How to select an API 610 pump for refinery conditions? Selection Guide for Key Equipment in Refinery Units

Why do refineries prioritize API 610 pumps?

Media in oil refining units usually have the following characteristics:

• High temperature oil (above 300℃ or even higher);

• flammable and explosive media;

• high pressure transportation environment;

• containing corrosive components;

• long-term continuous operation requirements.

Ordinary ANSI centrifugal pumps may not be able to meet these harsh conditions, but API 610 pumps improve the long-term operational reliability of the equipment by strengthening the shaft system design, improving vibration control capabilities, optimizing the bearing structure, and stringent testing requirements. API 610 pumps are mainly divided into three categories: cantilever type (OH), support type (BB) and vertical suspension type (VS).

The core of refinery pump selection is not to simply select "high-power equipment", but to match the pump structure according to specific working conditions.

What technical parameters need to be confirmed when selecting API 610 pumps for oil refineries?

1. Flow & Head (Flow & Head)

Flow and head are the basic parameters for pump selection.

The purchaser needs to provide:

API 610 pumps usually need to select the operating point based on the pump performance curve to make the equipment as close as possible to the best efficiency point (BEP) to avoid long-term deviation from the design area, resulting in vibration, efficiency decline and component wear.

2. Fluid Properties

The media of different units in the refinery are obviously different, and materials and structures must be selected according to the media.

Main confirmation:

• Medium name;

• Density;

• Viscosity;

• Vapor pressure;

• Corrosivity;

• Solid particle content;

• Temperature range.

For example:

Crude oil transportation:

Focus on viscosity changes and low temperature start-up performance.

Hot Oil Circulation:

Focus on thermal expansion, bearing stability and seal reliability.

Hydrogenation device:

The effects of high pressure, high temperature and hydrogen corrosion need to be considered.

How to choose API 610 pump type for different refining conditions?

OH2 single-stage cantilever centrifugal pump

OH2 is a type of API 610 pump widely used in refineries.

Main features:

• Single-stage structure;

• Centerline installation;

• The bearing box is independently supported;

• Easy to maintain;

• Suitable for general process transportation.

Typical applications:

• Crude oil pump;

• Return pump;

• Cooling oil pump;

• Process circulation pump.

Suitable for:

• Medium and low flow rates;

• Medium pressure;

• Conventional refining processes with a wide temperature range.

BB2 radially split double-support pump

BB2 pump adopts bearing support structure at both ends, which has better rotor stability.

Applicable to:

• High temperature working conditions;

• High pressure conveying;

• Long-term continuous operation.

Typical applications:

• Heating furnace feed pump;

• High-pressure circulation pump;

• Refining main process pump.

Compared with OH2, BB2 has advantages in shaft stiffness, vibration control and high-speed operation, making it more suitable for large-scale oil refining units.

BB3 multi-stage axially split pump

BB3 is mainly used in high-lift, multi-stage conveying scenarios.

Typical applications:

• Boiler feed water pump;

• High-pressure feed pump;

• Hydrogenation unit circulation pump.

Main features:

• Multi-stage impeller structure;

• High pressure output;

• High rotor stability.

For refinery high-pressure systems, it is necessary to focus on axial force balance, impeller interstage sealing and rotor dynamics design.

VS6 vertical barrel pump

VS6 is suitable for scenarios with complex suction conditions or deep well installation.

Typical applications:

• Tower bottom pump;

• Underground storage tank pump;

• Condensate transfer pump.

Advantages:

• Saving space;

• Good suction performance;

• Suitable for low liquid level conditions.

Key factors in selecting API 610 pumps for refineries

How to choose high temperature working conditions?

When the medium temperature is high, important considerations need to be made:

• Centerline installation structure;

• Thermal expansion compensation capability;

• Pump body material;

• Seal cooling scheme;

• Bearing temperature rise.

If:

• High temperature;

• High pressure;

• Long cycle continuous operation;

BB2 is usually more suitable.

Feiyue Pump Industry API 610 Pump Solution

For continuous operation industries such as oil refining, petrochemicals, chemicals, etc., Jiangsu Feiyue Pump Industry provides industrial centrifugal pump solutions that meet the requirements of API 610 standards.

Product coverage:

• API 610 OH2 single-stage cantilever pump;

• BB2 two-end support process pump;

• BB3 multi-stage high-pressure pump;

• VS Series vertical pumps;

• High temperature and high pressure special working condition pumps.

Through reasonable pump type selection, material configuration, mechanical seal design and performance testing, we can provide stable, efficient and long-term operation of transportation equipment for refineries.