CkUNDf0S

WHl1 PAPk
AllCNMN1
by Greq 1cwsley
W
iIh requiremenIs oI organizaIions Io cuI
cosIs and manage operaIion and main-
Ienance budgeIs beIIer, minimizing equipmenI
downIime has become increasingly imporIanI.
An aspecI oI Irouble-Iree operaIion is Ihe align-
menI oI roIaIing equipmenI.
AlignmenI should be compleIed on any equip-
menI IhaI has a driver and driven equipmenI.
lI should noI be sIandard pracIice Io only align
"high energy" or high-speed pumps. ALL pumps
should be considered Ior alignmenI.
1o provide an overview oI alignmenI, Ihe discus-
sion in Ihis arIicle applies primarily Io horizonIal
cenIriIugal pumps IhaI are operaIing in a general
service and driven by a separaIe driver Ihrough a
exible coupling on a common baseplaIe.
Many oI Ihe Ierms and Iechniques described can
be used Ior oIher Iypes oI pumps and roIaIing
equipmenI, buI Ihe insIallaIion and operaIion
insIrucIions should be Iollowed as required by
Ihe manuIacIurer.
1his arIicle is meanI Io be used as a primer only.
LxIensive Iraining and pracIice should be compleI-
ed prior Io aligning equipmenI IhaI is in service.
CNkAl
1he lack oI alignmenI, or misalignmenI, is a
condiIion where Ihe roIaIing cenIerlines oI
Iwo or more machinery shaIIs are noI in line
wiIh each oIher. 1his is noI easy Io deIecI when
machinery is running. 1he roIaIing equipmenI is
aligned Iollowing a series oI deIailed sIeps oI a
Iew alignmenI Iechniques.
lI can be said IhaI Ihe goal oI alignmenI is Io
posiIion Ihe equipmenI so IhaI any deviaIions
oI Ihe shaII cenIerlines are below specihed or
required criIerion. lurIher, Ihe ob|ecIive is Io
liyuru 1. lmportc Je lo 0esolineorin
en lo viJo Je Operorin Ccntinuo
minimize equipmenI downIime and maximize
Ihe operaIing liIe oI Ihe roIaIing equipmenI.
MisalignmenI oI roIaIing equipmenI can have
sysIem. As can be seen in liqure 1, Ihe greaIer Ihe
misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe reducIion in Iime
Ihe equipmenI can conIinuously run unIil Iailure,
Ihe lower Ihe misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe
oI misalignmenI.
8earing liIe oI Ihe pump and Ihe driver can
be reduced due Io misalignmenI causing high
IemperaIure or oil leakage.
AlIhough exible coupling manuIacIurers
adverIise IhaI Iheir design can compensaIe Ior
misalignmenI, mechanical seals can Iail due Io
alignmenI IhaI is noI wiIhin Ihe mechanical
seal manuIacIurer's recommendaIions.
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DesaIineacin
GRUNDFOS
INFORME TCNICO
VELOCIDAD ESPECFICA
por Steve Wilson
E
l trmino velocidad especfca es muy mal
comprendido en la industria de las bombas, ms
an, trminos que surgen de las discusiones sobre
velocidad especfca se usan sin un conocimiento total
de las implicaciones. Es til y necesaria una compren-
sin bsica de la velocidad especfca para el anlisis
y la seleccin de bombas y para discutir los tipos de
impulsores. Este documento de ninguna manera pre-
tende ser un tratado completo sobre velocidad espec-
fca, sino una visin general bsica. Los interesados en
el tema, deben realizar estudios ms profundos.
DEFINICIN DE VELOCIDAD ESPECFICA
Velocidad especfca es la velocidad en RPM a la que
tendra que operar un impulsor determinado si se
redujera (o incrementara) proporcionalmente su
tamao como para entregar una capacidad de un GPM
con una carga de un pie. Por s mismo, esto parece sin
sentido, pero desde una perspectiva ms amplia, la
velocidad especfca (N
S
) se vuelve un valor sin dimen-
sin que describe las caractersticas hidrulicas de una
bomba, y ms especfcamente del impulsor(es) de
una bomba. Los diseadores usan la velocidad espec-
fca, junto con leyes de modelado y otras herramientas
como las leyes de afnidad para fjar la forma de la
curva, predecir efciencias tericas, HPs, etc.
Observe que en la Defnicin y el Clculo de la Veloci-
dad Especfca:
La N
S
de una bomba se calcula usando el BEP de
la bomba con dimetro completo.
Para las bombas multipasos, la N
S
se calcula sola-
mente para la primera etapa.
Si un cliente pregunta la N
S
especfca de una
bomba propuesta, la N
S
debe calcularse usando
el BEP de la bomba con el dimetro propuesto.
INFORMACIN BSICA SOBRE VELOCIDAD
ESPECFICA
La velocidad especfca est ampliamente asociada
con el ngulo de descarga del impulsor, con relacin
a la succin. Las bombas en las que la descarga del
impulsor est directamente radial a la succin; esto
es, donde el fujo transita rpidamente desde un
plano al otro, tienen velocidad especfca baja y les
llaman impulsores con paletas radiales o de fujo
radial. La N
S
estar entre 500 y 1700. Estas bombas
normalmente mostrarn un bajo ndice gasto-car-
ga. En el otro extremo de la escala, el fuido ser
descargado desde el impulsor a lo largo del mismo
eje que entra. Estos impulsores (o hlices) tienen
altas velocidades especfcas, generalmente arriba de
9000, y se les conoce como impulsores (o hlices) de
fujo axial y tienen un alto ndice gasto-carga.
Entre estos dos extremos encontramos:
Impulsores de Flujo Mixto, con un intervalo de N
S
desde aprox. 4000 a 9000 empiezan a moverse
lejos del eje de succin, pero descargan entre los
ngulos axial y radial, y generalmente muestran
un ndice de alto fujo a carga moderada.
Los Impulsores con Paletas Francis, entre fujo
radial y mixto, con valores de N
S
desde aprox.
1700 a 4000. Los impulsores con paletas Francis
a menudo se discuten en la industria y simple-
mente son impulsores con curvatura en las
paletas de modo que la circulacin desde el eje
de la succin al eje radial se completa ms gra-
dualmente.
CkUNDf0S
WHl1 PAPk
Specic Speed
by 5teve Wilscn
1
he Ierm "specihc speed" is much misunder-
sIood in Ihe pump indusIry, yeI Ierms IhaI
arise Irom specihc speed discussions are used
wiIhouI Iull knowledge oI Ihe implicaIions. A
basic undersIanding oI specihc speed is neces-
sary and helpIul in pump selecIion and analysis
and in discussions oI impeller Iypes. 1his paper
is by no means inIended as a compleIe discourse
on specihc speed, buI raIher a basic overview. lor
Ihe inIeresIed, IurIher sIudy should be made.
DflNl1l0N 0f SPClflC SPD
Specihc speed is Ihe speed in kPM aI which a
given impeller would operaIe iI reduced (or
increased) proporIionally in size so as Io deliver
a capaciIy oI one GPM aI a head oI one IooI.
8y iIselI, Ihis seems meaningless, buI Iaken
inIo Ihe bigger picIure, Ihe specihc speed (N
S
)
becomes a dimensionless number IhaI describes
Ihe hydraulic IeaIures oI a pump, and more
specihcally oI a pump's impeller(s). Designers use
specihc speed, coupled wiIh modeling laws and
f0kMUlA D Vl0ClDAD SPClflCA
La Irmula simpliIicadda para velocidad especIica es.
N
5
= N
5
=
Donde.
N
5
= velocidad LspecIica
kPM = velocidad en revoluciones por minuIo
GPM = Galones US Por MinuIo
R = Carga en pies
N = kPM
Q = GPM
NoIe on Ihe SIaIemenI, and CalculaIion oI
Specihc Speed.
- N
S
oI a pump is calculaIed using 8LP oI Ihe
pump aI Iull diameIer.
- On mulIi-sIage pumps, N
S
is compuIed Ior Ihe
hrsI sIage only.
- lI asked specihcally by a cusIomer Ior Ihe
N
S
oI a pump being proposed, N
S
should be
calculaIed using Ihe proposed pump's 8LP aI
Ihe proposed diameIer.
SPClflC SPD 8ASlCS
1he specihc speed is largely relaIed Io Ihe impel-
ler discharge angle, relaIive Io Ihe inleI. Pumps in
which Ihe discharge oI Ihe impeller is direcIly ra-
dial Io Ihe sucIion, IhaI is, where Ihe ow Iransi-
Iions "rapidly" Irom one plane Io Ihe oIher, have
a low specihc speed and are called "radial vaned"
or "radial ow impellers." 1he N
S
will be in Ihe
neighborhood oI Irom S00 Io I700. 1hese pumps
will usually exhibiI a "low ow Io head" raIio.
AI Ihe "oIher end oI Ihe scale," Ihe uid will be
discharged Irom Ihe impeller along Ihe same axis
as iI enIers. 1hese impellers (or propellers) have
high specihc speeds, generally above 9000, and
are reIerred Io as axial ow impellers (or propel-
lers) and have a "high ow Io head raIio."
8eIween Ihese Iwo exIremes Iall.
- Mixed llow lmpellers, wiIh an N
S
range oI Irom
around 4000 Io 9000 begin Io IransiIion away
Irom Ihe sucIion axis, buI discharge beIween
Ihe axial and radial angles, and generally
exhibiI a high ow Io moderaIe head raIio.
- lrancis vaned lmpellers, beIween mixed and
radial ow, wiIh NS values Irom around I700
Io 4000. lrancis vaned impellers are IrequenIly
discussed in Ihe indusIry, and are simply
impellers which have vanes curvaIure such
IhaI Ihe IransiIion Irom Ihe inleI axis Io radial
axis is compleIed more gradually.
kPM x GPM
.5
l
.75
NvQ
l
3/4
CkUNDf0S
WHl1 PAPk
AllCNMN1
by Greq 1cwsley
W
iIh requiremenIs oI organizaIions Io cuI
cosIs and manage operaIion and main-
Ienance budgeIs beIIer, minimizing equipmenI
downIime has become increasingly imporIanI.
An aspecI oI Irouble-Iree operaIion is Ihe align-
menI oI roIaIing equipmenI.
AlignmenI should be compleIed on any equip-
menI IhaI has a driver and driven equipmenI.
lI should noI be sIandard pracIice Io only align
"high energy" or high-speed pumps. ALL pumps
should be considered Ior alignmenI.
1o provide an overview oI alignmenI, Ihe discus-
sion in Ihis arIicle applies primarily Io horizonIal
cenIriIugal pumps IhaI are operaIing in a general
service and driven by a separaIe driver Ihrough a
exible coupling on a common baseplaIe.
Many oI Ihe Ierms and Iechniques described can
be used Ior oIher Iypes oI pumps and roIaIing
equipmenI, buI Ihe insIallaIion and operaIion
insIrucIions should be Iollowed as required by
Ihe manuIacIurer.
1his arIicle is meanI Io be used as a primer only.
LxIensive Iraining and pracIice should be compleI-
ed prior Io aligning equipmenI IhaI is in service.
CNkAl
1he lack oI alignmenI, or misalignmenI, is a
condiIion where Ihe roIaIing cenIerlines oI
Iwo or more machinery shaIIs are noI in line
wiIh each oIher. 1his is noI easy Io deIecI when
machinery is running. 1he roIaIing equipmenI is
aligned Iollowing a series oI deIailed sIeps oI a
Iew alignmenI Iechniques.
lI can be said IhaI Ihe goal oI alignmenI is Io
posiIion Ihe equipmenI so IhaI any deviaIions
oI Ihe shaII cenIerlines are below specihed or
required criIerion. lurIher, Ihe ob|ecIive is Io
liyuru 1. lmportc Je lo 0esolineorin
en lo viJo Je Operorin Ccntinuo
minimize equipmenI downIime and maximize
Ihe operaIing liIe oI Ihe roIaIing equipmenI.
MisalignmenI oI roIaIing equipmenI can have
sysIem. As can be seen in liqure 1, Ihe greaIer Ihe
misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe reducIion in Iime
Ihe equipmenI can conIinuously run unIil Iailure,
Ihe lower Ihe misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe
oI misalignmenI.
8earing liIe oI Ihe pump and Ihe driver can
be reduced due Io misalignmenI causing high
IemperaIure or oil leakage.
