International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

ISSN (Online): 2319-7064

Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438

Optimization of Base Frame of Multistage

Centrifugal Pump maintaining the Shaft Deflection
as per API Standards
Mayuri M. Choundikar1, V. J. Khot2
1
Shivaji University, J.J.Magdum College of Engineering, Jaysingpur, Kolhapur, India

Abstract: Base Frame are the traditional and most common means for reducing weight of pump. The factor of safety of existing base
frame is more than the required. In this project work, after optimizing weight of base frame of multistage centrifugal pump the factor
of safety reduces and it becomes as per required. For weight reduction we considered the forces and moments acting on the suction and
discharge nozzle of the pump. Shaft deflection analysis is carried out by using ANSYS software. Also the shaft deflection of pump is
checked after optimization which is within API 610 standard.

Keywords: Multistage Centrifugal Pump, Base Frame, Motor, Shaft Deflection, API Standards

1. Introduction Generally, the piping systems carrying gases, liquids etc. is

subjected to excessive piping reactions in pumps, thus
Pumps are widely used in various industries like causing higher vibrations, coupling failures, and pump shaft
petrochemical, textile, natural gas, chemical based on misalignments. In severe cases there are flanged joint leaks
application. So, it is very much essential for the and the occasional occurrence of impeller rub or casing
manufacturers to produce parts of pump assembly having distortion. Excessive shaft misalignment in turn leads to
highest possible reliability. Over past many years, changes premature seal and bearing failures. These difficulties are a
had to be made to pumps and pump assembly to improve costly maintenance item that can also result in plant
performance. In these industries, base Frame are the shutdowns, and in severe cases, fires and extensive damage.
traditional and most common means for reducing weight of Recognizing the critical importance of managing piping
pump assembly. Hence, optimization of base frame of pump loads on rotating equipment, engineers have established
has become the area of interest. However, for petrochemical standards for allowable forces and moments for rotating
industry compliance of API 610 standard is mandatory. machinery. These standards become design criteria for the
equipment manufacturer and establish allowable limits for
In this work, optimization of base frame of multistage pump the piping system designer. The American Petroleum
can be done maintaining the shaft defection as per API Institute standard for centrifugal pumps provides a table for
standard. The standard stipulates that pressure casings are to the maximum allowable forces and moments for various
be designed to twice the maximum allowable values, and flange sizes.
limits the allowable coupling end shaft displacement under
specified test conditions as per API 610 standard (Table 13).

Table1: Stiffness Test Acceptance Criteria For Pump

Base plate not intended for grouting
Loading condition Pump shaft displacement (μ) Direction
Myc 125 (0.005) +Z
Mzc 50 (0.002) -Y
Myc and Mzc equal the sum of the allowable suction and discharge Nozzle moments from table 1.
Myc= (My)suction +(My)discharge; Mzc= (Mz)suction + (Mz)discharge

2. Objective of Work have been analyzed for the stresses coming on the
components of base frame, shaft etc. of pump by using
To optimize base frame of multistage centrifugal pump and design formulae / data book and CAD /CAE software’s like
check the shaft deflection as per API std. HYPERWORKS /ANSYS .The vibrations can be controlled
and also life of pump can be increased by base frame
3. Relevance optimization and shaft deflection analysis.

Base Frame, Shaft, bearing are the key components of any 4. Experimental Set-up
single stage or multistage pump. Therefore to obtain better
performance of multistage pump, different theoretical cases Fig. shows the block diagram of centrifugal pump assembly.
have been studied by changing length of I-section, by
changing size of supporting channel etc. Then these cases

Volume 4 Issue 9, September 2015

www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SUB158120 1348
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438

Figure 1: Assembly of Multistage Centrifugal Pump

It consists of Multistage Centrifugal Pump, Base Frame, Figure 3: Static forces due to self-weight of frame, motor
Electric Motor, Shaft, motor mounting and pump mounting and pump
on the base frame.

Multistage centrifugal pump having 16 stages. It consists of

discharge casing, stage casing and suction casing. The
weight of pump is 1300 kg. Squirrel cage motors are
generally used to drive multistage pumps. Motor having
capacity 650 KW and running at speed 2986 rpm. Running
torque is 2079 Nm. Torque is transferred to pump by means
of rotating shaft. Base frames are used to mount pump &
motor specially designed and engineered to support
mechanical equipment requiring a supplemental mounting
base frame. The Extra supports are provided for mounting
the pump & motor. The weight of base frame is 1381 kg. Figure 4: Resultant Moments & Forces from Motor and
pump
5. Finite Element Analysis of Old Base Frame
The solid model of base frame was imported into ANSYS
14 for meshing and analysis. The complete assembly
consists of shell elements, solid elements, beam elements,
rigid elements. Geometry is meshed by keeping relevance
center as medium. Element size has been set to 6. Total
element and node count for old base frame
Node population count = 8, 21,434.
Element population count = 4,54,685.

