Pumps and Process Piping

Learn the background and information necessary to efficiently move fluids through industrial processes. Receive an in-depth review of industrial fluid movers, including pumps, process piping, piping codes, Materials of Construction, control valves, seals and gaskets.

The course will focus on:

• How to determine which pump to use for a given application,
• How to operate, select, and size pumps
• The components of a process piping system
• Methods to size a pump based on the components of a complete system
• Operating changes that will significantly affect performance
• How to maintain safe operation
• Ways to reduce operating and energy costs
• Methods to troubleshoot your pumps and process piping systems
• Calculate NPSH

Plant, process, design, and maintenance engineers, scientists, and plant personnel who are responsible for the design, sizing, operation, selection, maintenance or specification of pumps and process piping systems in chemical, petrochemical, biochemical, specialty chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural applications.

Special note: Please bring a calculator for the problem-solving sessions.

Basics of Fluid Flow 

• Basic properties
  • pressure
  • density 
  • viscosity 
• Reynolds number 
• Pressure drop in liquid systems 
• Pressure drop in gaseous systems 
• Pressure drop through nozzles and orifices 
• Choked flow 
• Ideal Gas Law 
• Non-ideal gases 

Class Exercise 

Piping Basics 

• Piping components, schedules, and categories per code 
• Pipe sizing 
• Pressure and temperature limitations 
• B31.3 considerations 
• Materials of construction 

Valves 

• Ball valves 
• Plug valves 
• Globe valves 
• Metering valves 
• Gate valves 
• Butterfly valves 
• Diaphragm valves 
• Pinch valves 
• Backflow prevention valves
  • check valves 
• Advantages and disadvantages 

Control Valves 

• Sizing for liquid flow 
• Sizing for gas flow 
• Tuning constants 

Class Exercise 

Pump Selection and Installation 

• Pump characteristics
  • capacity 
  • head 
  • efficiency  
• Pump power 
• Pumps classifications
  • operation 
  • purpose 

Types of Pumps 

• Centrifugal pumps 
• Positive displacement pumps 
• Metering pumps 
• Gear pumps 
• Flexible impeller pumps 
• Sliding vane pumps 
• Turbine pumps 
• Progressive cavity pumps 
• Screw pumps 
• NPSH 
• Pump laws 
• Motor sizing 
• Pump selection criteria 
• Advantages and disadvantages 
• Installation tips 
• Rules of thumb 

Seals and Gaskets 

• Packing 
• Single mechanical seals 
• Double mechanical seals 
• Sealless 
• Guidelines for proper seal selection 
• Materials of construction 
• Installation tips 

Systems Design 

• How to design a piping system step-by-step 
• Safety considerations 

Class Exercise 

Summary 

"Rich is a very entertaining and knowledgeable instructor. He brought a 'real-world' perspective to the course."

"The problems worked in class provided an excellent review of the material."

"A well-designed course–started with theory and moved into reality and equipment."

"An excellent review of concepts not covered since college." 

Richard Palluzi

Richard P. Palluzi, PE, CSP, of Richard P. Palluzi LLC is a consultant to the pilot plant and laboratory research community on safety, design, and research project management. He retired as a Distinguished Engineering Associate after almost 40 years at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, where he was involved in the design, construction, and support of pilot plants and laboratories for ExxonMobil’s research site in Clinton, New Jersey, as well as affiliates worldwide. Rich is the author of two books, and numerous articles and presentations as well as a past chair of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Pilot Plant Committee, ExxonMobil’s Pilot Plant and Laboratory Safety Standards Committee, and ExxonMobil’s Safe Operations Team for their Clinton facility. Rich is on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA-45 Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals and NFPA-55 Industrial and Medical Gasses committees. He has BE and ME degrees in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. 

Elaine Andrysick

Elaine M. Andrysick, joined Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a continuing engineering education specialist in 1988.  She is responsible for the development and delivery of high-value continuing engineering education short courses for practicing professionals in the areas of chemical and process engineering and laser material processing.  Also, she manages the University’s Laser Welding Certificate program.