Pipe suction pump arrangement from tank

[cjgorricho]

Which is considered best practice and why?
1. One suction nozzle in tank, with pipe that branches to 2 pumps (main and spare), or
2. Independent suction nozzle for each pump?

 

[nickelkid]

With proper design either could be acceptable. Like everything else in engineering you have trade offs: cost, maintenance, space, etc... Not much data in post to provide solid advice.

 

[BigInch]

Without complicating information, always assume minimum constraints.

Why use two when one will do?

IMO, one suction line to a header with a branch to each pump.

Actually I can't think of a case where you should use two suction lines where one would do, except if you could only get 2" pipe or something. Even if you had to drain the tank from 2 places, I'd still run two drains to one suction line. I suppose you could have one pump here and another pump way way over there. Ya. That would be one.



**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[StressGuy]

With your pumps being a main and a spare, a single tank nozzle would be most common. You are looking at a TEE in the piping vs. an extra nozzle on the tank.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

 

[rcooper]

All the pumping station design guides I have read state a preference for one suction per pump where possible, ideally with each suction in a separate bay in the pumping station. (I don't have my references with me now).

The single suction per pump eliminates multiple bends prior to the pump and therefore the introduction of pre-swirl.

The separate bays avoids detrimental interaction between the pump suctions within the sump. If you ever get a sump model tested (which is recommended for any pumping station with a flow greater than about 60Ml/d) then the vortices and preswirl can be visuallised and it certainly makes you think twice about making broad assumptions with your designs.