Hydrocarbon Processing - December 2022 - 66

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery
a permissive to start function,
which provides a safeguard
from starting the pump without
proper warm-up conditions.
* Infrared thermography can also be
utilized to provide a clear indication
of the heat distribution across the
entire pump casing. This technique
will avoid issues, such as thermal
stratification, that installed casing
thermocouples may not indicate.
* Specific or customized warm-up
procedures should be developed
for each application, avoiding
generic warm-up procedures.
This is especially important
with pump designs such as
multi-stage configurations
between bearing and top-top
pump nozzle configurations.
* As per API 686, warm-up
lines should be provided with
sufficient flanges to allow the
piping spool between the pump
and the discharge check valve
to be removed and/or aligned
independently from the warm-up
line. This will also protect the smallbore
piping during the rigging.
* Utilize one NPS 1-in. or larger
bypass line around the discharge
check valve. A restriction orifice
is typically used to establish the
required warm-up flow, and often
requires a multi-stage orifice to
break down the high pressure from
the discharge side of the pump
and to control the flowrate.
* For all double-suction and
multi-stage pumps, a minimum
of two independent warm-up
lines are required. One bypass
line around the discharge
check valve and additional
warm-up lines are connected
to the bottom casing drains.
* Warm-up lines should be heat
traced and insulated if the fluid
will solidify at lower temperatures.
Insulation also provides a safety
element related to burn hazards.
* The pump suction valve should
be maintained open, unless
the warm-up line is isolated-
otherwise, the pump suction
valve and piping will be subjected
to full discharge pressure.
KEITH BRASHLER is a Pump Specialist in the
Consulting Services Department for Saudi Aramco.
He earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering
from Washington State University. Brashler has 34 yr
of rotating equipment experience in oil and gas,
power generation, nuclear, and pulp and paper, with
an emphasis on pump and system troubleshooting.
YASSER ALSHAHRANI is a Pump Engineer at
Saudi Aramco. He has 7 yr of rotating equipment
experience and is a Certified Vibration Analyst:
ISO Category II. Alshahrani earned a BS degree
in mechanical engineering and an MS degree
in engineering management from King Fahad
University of Petroleum and Minerals.
MAHMOUD SABBAN has more than 25 yr of
experience in oil and gas. He started his career as
a plant engineer and has held various positions
in facilities planning, commissioning and startup
teams; project engineering; technical support; and
central engineering. At present, he is a Lead Rotating
Equipment Senior Consultant and the gas turbine
standards committee Chairman at Saudi Aramco.
He is on the board of directors of Gas Turbine
Users International and represents the company at
the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Gulf
Cooperation Council Standards Organization (GSO).
He earned an MSc degree in thermal power from
Cranfield University in the UK.
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Hydrocarbon Processing - December 2022

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