Pipeline Pumps (Liquid)

Introduction

The Pipeline Toolbox is home to many tools and calculators. The PLTB User’s Guide presents information, guidelines, and procedures for use during design, and operations tasks for field or office applications.

Liquid pipelines are used to transport liquids, such as crude and refined oil, from the source of supply, such as a production area to the market/demand locations, an export-loading terminal, or to a processing unit (a refinery). Booster stations are installed along the transmission pipelines at variable distances to compensate for the pipeline pressure losses and elevation changes and to ensure a constant flow of liquid.

Pipeline pumps are used for boosting pressures and for transferring product in both gathering and mainline transmission systems. Centrifugal, reciprocating, and rotary positive displacement pumps are generally used for such pipeline application. In a booster station located on larger transmission lines, usually one or more high capacity, single, or multi-stage centrifugal pumps are installed. They can be driven by a gas turbine, diesel engine, or an electric motor up to a unit power range of about 30 MW.
Of importance are the fluid characteristics when selecting a pump. The type of fluid to be transported affects pipeline design and facility requirements and configuration, including pumping systems. The properties of fluid to be transported have significant impact on pipeline system design. For liquid lines, the liquid properties which affect pipeline design are:

• Viscosity
• Density
• Specific Heat

These properties are influenced by pressure and temperature. Temperature considerably affects the above properties in liquid pipelines and, specifically, crude oil or heavy crude oil pipelines. Viscosity is also affected by the liquids’ shear rate.

Module/Application

• Required Pump Horsepower
• Centrifugal Pump – Affinity Laws
• Pump Specific Speed
• Suction Specific Speed
• Temperature Rise Due To Pumping
• Reciprocating Pump – Displacement and Actual Capacity
• Reciprocating Pump – Piston Rod Load
• Reciprocating Pump – Acceleration Head
• Pump Station Piping – Pipe Diameter and Average Flow Velocity
• Pump Station Piping – Pipe Wall Thickness

References

• ASME B31.4 – 1998 Edition “Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and other Liquids”, Art. 404.1

• API 1117 – Movement of In-Service Pipelines

• API 5L, API 5LS and API 5LX – Specification of Pipe Grade

• ASTM – Various – Weld Joint Factor

• CFR Code Part 192

• MMS Regulations

• USDA-SCS Modified (Permissible Velocity of Water and Soil Erodibility)

• Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

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