AlIhough exible coupling manuIacIurers
adverIise IhaI Iheir design can compensaIe Ior
misalignmenI, mechanical seals can Iail due Io
alignmenI IhaI is noI wiIhin Ihe mechanical
seal manuIacIurer's recommendaIions.
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DesaIineacin
VELOCIDAD ESPCFICA GRUNDFOS INFORME TCNICO | 2
CkUNDf0S
WHl1 PAPk
AllCNMN1
by Greq 1cwsley
W
iIh requiremenIs oI organizaIions Io cuI
cosIs and manage operaIion and main-
Ienance budgeIs beIIer, minimizing equipmenI
downIime has become increasingly imporIanI.
An aspecI oI Irouble-Iree operaIion is Ihe align-
menI oI roIaIing equipmenI.
AlignmenI should be compleIed on any equip-
menI IhaI has a driver and driven equipmenI.
lI should noI be sIandard pracIice Io only align
"high energy" or high-speed pumps. ALL pumps
should be considered Ior alignmenI.
1o provide an overview oI alignmenI, Ihe discus-
sion in Ihis arIicle applies primarily Io horizonIal
cenIriIugal pumps IhaI are operaIing in a general
service and driven by a separaIe driver Ihrough a
exible coupling on a common baseplaIe.
Many oI Ihe Ierms and Iechniques described can
be used Ior oIher Iypes oI pumps and roIaIing
equipmenI, buI Ihe insIallaIion and operaIion
insIrucIions should be Iollowed as required by
Ihe manuIacIurer.
1his arIicle is meanI Io be used as a primer only.
LxIensive Iraining and pracIice should be compleI-
ed prior Io aligning equipmenI IhaI is in service.
CNkAl
1he lack oI alignmenI, or misalignmenI, is a
condiIion where Ihe roIaIing cenIerlines oI
Iwo or more machinery shaIIs are noI in line
wiIh each oIher. 1his is noI easy Io deIecI when
machinery is running. 1he roIaIing equipmenI is
aligned Iollowing a series oI deIailed sIeps oI a
Iew alignmenI Iechniques.
lI can be said IhaI Ihe goal oI alignmenI is Io
posiIion Ihe equipmenI so IhaI any deviaIions
oI Ihe shaII cenIerlines are below specihed or
required criIerion. lurIher, Ihe ob|ecIive is Io
liyuru 1. lmportc Je lo 0esolineorin
en lo viJo Je Operorin Ccntinuo
minimize equipmenI downIime and maximize
Ihe operaIing liIe oI Ihe roIaIing equipmenI.
MisalignmenI oI roIaIing equipmenI can have
sysIem. As can be seen in liqure 1, Ihe greaIer Ihe
misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe reducIion in Iime
Ihe equipmenI can conIinuously run unIil Iailure,
Ihe lower Ihe misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe
oI misalignmenI.
8earing liIe oI Ihe pump and Ihe driver can
be reduced due Io misalignmenI causing high
IemperaIure or oil leakage.
AlIhough exible coupling manuIacIurers
adverIise IhaI Iheir design can compensaIe Ior
misalignmenI, mechanical seals can Iail due Io
alignmenI IhaI is noI wiIhin Ihe mechanical
seal manuIacIurer's recommendaIions.
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DesaIineacin
La Figura 1 ilustra la apariencia general de impulso-
res de distintos diseos de velocidad especfca, con
la succin en la parte inferior.
VELOCIDAD ESPECFICA Y LA CURVA DE LA
BOMBA
La velocidad especfca de la bomba determinar
la pendiente de la curva (terica) general, desde el
cierre hasta la escalada. Los impulsores con veloci-
dad especfca baja mostrarn curvas con carga
plana y las bombas con velocidad especfca alta
mostrarn curvas ms pronunciadas. (Recuerde
que la velocidad especfca se toma para una etapa
solamente). Muchas bombas multipasos mostrarn
curvas pronunciadas cuando todas las etapas se
muestran juntas, pero tienen una N
S
baja).
VELOCIDAD ESPECFICA Y REQUERIMIEN-
TOS DE POTENCIA
Igual que las bombas con valores bajos de N
S