Figure 5: Total Deformation plot of Old Base Frame

Table 3: Forces and Boundary Conditions For Shaft

Deflection Analysis
Forces Suction nozzle Discharge nozzle
My 930 470
Mz 1380 720

Figure 2: Isometric mesh assembly of old base frame Moment due to rotation of motor shaft
Torque (T) = (Power (p)*60)/(2*3.14* N(rpm))
Table 2: Material Properties of Base Frame T = 2078.61 Nm
Density of material 7850 kg/mm3
Young’s modulus 21000 kg/mm3
Poisons ratio 0.3
Ultimate tensile strength 410 MPa
Yield strength 250MPa

The bottom plate of frame surfaces provided the fixed

support, the moment & forces considered from API
standard. Figure 3 and Figure 4 shows forces and moments
acting on old base frame respectively.

Figure 6: Deflection at shaft end due to MZ

Volume 4 Issue 9, September 2015
www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SUB158120 1349
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438
6. Modification in Old Base Frame of Pump
The Base frame modified as shown in fig.7 and 8.
1) Rectangular pocket added in pump base mounting of 215
* 1140 mm
2) I channel section replaced by c channel section
3) All four sides of two rectangular pockets (215 * 1140
mm) are covered by 2mm thick plate.
4) Rectangular 4 holes of 50 * 50 mm on the opposite inner
sides of both pockets (215 * 1140 mm)

Figure 10: Total deformation of modified base frame

Figure 7: Modified Solid Model of Base Frame using

CATIA V5

Figure 11: Frictionless support applied to modified base

frame and pump assembly

Following figure 12 & 13 shows shaft deflection after

modifying the base frame of centrifugal frame at suction and
discharge nozzle due to moment acting My and Mz.

Figure 8: Modified Solid Model of Base Frame using

CATIA V5

7. Finite Element Analysis of Modified Base

Frame

Figure 12: Deflection at shaft end due to My

Figure 9: Resultant Moments & Forces from Motor and

pump acting on modified base frame

Figure 13: Deflection at shaft end due to Mz

Volume 4 Issue 9, September 2015

www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SUB158120 1350
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438
8. Results and Discussion
Table 4: Shaft Deflection Due to the Suction and Discharge
Nozzle
Deformation of Shaft deflection Deformation of Shaft
old base frame at old base frame modified base deflection at
(mm) (μ) frame (mm) modified base
frame (μ)
0.11845 9 0.19972 11

9. Conclusion
From above discussion it is seen that the shaft deflection of
old base frame is 9 micron and after modifying the base
frame of pump, the maximum deflection is 11 micron which
is within API standard.

Also, the weight of base frame reduced from 1331 to 958

kg. Modified base frame has 373 kg less mass as compared
to old base frame. It states new base frame is cost effective
than old base frame.

10. Acknowledgment
The authors like to express their thanks to the department of
Mechanical Engineering of JJMCOE Jaysingpur,
Maharashtra, India for their encouragement and support
during this work.

References
[1] Naveena M and Dr. Suresh P, “Lateral critical speed
analysis of multistage centrifugal pump rotor using
FEA,” International journal Of Innovative research in
Science, Engineering and Technology (ISO 3297: 2007
Certified Organization) Vol. 2, Issue 8, August 2013.
[2] Amit V. Chavan and S.S. Gawade, “Experimental and
finite element analysis of base frame for rigidity,”
International Journal of Engineering Science and
Technology (IJEST) ISSN : 0975-5462, Vol. 3 No. 10
October 2011.
[3] Kishor D. Jadhav and Maneet.R.Dhanvijay “Design and
standardisation of base frame & ant vibration mounts
for balanced opposed piston air compressor,”
International Journal of Applied Research in
Mechanical Engineering (IJARME) ISSN: 2231 –5950,
Vol-2, Iss-2, 2012.
[4] Joshi A. M. and Jadhav T. A. “Analysis and testing of
skid of frame of compressor”, International Journal of
Applied Research and Studies (iJARS) ISSN: 2278-
9480 Volume 2, Issue 9 (Sep - 2013).
[5] James E Staiger ―Lead design engineer API 610 Base
plate and Nozzle loading criteria‖ Design engineer,
united centrifugal pumps, San Jose, California.
[6] API STANDARD 610 ELEVENTH EDITION,
Centrifugal pumps for petroleum, petrochemical and
Natural gas industries.

Volume 4 Issue 9, September 2015

www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SUB158120 1351
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY