Choosing the Right Pump

[OilHunter]

Any expert here in handling condensate.. I need some sort of pump that can safely handle a condensate on atmospheric pressure..its about 80 m3 per day capacity.

 

[130684]

Calculate the suction pressure and NPSH, the discharge pressure, estimate based on the efficiency the power of the pump and provide a datasheet to a pump manufacturer.

 

[DubMac]

OilHunter,
Certainly you are talking about API condensate (hydrocarbon) and not steam condensate??

Pumping API condensate is one of the most devilish services in a Refinery/petrochem plant; in part due to very low NPSH available at the pump suction. However, your saying you have atmosheric pressure doesn't sound like the conventional refinery condensate service. Maybe you just need condensate transfer in the field?? Still should be an API pump; could be centrifugal or positive displacement depending on your conditions.

Before suggesting a style of pump, should have a few more details from you, or estimates anyway.Could you describe the service a little more?

Flow is 80m3/day = approx 15gpm??
Discharge head/pressure required?
Suction conditions; atmospheric??
Specific gravity (can be in the .60s or lower)
Temperature (can be cryogenic)

 

[OilHunter]

Thank you guys for the response let me tell you the brief scenario.

We have existing oil and gas separation facility where we only flare some 100 mmscf/day of gas. Now some third party company is willing to take our gas (not until our own Gas Plant will be ready) they will compressed it and send back the condensate to us. the only facility where we can cater these condensate is our existing Closed drain tank which has Submersible pump then back to the system. This tank is just an atmospheric pressure with a capacity of 60 m3 our existing pump has a 50 m3/day capacity and discharged pressure of 7 Bar... Now I just wanted to changed this pump that is suitable to handle condensate..ideal pump must be economically sounds in term of spare parts.

 

[OilHunter]

Sorry guys I forget to add these.

Ambient temp might go to -20 Deg C during winter..(the worse so far)

 

[130684]

1. Have a look over the pump curve. You might reach 60 m3/day, but pumping with a lower pressure.
Do you really need to pump 60 m3/day. Do you need 7 bar destination pressure?
2. Is the tank heated or placed underground?
3. Calculate DP_friction for the worst conditions (high viscosity, high density).

 

[OilHunter]

Current pump installed it 50m3/hr I might need same pump capacity as I was expecting 80 to 100 m3 of condensate they will deliver. tank is underground and cemented.. and 7 to 8 bar discharged pressure is a must

 

[130684]

If tank is underground, temperature in the will not reach temperatures bellow +5 C. Anyway, the hydrocarbons that are stored in it are light hydrocarbons. If you want to be sure regardind the transported capacity, you better install a 2'nd pump working in paralel with the existing one. have a look also to the line if are traced or not.

 

[DubMac]

Trying to summarize:

You need to move between 80-100 m3/hr (not m3/day as in orignal post right?)

Discharge pressure: 8Bar
Temp.: ambient, maybe down to 5C
Need a better feel for conditions at pump inlet; sump is open to atmosphere? If so, what is liquid level above pump suction during operation?

What is the S.G.?

 

[bcs5274]

not sure why we have a condensate tank open to atmosphere, this allows the condensate to boil off? most condensate storage systems here are a bullet tank with aprox. 5-7psi on them to keep the condensate in liquid form.

 

[OilHunter]

Guys just be in mind that its just our temporary solution. until we build a gas conditioning unit. the current pump is keep on failing and spare parts are really expensive. at present we dont pump condensate yet but with in a month we might so Im just preparing for a worse scenario if the current pump totally fail and can't be use at all

 

[DubMac]

What fluid/s are you pumping with the current pump? What type of pump is it?

I'm sure you realize how flammable condensate is.........are you sure it is open to the atmosphere?? Sounds crazy.

 

[OilHunter]

Current Pump is used for crude oil drain system and it is a vertical pump..its basically a drain crude oil with small amount of gas. And Yes that is my main concern the condensate is very flammable.. You're right the existing designed is really stupid idea.. closed drain with gas venting in a 2" line.. then gonna be used for condensate handling its really stupid but we have to deal with it for a while