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Centrifugal Pump - What Is The Purpose of Minimum Flow

The document discusses the purpose of minimum flow for centrifugal pumps. It explains that a minimum flow is necessary to prevent excessive wear and damage to pumps. There are two main types of minimum flow: 1) Minimum continuous stable flow (MCSF), which is the minimum flow needed to achieve satisfactory bearing and seal life. It is usually set as a percentage of the pump's best efficiency point flow. 2) Minimum continuous thermal flow (MCTF), which is based on preventing excessive temperature rises in the pumped fluid that could cause issues like vapor flashing. It is usually lower than MCSF. Setting the proper minimum flow depends on factors like pump size and operating conditions. Maintaining flow above the minimum is

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119 views

Centrifugal Pump - What Is The Purpose of Minimum Flow

The document discusses the purpose of minimum flow for centrifugal pumps. It explains that a minimum flow is necessary to prevent excessive wear and damage to pumps. There are two main types of minimum flow: 1) Minimum continuous stable flow (MCSF), which is the minimum flow needed to achieve satisfactory bearing and seal life. It is usually set as a percentage of the pump's best efficiency point flow. 2) Minimum continuous thermal flow (MCTF), which is based on preventing excessive temperature rises in the pumped fluid that could cause issues like vapor flashing. It is usually lower than MCSF. Setting the proper minimum flow depends on factors like pump size and operating conditions. Maintaining flow above the minimum is

Uploaded by

jesus_manrique2753
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Centrifugal pump: What is the Purpose of Minimum Flow

On LinkedIn, there was a recent post titled "What is the Purpose of Minimum Flow?" Many
questions were raised, and the post concluded with some lively debate. This question has
been very well answered in a paper titled "What is the Purpose of Minimum Flow?" courtesy
of Ravisankar K CCPSC CFSE.https://ekwestrel.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-minimum-flow/
The obvious first question is what causes a pressure drop in a centrifugal pump. If you look at
any centrifugal pump curve, you will notice that the head decreases as the flow rate increases.

The system curve describes the increase in head caused by increasing fluid flow through your
plant's pipework and other equipment. Two opposing observations can be seen in the image.
While the pressure or head decreases as the flow increases, the demand for head increases
along the x-axis.
The solution is straightforward. When the impeller transfers mechanical energy to the fluid,
the mechanical energy is transformed into velocity energy. This velocity energy is obtained at
the cost of a pressure drop. The offset of the impeller later converts the velocity into pressure
at the exit of the volute casing, as shown by the system curve. As a result, there will always be
some pressure drop in a centrifugal pump.
As a result, a centrifugal pump's declining pressure with flow is an inherent problem that
cannot be avoided.
The next question is where you draw the line to establish the 'Minimum' flow. Alternatively,
the least amount of pressure.
Where does one set the minimum flow rate point on a pump curve?
The goal of minimum flow is to prevent excessive wear and tear or damage to the pump. In
the real world of a process or utility plant, a pump can be operated at almost any condition
required by the situation. As a result, different pump minimum flows exist for various
purposes.

You may notice in the above image the first problem of the low flow begins on the far left of
the BEP. You will feel the temperature rise more if the specific heat of the fluid is low.
There are two concepts [1] MCSF and [2] MCTF
MCSF
MCSF is “Minimum Continuous Stable Flow”. It is the flow below which the pump should not
be operated continuously. You may notice the location of MCSF on the above pump curve.
The usual purpose of MCSF is to achieve satisfactory bearing and seal life; however, MCSF may
be based on other considerations. Any of the following factors may be considered in
establishing the MCSF: manufacturer’s experience, rule of thumb, calculated onset of suction
recirculation or discharge recirculation, radial thrust, temperature rise, cavitation erosion
intensity, maximum permissible pressure rise (for system purposes), maximum permissible
power rise (high specific speed and axial flow pumps). You may notice in the above image the
onset of various issues as you go left on the left of the pump curve. On certain high energy
pumps the minimum flow is governed by cavitation erosion damage. Minimum continuous
flow for 40,000-hour impeller erosion life is where the system NPSH Available curve intersects
the pump’s NPSH Required curve, at lower-than-BEP flow.
MCTF
MCTF is MCTF “Minimum Continuous Thermal Flow”. It is specified based on permissible liquid
temperature rise. It is usually, but not necessarily, lower than MCSF. While a pump thermal
minimum flow is not always specified, the end user can readily calculate its value based on
input mechanical power heating up the liquid. The limiting temperature rise is based on a safe
margin to prevent flashing of the pumped liquid to vapor, potentially causing pump seizure.

Thermal minimum flow is not normally a concern at pump start-up as long as the closed
discharge valve is set to begin opening right away. If the margin of system NPSHA above
pump NPSHR is minimal, then the temperature rise conditions at pump start-up should be
checked carefully.

Where is the concern?


Both yes and no
No, it is not a concern for all situations. Therefore, you do not see a suction – delivery
circulation line in every centrifugal pump.

There is enough allowance given to you to operate a pump safely in a range that can be from
roughly 10% to 80% of Best Efficiency Point flow depending on pump size and type, operating
speed, impeller suction geometry, liquid density, and other factors. A size 2” (50mm)
discharge single-stage process pump may have an MCSF as low as 10% of BEP flow. MCSF is
often in the range of 30% to 60% of BEP flow for process pumps with discharge sizes 3” (75
mm) and larger.
Minimum flow is a concern for high energy pumps when the flow is intermittent
Intermittent minimum flow, when specified, is usually given as a percentage of MCSF. On
some applications the governing value may be based on temperature rise. On large high
energy pumps the value of intermittent minimum flow could be, for example, “70% of MCSF
and not to exceed 100 hours per year.”
Credit: EKWESTREL ENGINEERING LLC

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