5 replies to this topic

[Wizgal]

I would like to ask about pump. I was working for one of upstream platform. The pump is condensate pump in which it transfer condensate from High pressure knockout drum to condensate surge drum. Currently this pump as air lock which require operator attention to bleed air out all the time . The pump is working according to the level of condensate inside the tank.  The pipe arrangement at suction side of this pump is like "U" shape connected from High pressure knockout drum to pump while the other platform pipe arrangement is directly from HPKO to pump. So, I would like to ask whether is it possible that pipe arrangement may cause air lock at the suction side of this pump?.. Moreover,suction of pump is  1' higher than the discharge pipe from HPKO.   img-130912185153-001.jpg   39.2KB   7 downloads

 

Thank you very much 

[Babu Prasad]

If you can able to maintain higher level in HPKO may help to eliminate the vapour lock  otherway liquid  operating temp may be higher than design.

[gegio1960]

wizgal,

your pipe is not self-venting upstream and so air lock is possible.

good luck!

[breizh]

May be good to read !

 

Hope this helps

 

Breizh

Edited by breizh, 16 September 2013 - 02:13 AM.

[katmar]

Air or vapor locks occur at high points in piping, not at low points.  Therefore the downwards U that you have is not automatically a bad thing.  But if air or vapor is being entrained with the liquid it could collect at the suction of the pump if the piping design is not good.  Check that the piping into the pump suction does not slope down into the pump and if you have a reducer on the pump suction it should be an eccentric type with the flat section on top.  See Fig 3 in the document Suction Piping Design posted by breizh.

 

Check also that you are not getting vortexing in the HPKO.  Install a vortex breaker or run the level higher (as already suggested).

[Wizgal]

Thank you very much ..