Uneven flow distribution in a

double suction pump

Paulo Edson Ballejos - PETROBRAS

Refinaria Landulpho Alves

PETROBRAS - REFINERIES
Refinery Capacity Troughput Utilização
Mbpd Mbpd %
• Paulínia - Replan (SP) 365 348 95%
• Landulpho Alves - Rlam (BA) 323 261 81%
• Duque de Caxias -Reduc (RJ) 242 243 100%
• Henrique Lage - Revap (SP) 251 236 94%
• Alberto Pasqualini - Refap (RS) 189 148 78%
• Pres. Getúlio Vargas - Repar (PR) 189 169 89%
• Pres. Bernardes - RPBC (SP) 170 153 90%
• Gabriel Passos - Regap (MG) 151 132 87%
• Manaus - Reman (AM) 46 41 89%
• Capuava - Recap (SP) 53 42 79%
• Fortaleza - Lubnor (CE) 7 6 86%
• Pasadena - Estados Unidos 100 91 91%
• Ricardo Eliçabe - Argentina 31 29 95%
• San Lorenzo - Argentina 50 47 95%
• Total 2.167 1.946 90%
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

PETROBRAS - RLAM
• RLAM Landulpho Alves Refinery
• Location: São Francisco do Conde at 60
km from Salvador
• Installed capacity: 323.000 barrels/day
• Main products: propane, propene,
isobutane, domestic gas,gasoline, naphtha
petrochemical, kerosene, jet fuel, paraffin,
fuel oils e asphalt
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

RLAM - UNITS

• Distillations Units
• FCC
• RFCC
• n-parafins
• Lufrificants
• Parafins
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

U-32 Distillation Unit

• Atmospheric and Vacuum Distillation
• Capacity: 30.000 m3/day
• E-3205: Vacuum Tower
• J-3214 A/B/C: Gas Oil pump
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

J-3214 A/B/C

• Vibration
• Cavitation
 Pump Data Sheet – NPSH a
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

NPSH r
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

J-3214 Double suction pump

SHAFT
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller eye - side 1
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller eye – side 1
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller eye – side 2
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller eye – side 2
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller eye – side 2
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller eye – side 2
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Impeller
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

Asymetric flow to double entry

impeller (2)

• It is a bad practice to lead the suction pipe parallel to the

shaft and then turn into the pump
• Uneven flow
• One impeller eye can receive more flow than the other
• Cavitation in marginal situations
• Vibration level
• Good practice dictates that the suction pipe approaches
the machine at right angle to the shaft
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
J-3214 C
Suction line
at 45°
 Actual Suction Line at 45°
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
 Actual Suction Line at 45°
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

Flow = 57%

Flow = 43%
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
The worst line

Flow = 42% Flow = 58%

Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Proposed Suction Line at 90°
 Proposed Suction Line at 90°
Refinaria Landulpho Alves

Flow = 50% Flow = 50%

Refinaria Landulpho Alves Conclusion

• There is cavitation in side 1 and side 2 of

impeller. The study continues (cracking,
vortex, gases, level control)
• The new pipe has symmetry, equilibrates
the flow and has a even distribution
• The CFD analysises shows the problem
to the designers and prevents to another
mistakes.
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Next studies of symmetries

•Towers Reflux Pipes

•Reflux Distributers
•Feed of Coolers Towers
•Parallel flows
•Water coolers pipes
•Waste deposition
Refinaria Landulpho Alves
Bibliography

• (1) Karassik, I.J.,W.C.Krutzsch, W.H.

Fraser, and J.P.Messina, Pump
Handbook, Second Edition, 1985,
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York

• (2) Ron Palgrave, Troubleshooting

Centrifugal Pumps and their systems, p.40
Elsevier Advanced Technology.