Flowserve Vertical Pump Thrust Force for Support Design

[Baffled Engineer]

Hello,

I'm a structural engineer designing a support structure for a vertical turbine pump from flowserve. I'm not familiar with pump-generated structural forces so I was wondering if anyone can help me decipher the hydraulic datasheet I was given. There's three thrust forces shown on the datasheet; at rated flow, runout flow, and at shut off flow which is 7.6kN max thrust. However, the driver info sheet also provides a motor thrust rating of 25kN. Can anyone help me figure out which force to use in the design of the support block for the pump? Thank you.

 

[Strong]

The motor thrust bearing supports the static weight of the motor rotor, pump shaft, and pump impeller. I would consider this as part of the total weight of motor and pump. The thrust bearing also must support the hydraulic static and dynamic (normal full load and transient) pressure forces. There is a net reaction on the pump support structure. The pumps guys can paint a sharper image on the question.

Walt

 

[1503-44]

Generally you want to see the manufacturers giving Fx Fy Fz Mx My Mz about the CG of each major component in the package, along with a diagram locating each individual component's placement and CG location in the X,Y,Z ref frame.

The load cases are usually limited to
Dry weights
Operating weights at design condition if there are significant differences to dry condition
Other operating loads, max thrusts at inlet and outlet of pump flanges
Motor, Pump, Gear Box Short Circuit loads

With such a small installation (< 500 HP) The mfgrs may not have much info to give, or not want to waste time doing so. Small systems like this are often left to the designer to resolve adequacy.
ie. design for weight plus 2x max force and or couple applied at shafts in any worst direction.

 

[LittleInch]

For the pump itself you want to look at the max thrust.

This is caused by the pressure and flow of liquid inside it going up. Looks like the pressure of the liquid is causing the max thrust.

The motor thrust looks to me like a capacity. I.e. if you hang everything off the motor then you can get up to 25kN which is what the bearings are rated for, not what is actually being experienced.

I don't think though any of this is relevant to you, but is internal pump stuff.

what I think you want is the loading on the support plate, which will be weight / force plus some element of rotational force around the pump shaft.

Best call flow serve.



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