Posted: January 16th, 2024

Best Practices for Pumping System Design on Commercial Vessels

Best Practices for Pumping System Design on Commercial Vessels

Pumping systems are essential for the operation of commercial vessels, such as cargo ships, cruise liners, fishing boats, and naval vessels. They provide various functions, such as cooling, heating, ventilation, ballasting, firefighting, fuel transfer, and water supply. However, designing an efficient and reliable pumping system is not a trivial task. It requires careful consideration of the vessel’s requirements, the pump characteristics, the piping layout, the control system, and the maintenance plan. In this article, we will discuss some of the best practices for pumping system design on commercial vessels, based on the latest research and industry standards.

Pump Selection

The first step in designing a pumping system is to select the appropriate pump type and size for the intended application. There are many types of pumps available, such as centrifugal, positive displacement, jet, and submersible pumps. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the fluid properties, flow rate, pressure head, suction conditions, and installation space. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the performance curves and specifications of different pump models and compare them with the system requirements.

Some of the factors that affect pump selection are:

– Fluid viscosity: The viscosity of the fluid affects the friction losses and the pump efficiency. High-viscosity fluids require more power to pump and may cause cavitation or damage to the pump components. Therefore, positive displacement pumps are usually preferred for high-viscosity fluids, such as oils and lubricants.
– Fluid density: The density of the fluid affects the weight and inertia of the fluid column in the piping system. High-density fluids require more power to pump and may cause excessive pressure fluctuations or water hammer. Therefore, centrifugal pumps are usually preferred for high-density fluids, such as seawater and brine.
– Fluid temperature: The temperature of the fluid affects the thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid and the piping materials. High-temperature fluids may cause overheating or corrosion of the pump components. Therefore, special materials and cooling systems may be required for high-temperature fluids, such as steam and hot water.
– Fluid corrosiveness: The corrosiveness of the fluid affects the chemical compatibility and durability of the pump materials. Corrosive fluids may cause pitting or erosion of the pump components. Therefore, corrosion-resistant materials and coatings may be required for corrosive fluids, such as acids and alkalis.
– Fluid abrasiveness: The abrasiveness of the fluid affects the wear and tear of the pump components. Abrasive fluids may cause abrasion or erosion of the pump components. Therefore, wear-resistant materials and coatings may be required for abrasive fluids, such as sand and slurry.
– Fluid volatility: The volatility of the fluid affects the vapor pressure and boiling point of the fluid. Volatile fluids may cause vaporization or cavitation of the fluid in the pump inlet or outlet. Therefore, adequate suction head and pressure relief valves may be required for volatile fluids, such as gasoline and ammonia.

Piping Layout

The second step in designing a pumping system is to design the piping layout that connects the pump with the source and destination of the fluid. The piping layout affects the flow resistance, pressure losses, flow distribution, noise level, vibration level, and reliability of the pumping system. Therefore, it is important to optimize the piping layout to minimize these adverse effects.

Some of the factors that affect piping layout are:

– Pipe diameter: The pipe diameter affects the flow velocity and friction losses in the piping system. Larger pipe diameters reduce friction losses but increase installation costs and space requirements. Smaller pipe diameters increase friction losses but reduce installation costs and space requirements. Therefore,

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