Pump Suction and Discharge Nozzle Sizing and Nozzle orientations

[Sawsan311]

Dear All,

I am seeking your experience on the reference quote in API 610 advising on:

- the sizing basis for the suction and discharge pump nozzles, in some instances I observed that inlet piping size can be for example 24'' while vendor advising suction nozzle of 12'' .. is this odd? and what is the physical phenomena behind determining the size of the suction and discharge nozzles? momentum?? suction energy?
- The minimum straight length upstream pump nozzle to ensure unseparated and uniform distribution to the impeller eye, is 4 D a typical value and do we decide to increase it?

- When to decide whether the pump shall have top-top or side -top arrangement, which section in API 610 advising on a preliminary criteria for the same.

Thanks

Regards

 

[LittleInch]

Pump nozzle sizing is different to piping sizing.

It it in the interest of the pump mfr to keep the nozzle sizes as low as possible.

Inlet and outlet sizing is based on other parameters such as pressure drop, flow velocity etc.

It is common for pump nozzles to be smaller than the inlet or discharge pipework.

4D upstream is quite common, but often not achieved.

I don't think API 610 advises on such things as top top - that is a manufacturers decision.

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