ENGR2000 – FLUID MECHANICS

LABORATORY 2: APPLICATION REPORT

NAME: MOHAMED SHAHUL HAMEED

STUDENT ID: 21547708

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 08/05/2024

 THE SELECTION OF PIPES AND PUMPS AND HOW THEY ARE ARRANGED

Pipe systems for process pants such as refineries, require a highly complex task which is to carefully
consider several factors to make sure that the plant operates optimally, efficiently, performs well and is
safe. The key to a successful plant is the design process where designers select and arrange the pumps
and pipe lengths (AccessEngineeringLibrary, 2019). This is important as it is crucial in facilitating the
flow of fluids throughout the entire plant (Crane Engineering Blog, 2023). The report will discuss the
principles and considerations that is made by designers when choosing and arranging pumps and pipe
lengths in process plants.

The are many key factors that are taken into consideration when selecting pumps in process plants.
When considering the flow rate of the pipes, pumps are selected on the desired flow rates that is required
by the fluid that is being transported within the system. Designers must ensure that the pump that is
being used can deliver the required flow rates to meet the operational demands of the plant (Crane
Engineering Blog, 2023). The pumps within the system are selected based on their ability to provide
the needed pressure head to overcome friction losses and the elevation changes in the pipe system. The
fluid properties of the fluids being transported such as the viscosity of the fluid, temperature and
corrosiveness all influence the selection of the pump (Crane Engineering Blog, 2023). Some pumps are
specialised meaning they can handle fluids with specific characteristics safely and efficiently.
Considering the maintenance of the pump is also important, as designers need to select a pump that is
known to be reliable and easily accessible for maintenance which minimises the downtime so that the
operations of the plant are uninterrupted. Keeping in mind the energy consumption is also a very
significant operational cost, so designers aim to select the pumps that will have high energy efficiency
to help minimise the operational costs of the plant. It also helps to reduce the plants environmental
footprint. Decreasing the power required to overcome friction can be done by reducing the flow rate
(Q) and increasing the efficiency of the pump (𝜂) so that the plant uses less energy.

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 ⋅ 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

𝛥𝑃× 𝑄
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝜂

The arrangement of pumps in plant systems is accomplished by several design principles and
considerations. Designers integrate redundancy by installing multiple pumps that are parallel to each
other, this is to help improve the system’s reliability and minimise the risk of potential down times
(ScienceDirect "Piping Arrangement", 2018). It also ensures the system can continue operating even if
one of the pumps fails or requires maintenance. The placement of the pumps are cleverly located
throughout the systems to minimise pipe lengths and therefore reduce friction losses in pipes. The
friction factor is directly proportional to the pressure drop of the pipe. By increasing the velocity of the
fluid (V) which can be done by reducing the pipe diameter (𝐷), the friction factor will decrease.
Reducing the pipe length (𝑙) reduces the surface area of the pipe, decreases the flow distance and lowers
the pressure drops (∆𝑝) which results in reduced friction losses.

∆𝑝 2𝐷
𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = @ A B F
𝑙 𝑝 𝑋 𝑉!

Placing the pumps closer to the location they are being used also helps maintain the required flow rates
and pressure levels while minimising the energy consumption of the system (Piping Engineering, 2015).
Most process plants are divided into sections based on the type of processes and fluids being used
(ScienceDirect "Piping Arrangement", 2018). The pumps are arranged to work at specific sections
which allows for better regulation, monitoring, and maintenance of the system. The pumps are
incorporated into the plant's control system to allow remote monitoring, operation, and optimisation
(ScienceDirect "The Engineer's Guide to Plant Layout and Piping Design for the Oil and Gas
Industries", 2018). This integration is beneficial as it allows for real-time changes to the pump’s flow
rates and speed to adapt to changing process conditions and requirements.

In addition to pump selection and arrangement, designers must also consider the lengths of pipes used
in the process-plant system. The longer the pipe, the greater the friction losses and pressure drops in the
pipe. Designers must balance the need for longer pipe runs with the associated pressure losses to ensure
that the required flow rates and pressure levels are kept throughout the system (Piping Engineering,
2015). The plants may have space limitations which means designers need to find the maximum
allowable pipe lengths (ScienceDirect "The Engineer's Guide to Plant Layout and Piping Design for the
Oil and Gas Industries", 2018). Designers must optimise pipe layouts so that they can minimise the
overall footprint of the plant while still meeting operational requirements. The construction and material
of the pipes determine their maximum allowable lengths. Designers consider factors such as the
material’s strength, corrosion resistance, and thermal expansion properties when selecting pipe lengths
to ensure long-term reliability and safety of the systems (ScienceDirect "Piping Arrangement", 2018).
Process plants include dynamic environments that may undergo changes and expansions over time, this
requires designers to account for future expansion and modifications when selecting pipe lengths to
adapt to future changes in plant’s demands.

The selection and arrangement of pumps and pipe lengths in process-plant systems are important factors
of the design process as it affects the overall efficiency, performance and safety of the plant
(AccessEngineeringLibrary, 2019). Designers carefully consider factors such as flow rate requirements,
pressure head, fluid properties, reliability, energy efficiency, system redundancy, and space constraints,
designers can create robust and optimised pipe systems that meet the needs of the plant while ensuring
safe and efficient operation. The pipe length and arrangement of pipes are essential for the success of a
process-plant, ensuring the efficient transport of fluids and the smooth operation of several processes
within the plant.
 REFERNCES

AccessEngineeringLibrary. 2019. "Centrifugal Pump Piping Layout and Arrangement." Accessed

05/05/2024. https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9780071834087/toc-
chapter/chapter10/section/section43?implicit-login=true.

Blog.craneengineering.net. 2023. "6 Basic Rules of Centrifugal Pump Piping." Accessed 05/05/2024.
https://blog.craneengineering.net/6-basic-rules-of-centrifugal-pump-piping.

Piping-engineering.com. 2015. "Layout Arrangement for Centrifugal Pump Piping." Accessed

05/05/2024. http://www.piping-engineering.com/layout-arrangement-for-centrifugal-pump-
piping.html.

ScienceDirect. 2018 "Piping Arrangement." In Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing. Accessed

05/05/2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/piping-arrangement.

ScienceDirect. 2018. "The Engineer's Guide to Plant Layout and Piping Design for the Oil and Gas
Industries." Accessed 05/05/2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128146538/the-
engineers-guide-to-plant-layout-and-piping-design-for-the-oil-and-gas-industries.