Pumping a Water-Oil Mixture using Progressive Cavity Pumps

Pumping a Water- Oil Mixture with progressive cavity pumps

For a production facility of a petrol and gas company in Saudi Arabia three vertical submerged centrifugal pumps  were foreseen, running on a water & oil mixture. Every operational submersible pump hangs in a 6m high storage tank.  Every operational submersible pump hangs in a 6m high storage tank. At present two centrifugal pumps are being used within the system and one pump has been used as a stand by pump.
These submersible centrifugal pumps have been newly designed and needed to be tested and witnessed; certified and documented, specifically for the oil & gas industry.

Pumping benzene and water; technical conditions

The process pumps must handle a watery benzene – water mixture with 1500 mg/l particles, containing maximum 5000 ppm (parts per million) benzene. The necessary flow varies between 15 & 60 m3/h at a maximum pressure of 4,7 bar. The temperature of the fluid is normal (5 – 30°C), peaking at a maximum of 85°C. The process pumps are working in an ATEX environment.

Pumping benzene & water; fluid-dependent conditions

The structure of the benzene – water mixture would be damaged by high speed and high shear using submergible centrifugal pumps. Also the wear and tear of the centrifugal pumps would be unacceptable; the oil in the water would emulsify, which is not applicable. Because of the special watery benzene mixture low shear pumps are needed; the speed must be far less than 1750 rpm.
All with one goal: To transport the watery benzene mixture without changing the structure of the mixture. If possible the damage should be kept to the absolute minimum. These conditions are an excellent job for a progressing cavity pump. A Verderpro® progressing cavity pump!

Using progressing cavity pumps in ATEX environment

To prevent the water-oil mixture from emulsifying and keep the NPSH as low as possible a submerged pump is absolutely necessary. The input depth is 5,6m, hanging in a 6m storage tank. For this specific oil application three progressing cavity submerged pumps  were selected. The material chosen is stainless steel 316 TI with Viton elastomers. Total length of every progressing cavity pump is approx. 8m. To run the submerged progressing cavity pump on the extreme conditions in temperature, the pump stator of the Verderpro pump has the equal wall design.

These material choice allows the progressing cavity pump to handle the full range of 5 till 85°C, only with one standard rotor. The progressing cavity pumps Verderpro  has a SEW geared motor (25 kW, nominal speed 126 rpm, 60Hz). The speed regulation is controlled by a frequency inverter (8-65 Hz) placed in a separately delivered control box. The shaft seal of the progressing cavity pump is built together with a seal flush plan 53A, including thermo-siphon, valves, gauges and custom made instrumentation for leak free operation.

Technical data Verderpro

If you would like to know more about pumping water-oil mixture with a Verderpro pump please mail us or fill out the contact form.

This application is offered to you by Geert Wigchering, Technical Engineer of Van Wijk & Boerma Pompen.

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