tienen curvas bajas HQ, sus requerimientos de po-
tencia continuarn aumentando conforme el fujo
se incrementa. Las bombas con velocidad espec-
fca alta (impulsores y fujo mixto) muestran carac-
tersticas de disminucin de HP: El requerimiento
de HP es mayor en el cierre y disminuye conforme
se incrementa el fujo. (Se debe tener cuidado al
apagar bombas con alto N
S
,

sea que estn funcio-
nando o en prueba y asegurarse que la potencia
del motor no est sobrecargada). De nuevo, los im-
pulsores con paletas Francis, caen entre estos dos
extremos, con curvas de potencia que suben desde
SPClflC SPD GkUNDlOS WHl1 PAPk | 2
rise as ow increases. Righ specihc speed pumps
(propellers and mixed ow) exhibiI "dropping"
RP characIerisIics. 1he RP requiremenI is highesI
(Care musI be Iaken in running or IesIing high
N
S
overloaded.) lrancis vaned impellers again Iall in
beIween Ihese Iwo exIremes, wiIh power curves
increases. liqure 2 gives a graphic illusIraIion oI
Ihe relaIive curve shapes Ior boIh RQ and Power.
liqure ! illusIraIes Ihe general appearance oI
impellers oI various specihc speed designs, wiIh
inleI being aI Ihe boIIom.
SPClflC SPD AND 1H PUMP CUkV
1he specihc speed oI Ihe pump will deIermine Ihe
runouI. Low specihc speed impellers will exhibiI
"aI head" curves and high specihc speed pumps
will exhibiI sIeeper curves. (kemember IhaI spe-
cihc speed is Iaken Ior a single sIage only. Many
mulIi-sIage pumps exhibiI sIeep curves when all
sIages are shown IogeIher, buI have a low N
S
.
SPClflC SPD AND P0Wk kQUlk-
MN1S
!usI as pumps wiIh low N
S
values have low RQ
curves, Iheir power requiremenIs will conIinue Io
N s
500
! 000
2000
3000
5000
! 0000
!
2
3
4
5
6
liyuru 1. lmpulscres rcn Ji[erentes Jisecs Je velcriJoJ esperi[iro
liyuru 2. Curvos lQ y 8lP poro Jistintos velcriJoJes esperi[iros
0
0
I00
200
S0 I00 IS0
I00
200
300
0
I
2
3
4
S
I
2
3
4
S
6
S
4
3
2
I
6
S
4
3
2
I
6
6
CAPAClDAD - DL vLLOClDAD
LSPLClllCA NOkMAL

D
L

C
A
k
G
A

N
O
k
M
A
L
CUkvAS DL CAPAClDAD DL PO1LNClA LlLC1lvA
CUkvAS DL CAPAClDAD DL CAkGA
8
k
A
K
L

R
O
k
S
L
P
O
W
L
k

O
l

N
O
k
M
A
L
SPClflC SPD GkUNDlOS WHl1 PAPk | 2
rise as ow increases. Righ specihc speed pumps
(propellers and mixed ow) exhibiI "dropping"
RP characIerisIics. 1he RP requiremenI is highesI
(Care musI be Iaken in running or IesIing high
N
S
overloaded.) lrancis vaned impellers again Iall in
beIween Ihese Iwo exIremes, wiIh power curves
increases. liqure 2 gives a graphic illusIraIion oI
Ihe relaIive curve shapes Ior boIh RQ and Power.
liqure ! illusIraIes Ihe general appearance oI
impellers oI various specihc speed designs, wiIh
inleI being aI Ihe boIIom.
SPClflC SPD AND 1H PUMP CUkV
1he specihc speed oI Ihe pump will deIermine Ihe
runouI. Low specihc speed impellers will exhibiI
"aI head" curves and high specihc speed pumps
will exhibiI sIeeper curves. (kemember IhaI spe-
cihc speed is Iaken Ior a single sIage only. Many
mulIi-sIage pumps exhibiI sIeep curves when all
sIages are shown IogeIher, buI have a low N
S
.
SPClflC SPD AND P0Wk kQUlk-
MN1S
!usI as pumps wiIh low N
S
values have low RQ
curves, Iheir power requiremenIs will conIinue Io
N s
500
! 000
2000
3000
5000
! 0000
!
2
3
4
5
6
liyuru 1. lmpulscres rcn Ji[erentes Jisecs Je velcriJoJ esperi[iro
liyuru 2. Curvos lQ y 8lP poro Jistintos velcriJoJes esperi[iros
0
0
I00
200
S0 I00 IS0
I00
200
300
0
I
2
3
4
S
I
2
3
4
S
6
S
4
3
2
I
6
S
4
3
2
I
6
6
CAPAClDAD - DL vLLOClDAD
LSPLClllCA NOkMAL

