PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS – 06-3

NPSHa and shut-off pressure estimation

• Hydrotreatment product stripper.
• Starting information:
✓ PFD
✓ Additional data
• Task:
For the bottom and the reflux pump, estimate:
✓ NPSHa
✓ Shut-off pressure
• For the reflux pump, estimate which is the controlling circuit
assuming, firstly, that the pressure loss due to the control valve
should be around 20% of the dynamic pressure loss.
• It is recommended to draw a simplified diagram of each circuit.
1 Grado en Ingeniería Química – 4º Curso – Ingeniería Mecánica 2023 – 2024
 NPSHA & SHUT-OFF PRESSURE ESTIMATION
PFD YYY Operating temperature (ºC) PC
Air condenser
65
Trim condenser
45
H2 rich gas
XX.X Operating pressure (barg)
170
TC
Cooling
200 water
FC FC
30
13.0 LC 12.0 Reflux drum
Cold feed

300 LC

FC
35

Hot feed Stripper

FC
275 5.0
Sour water
FC
18.0
Superheated LC
MP steam 13.5 Reflux pump
FC
15.0
200 20.0 Wild
Saturated MP 285
naphtha
steam

Bottom pump
MP steam generator

125 25.0
Boiler feed 130 17.6
water Process
225
stream X
160 5.0
Saturated LP 155 16.6
Process
steam
stream X

LP steam generator
FC
185 170 65 15.0
Hydrotreated
125 25.0 product
Boiler feed Heat Exchanger Air-cooler
water

2 Grado en Ingeniería Química – 4º Curso – Ingeniería Mecánica 2023 – 2024

 NPSHA & SHUT-OFF PRESSURE ESTIMATION
Additional data
Parameter Bottom pump Reflux pump
Fluid conditions
Density (kg/m3) 700 625
Elevations (m)
Suction vessel 10.5 4.5
Suction vessel HLL 5.0 2.0
Reflux return nozzle - 30.0
Pumps centerline 1.0 1.0
Battery limit 1.5 1.5
Design pressure (barg)
Stripper 14.3 -
Reflux drum - 15.0
Overfilling
considered

4 Grado en Ingeniería Química – 4º Curso – Ingeniería Mecánica 2023 – 2024

 NPSHA & SHUT-OFF PRESSURE ESTIMATION
Additional data
Pump arrangement: as usual
Pressure losses: Pressure losses (bar) Bottom pump Reflux pump
Suction line 0.5 0.05
On-off valve 0.005 0.005
Block valve 0.005 0.005
Strainer 0.02 0.02
Reducer 0.005 0.005
Check valve 0.1 0.1
Discharge line (to BL) 2.0 2.0
Discharge line (to stripper) - 1.0
Flowmeter (orifice) 0.2 0.2
Control valve (to BL) 1.25 ?
Control valve (to stripper) - ?
Heat exchanger (each) 1.0 -

5 Grado en Ingeniería Química – 4º Curso – Ingeniería Mecánica 2023 – 2024