Friday, September 9, 2016

Twin Screw Pumps As One Of The Types Of Multiphase Pumping Technologies

By Laura Smith


One of the technologies now that is used for transporting fluids like gases, liquids, and slurries are pumps. This is composed of three major groups which are the gravity, direct lift, displacement pumps. A positive displacement helps in transporting fluid through trapping a certain quantity of fluid and then displacing it to the exit or the discharge pipe.

Gravity pumps are also called as hydraulic rams. These are used by taking water from the underground to higher areas in lower elevations. Multiphase pumping technologies have types and features which includes helicoaxial, twin screw pumps, progressive cavity, electric submersible, and buffer tanks. The advantages of multiphase production are simpler and smaller installation, lesser equipment cost, and increase in production rates.

Helicoaxial is also referred to as centrifugal. This will work by converting the rotational kinetic energy into a hydrodynamic energy to transfer fluids. The electric motor releases a rotational energy, and the fluid that enters will be accelerated outwards by the impeller which is located near the rotating axis.

A twin screw is consists of two intermeshing screws that force the movement of fluid that is being pumped. This is often used in pumping conditions that contain a high gas volume or fluctuating inlet conditions. To seal the two shafts, it needs four mechanical seals.

A progressive cavity is one kind of positive displacement. The progress of small, discrete cavity, and fixed shape sequence is being used while turning the rotor. This can act also as motor or mud motor if the fluid is pumped in the interior. An application to this is doing a well drilling.

Electric submersibles contain hermetically sealed motor that is close coupled to its pump. The assembly is being submerged to the fluid which is being pumped. The advantage of this is the prevention of cavities, that is a problem in the difference of the fluid surface and of the pump. Submersibles pump liquids towards the surface. Jets pulls liquids out from the surface, so it can be concluded that submersibles are more efficient compared to jets.

Buffer tanks Cobourg ON usually are placed upstream in the suction nozzle of pump in case slug flows will happen. This will help break the liquid slug energy, smoothen fluctuations of flows coming, and acts as a sand trap. Usually, pumps are rated by flow rate, horsepower, inlet pressure in the head, and outlet suction in the head. The head is being simplified as the amount of feet and meters that the pump will raise and lower the column of the water within atmospheric pressure.

Materials that can be used in a pump includes stainless steel, cast iron, and some more. The material will depend on the application of the pump. For pharma application in water industries, stainless steel is commonly used because high temperature of stainless steel can give better result.

By the name multiphase, variations of this when it comes to conditions and services are being applied. These conditions include process changing of liquid composition, temperature variations, low and high pressure operations, and erosive or abrasive media exposure. So the challenge is to select appropriate support system and mechanical seal arrangement to know how effective it is.




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