D
L

C
A
k
G
A

N
O
k
M
A
L
CUkvAS DL CAPAClDAD DL PO1LNClA LlLC1lvA
CUkvAS DL CAPAClDAD DL CAkGA
8
k
A
K
L

R
O
k
S
L
P
O
W
L
k

O
l

N
O
k
M
A
L
CkUNDf0S
WHl1 PAPk
AllCNMN1
by Greq 1cwsley
W
iIh requiremenIs oI organizaIions Io cuI
cosIs and manage operaIion and main-
Ienance budgeIs beIIer, minimizing equipmenI
downIime has become increasingly imporIanI.
An aspecI oI Irouble-Iree operaIion is Ihe align-
menI oI roIaIing equipmenI.
AlignmenI should be compleIed on any equip-
menI IhaI has a driver and driven equipmenI.
lI should noI be sIandard pracIice Io only align
"high energy" or high-speed pumps. ALL pumps
should be considered Ior alignmenI.
1o provide an overview oI alignmenI, Ihe discus-
sion in Ihis arIicle applies primarily Io horizonIal
cenIriIugal pumps IhaI are operaIing in a general
service and driven by a separaIe driver Ihrough a
exible coupling on a common baseplaIe.
Many oI Ihe Ierms and Iechniques described can
be used Ior oIher Iypes oI pumps and roIaIing
equipmenI, buI Ihe insIallaIion and operaIion
insIrucIions should be Iollowed as required by
Ihe manuIacIurer.
1his arIicle is meanI Io be used as a primer only.
LxIensive Iraining and pracIice should be compleI-
ed prior Io aligning equipmenI IhaI is in service.
CNkAl
1he lack oI alignmenI, or misalignmenI, is a
condiIion where Ihe roIaIing cenIerlines oI
Iwo or more machinery shaIIs are noI in line
wiIh each oIher. 1his is noI easy Io deIecI when
machinery is running. 1he roIaIing equipmenI is
aligned Iollowing a series oI deIailed sIeps oI a
Iew alignmenI Iechniques.
lI can be said IhaI Ihe goal oI alignmenI is Io
posiIion Ihe equipmenI so IhaI any deviaIions
oI Ihe shaII cenIerlines are below specihed or
required criIerion. lurIher, Ihe ob|ecIive is Io
liyuru 1. lmportc Je lo 0esolineorin
en lo viJo Je Operorin Ccntinuo
minimize equipmenI downIime and maximize
Ihe operaIing liIe oI Ihe roIaIing equipmenI.
MisalignmenI oI roIaIing equipmenI can have
sysIem. As can be seen in liqure 1, Ihe greaIer Ihe
misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe reducIion in Iime
Ihe equipmenI can conIinuously run unIil Iailure,
Ihe lower Ihe misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe
oI misalignmenI.
8earing liIe oI Ihe pump and Ihe driver can
be reduced due Io misalignmenI causing high
IemperaIure or oil leakage.
AlIhough exible coupling manuIacIurers
adverIise IhaI Iheir design can compensaIe Ior
misalignmenI, mechanical seals can Iail due Io
alignmenI IhaI is noI wiIhin Ihe mechanical
seal manuIacIurer's recommendaIions.
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CkUNDf0S
WHl1 PAPk
AllCNMN1
by Greq 1cwsley
W
iIh requiremenIs oI organizaIions Io cuI
cosIs and manage operaIion and main-
Ienance budgeIs beIIer, minimizing equipmenI
downIime has become increasingly imporIanI.
An aspecI oI Irouble-Iree operaIion is Ihe align-
menI oI roIaIing equipmenI.
AlignmenI should be compleIed on any equip-
menI IhaI has a driver and driven equipmenI.
lI should noI be sIandard pracIice Io only align
"high energy" or high-speed pumps. ALL pumps
should be considered Ior alignmenI.
1o provide an overview oI alignmenI, Ihe discus-
sion in Ihis arIicle applies primarily Io horizonIal
cenIriIugal pumps IhaI are operaIing in a general
