suction line is airtight, preliminary assessment would be that water vapor pressure should be no more than 7.4-3.5 = 4m, which translates to 39kpa abs vapor pressure, which corresponds to water temp of 75degC max permissible. Why is this water so hot here?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
How old are these units?
What's the low level shut off set at in terms of distance from CL of pump?
Best guess / thing to look for is that the impellor has become eroded and has lost capacity.
That ignores the obvious issues of pipe blockage / scaling, debris etc
Is the water now hotter than it was before?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
An explanation may be that a brand new cavitating pump still pumps water but not as much as it should. A "older" cavitating pump will start to put out less and less over time as the impeller gets destroyed
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
This sump pit is at least 8 years old and I believe it has seen minimal usage in that time if you compare running hours to total hours since install. I am trying to see if the PLC has logged total running hours for the pumps. The lead pump will turn on at 24in and turn off at 12in. The lag pump will turn on at 36in and off at 24in. The P&ID says these pumps are self priming, but I don't know how the priming mechanism works, meaning I don't know if the pump has some way to ensure there is liquid left in the pump body after it stops turning. Poor ownership of this equipment is making documentation hunting very fun.
@Qualitytime I will check if my source on the vapour pressure was off.
@georgeverghese The water waste is part of a clean in place cycle (CIP) for a skid that produces an injectable product. The hot WFI supply to the processing suite is 90oC.
@LittleInch and Artisi I've been told by utilities that the average temperature of the WFI has been constant during the lifespan of this sump pit.
@JohnGP - I will look into those questions; this sump pit and associated equipment has sort of sat around without anyone really fussing with it, leading to poor documentation retention. It's getting some attention now because it is potentially being impacted by the restart of the skid that is supplying the waste to the sump.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
https://www.google.com/search?q=vertical+sump+pump...
This type of pump will be a good choice for this application.
Do you have a flow meter on the pump to verify the discharge flow? If not, see if you can install an ultrasonic strap on flow meter. Has the sump ever been cleaned?
Have you compared the original design requirements of this pumping system to the new requirements?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
There is a big difference between your photo and your drawing / schematic
Picture shows what looks like a vertical sump pump with above ground motor. Simple, effective and should avoid any NPSH issues and inherently "self priming" as the pump is below water level when turned on.
Like this:
Drawing though shows a surface mounted pump with 2" "suction pipes"
You need to first work out which one is correct.
You didn't say there were two - it could simply be that one of the non return valves is passing. Have they tried it by isolating manually one or other of the pumps?
Given that for the low level ( lower than 24") both pumps operate in parallel, it could be one has become less effective than the other and hence takes more flow, but would also mean that when only one pump is running it is probably sitting on the non return valve to allow automatic start / stop
So currently the NRV on the pump discharge is looking like a good candidate....
As bimr says, a portable flow meter is very useful to see what is going on.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
Flow rate might be able to be estimated by recording level transducer output over time of pumping, if you don't have a flowmeter installed, or access to a portable one. (I have measured level change on hands and knees with a tape measure, but the sketch seems to indicate that this pit is sealed).
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
So there is some other problem : blocked suction or discharge check valve leaking on parallel pump ??
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
Since we are in shutdown now, I have set out a plan to do the flow testing that's been suggested. Unfortunately, the hot water loop gets deactivated for line maintenance, so I can do a room temp water run soon but a hot water run won't happen until mid/late January. I have also requested the techs disassemble the pumps and check valves for visual inspection as part of the flow testing experiment.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
room temp test will sort out pump damage or passing NRV so could find / eliminate some aspects of what might be going on.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
I am going to go out on a limb and take a wild guess....LOL. The pump suction is clogged. If it is clogged you run the risk of cavitating. Lets all have a gentlemen's bet on the possible cause! Things are getting a little dull. This should liven it up
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
My contract at this site is ending at the end of this week because the main project I was working on is now done(New Year surprise for me!). I briefed the engineering team on what information I had and recommended the following actions be taken:
1) Test both pumps independently and in tandem with water at both temperature ranges
2) Dissasmble and visually inspect the pumps and check valves while shutdown is still underway
3) Review change control documents to find the design intent documents
4) Recalculate sizing parameters to verify original calculations
I also told the group that my opinions was either new pumps or a heat exchanger would be needed. The less desirable solution was to be okay that both pumps run for a long time to keep the hot water level down.
Thanks for everyone's time, too bad I couldn't come back with a definitive close to this thread...
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
RE: Improper service for existing pumps?
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)