Installation tips for pipeline centrifugal pumps

Thread Content

This post was last edited by Suya on 2021-4-7 08:54. Installation tips for pipeline centrifugal pumps: 1. The key to installing a pipeline centrifugal pump lies in determining the installation height of the pump (i.e., the suction head). This height refers to the vertical distance from the water surface to the centerline of the pump impeller. It should not be confused with the allowable suction vacuum level. The allowable suction vacuum level indicated in the pump’s manual or nameplate refers to the vacuum value at the pump’s inlet section, and it is determined through tests conducted under 1 standard atmosphere and a water temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. It does not take into account the water flow conditions after the installation of the water absorption pipes. The installation height of the water pump should be the value remaining after deducting the head loss in the water intake pipeline from the allowable suction vacuum height; this height is necessary to overcome the actual topographic constraints related to the water intake height. The installation height of the water pump must not exceed the calculated value; otherwise, the pump will not be able to draw water. 2. The factor that affects the magnitude of the calculated value is the pressure loss head in the water absorption pipeline; therefore, it is advisable to use the shortest possible piping layout and to minimize the use of fittings such as elbows. It is also possible to consider using pipes with a larger diameter in order to reduce the flow velocity inside the pipes. 3. It should be noted that when the elevation and water temperature at the installation site of the pipeline centrifugal pump differ from those in the test conditions, such as when the local altitude is above 300 meters or the temperature of the water to be pumped exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, the calculated values need to be adjusted. That is, the atmospheric pressure at different altitudes and the saturated vapor pressure at water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. However, when the water temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius, the saturated vapor pressure can be ignored. 4. From a pipeline installation perspective, water intake pipes require strict sealing to prevent air or water leakage; otherwise, it will disrupt the vacuum level at the water pump’s inlet, resulting in reduced water output from the pump, and in severe cases, the pump may even fail to draw in water. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully carry out the pipe joint work to ensure the construction quality of the pipe connections.