service and driven by a separaIe driver Ihrough a
exible coupling on a common baseplaIe.
Many oI Ihe Ierms and Iechniques described can
be used Ior oIher Iypes oI pumps and roIaIing
equipmenI, buI Ihe insIallaIion and operaIion
insIrucIions should be Iollowed as required by
Ihe manuIacIurer.
1his arIicle is meanI Io be used as a primer only.
LxIensive Iraining and pracIice should be compleI-
ed prior Io aligning equipmenI IhaI is in service.
CNkAl
1he lack oI alignmenI, or misalignmenI, is a
condiIion where Ihe roIaIing cenIerlines oI
Iwo or more machinery shaIIs are noI in line
wiIh each oIher. 1his is noI easy Io deIecI when
machinery is running. 1he roIaIing equipmenI is
aligned Iollowing a series oI deIailed sIeps oI a
Iew alignmenI Iechniques.
lI can be said IhaI Ihe goal oI alignmenI is Io
posiIion Ihe equipmenI so IhaI any deviaIions
oI Ihe shaII cenIerlines are below specihed or
required criIerion. lurIher, Ihe ob|ecIive is Io
liyuru 1. lmportc Je lo 0esolineorin
en lo viJo Je Operorin Ccntinuo
minimize equipmenI downIime and maximize
Ihe operaIing liIe oI Ihe roIaIing equipmenI.
MisalignmenI oI roIaIing equipmenI can have
sysIem. As can be seen in liqure 1, Ihe greaIer Ihe
misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe reducIion in Iime
Ihe equipmenI can conIinuously run unIil Iailure,
Ihe lower Ihe misalignmenI, Ihe greaIer Ihe
oI misalignmenI.
8earing liIe oI Ihe pump and Ihe driver can
be reduced due Io misalignmenI causing high
IemperaIure or oil leakage.
AlIhough exible coupling manuIacIurers
adverIise IhaI Iheir design can compensaIe Ior
misalignmenI, mechanical seals can Iail due Io
alignmenI IhaI is noI wiIhin Ihe mechanical
seal manuIacIurer's recommendaIions.
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VELOCIDAD ESPCFICA GRUNDFOS INFORME TCNICO | 3
el cierre pero se aplanan conforme se incrementa
el fujo. La Figura 2 brinda una ilustracin grfca
de las formas de la curva relativa para ambos: HQ y
Potencia.
VELOCIDAD ESPECFICA Y EFICIENCIA
El impacto de la velocidad especfca sobre la ef-
ciencia terica ha sido bien estudiado y verifcado
con pruebas. Tanto Karassik, en el Pump Handbook
(Pg. 2.203) y Lobanoff, en Centrifugal Pumps: Design
and Application (Pgs. 15-18) revelan los resultados
de los estudios: Las bombas con velocidades espec-
fcas de 2000-3500 (Impulsores con Paletas Francis)
mostrarn las efciencias ms altas en teora y en
pruebas. Naturalmente que como se discuti en el
documento High and Broad Band Effciency (Alta
Efciencia y de Banda Ancha), la construccin y la
confguracin de la bomba provocar diferencias
entre los resultados tericos y los reales. Adems,
no es prctico o posible utilizar la misma gama de
velocidades especfcas para todas las condiciones
deseadas de servicio o instalaciones.
CONCLUSIONES
Comprender la velocidad especfca en general, es
til para entender la forma de la curva, los reque-
rimientos de potencia, la efciencia y el diseo de la
bomba. Es una herramienta bsica para el diseador
de bombas. Entender las naturalezas hidrulica y
fsica de las trayectorias de fujo con diferentes (o
similares) valores N
S
puede ser una herramienta va-
liosa para evaluar tanto las instalaciones propuestas
como las existentes.
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