ANSI vs API
Compared to an API pump, the typical ANSI pump has the following characteristics:
1. A thinner casing, i.e. less corrosion allowance
2. An ANSI pump has reduced permissible nozzle loads. It is even more sensitive to pipe-induced stresses than the API pump.
3. An ANSI pump has a smaller stuffing box size. Unless a large bore option is chosen, an ANSI pump may not be able to
accomodate the optimum mechanical seal for a given service.
4. ANSI pump impellers are designed and manufactured without wear rings. Many ANSI pump impellers are open or semi-open
whereas API pumps feature closed impellers with replaceable wear rings.
5. ANSI pumps are generally foot-mounted, whereas the API pump will be centerline mounted. Refer the attached sketch. In foot-
mounted pumps casing heat tends to be conducted into the mounting surfaces and thermal growth will be noticeable. It is generlly
easier to maintain alignment of API pumps since their supports are surrounded by the typically moderate-temperature ambient
environment.
The decision on API vs ANSI construction is experience-based and is not governed by governmental or regulatory agencies.
However, experienced machinery specialists have their own likes and dislikes based on the experience gathered by them over their
long years in the machinery field.
Many highly experienced and reliability-focused machinery engineers would prefer to use pumps designed and constructed
according to API 610 for toxic, flammable, or explosion-proof services at on-site locations in close proximity to furnaces and boilers
in some of the conditions (rules-of-thumb) that are listed below:
a. Head exceeds 106.6 m (350 ft)
b. Temperature of pumpage exceeds 149C (300F) on pumps with discharge flange sizes larger than 4 inch or 177C (350F) on
pumps with 4 inch discharge flange size or less.
c. Driver horsepower exceeds 74 kW (100 hp)
d. Suction pressure in excess of 516 kPag (75 psig)
e. Rated flow exceeds flow at best efficiency point (BEP)
f. Pump speed in excess of 3600 rpm.
The author mentions that there have been exceptions made where deviations from the rules-of-thumb were minor, or in situations
where the pump manufacturer was able to demonstrate considerable experience with ANSI pumps under the same, or even more
adverse conditions.
Finally the author gives his opinion on choosing either API or ANSI pumps based on the following:
Conventional Wisdom: API-compliant pumps are always a better choice than ANSI or ISO pumps
Fact: Unless flammable, toxic or explosion-prone liquids are involved, many carefully selected, properly installed,
operated and maintained ANSI or ISO pumps may represent an uncompromising and satisfactory choice.
Hope readers of my blog like this comparison of API & ANSI pumps provided by one of the foremost machinery specialists of our
time.
Let me have your comments on this blog entry.
ANSI API
ANSI B73. 1 for horizontal API 610 for horizontal
end suction top discharge single and multlstage
Type Pump and pump. pumps. vertical in-line,
Specification ANSI 873.2 for vertical In- vcrtical single, and
line pumps. multistage centrifugal
All are single stage. pumps.
Maximum
Minimum 700 PSlG
Allowable
Some API pumps are
Working 275 PSIG
designed for pressure
Pressure
above 500 PSIG.
(MAWP)
Minimum 1050 PSIG
Hydrostatic Test API pump hydrostatic
415 PSIG
Pressure test pressure will be 1.5
times the MAWP.
300# raised face is
standard.
150# flat faced is standard. 600, 900, 1500 and
Flange Rating
150# raised face is available. higher ratings are
available if required by
the service.
800F
2SOF
Pump casing is centerline
Maximum Pump casing is foot
mounted. No casing
Temperature mounted which limits
thermal growth
allowable thermal growth
limitations.
Carbon steel casing is
Ductile Iron
standard.
Materials of 316SS
Stainless steel is also
Constructions Alloy 20
available.
(Casing and A carbon steel casing or
Impelller materials are
Impeller) impeller is not commonly
cast iron, carbon steel,
available
and stainless steel.
Practical limit is 10000
550 to 600 feet
feet.
Maximum Head ANSI pumps are only single
Horizontal API pumps
Differential stage. Maximum impeller
can have as many as 14
diameter is about 13 inches.
stages.
Open impellers are All are enclosed design.
common. Some enclosed Some open designs are
impellers are available. available for special coke
Impeller Design
No standard for attachment crushing services.
and Attachment
to the shaft. Most are Impellers must be key
threaded on the end of the driven with a lock nut
shaft. attachment.
ANSI pumps are built for
Standard No standard dimensions
interchangeability between
Dimensions apply.
manufacturers.
Shaft Sleves Not required but are Are required to prevent
available. Fit to the shaft shaft damage in the scal
and extension past the or packing area.
Sleeve and stuffing box
gland are not ANSI
design is part of the API
specification requirements.
610 specification.
Oil lubrication is
Can be grease or oil
Lubrication required. Usually ring oil
lubricated.
system is provided.
Antifriction ball bearings
must be duplex, single
row, 40-degree angular-
contact type, installed
Antifriction bearings only. back to back.
Thrust bearing B-10 bearing life of 17500 L-10 bearing life must
and Life hours at design load is exceed 25,000 hours at
required. rated condition, or
16,000 hours at
maximum axial and
radial loads at rated
speed.
Case and impeller, front
Not required and not and back wear rings are
available in most designs required. Wear ring
Wear Rings
due to the use of open clearences, attachment
impellers. and hardness differential
are specified.
Over the last few months, my training schedule has taken me to a number of different plants that use both
API pumps and ANSI pumps. It became apparent that, in a few cases, there seemed to be some confusion
regarding the differences between these two process pump styles. This was causing users to purchase the
less expensive ANSI pump when, in fact, the service really needed an API pump.
So lets get practical. Whats the difference?
The ANSI Pump
The ANSI pump is designed and built to the dimensional standards of the American National Standards
Institute. Over the years, the ANSI pump has become the preferred style of end suction pumps, not only
for chemical process applications, but also for water and other less aggressive services. The Standard
provides for dimensional interchangeability of pumps from one manufacturer to another.
The API Pump
On the other hand, the API pump meets the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute Standard
610 for General Refinery Service. This style is almost the exclusive choice for applications in the oil
refinery industry, where it handles higher temperature and pressure applications of a more aggressive
nature that are common in the refineries.
The Service Considerations
In both the chemical and petrochemical industries, many of the liquids being pumped require more
consideration than merely environmental damage and pumping efficiency and reliability. It is necessary to
consider the aspect of personal safety. Therefore, the choice between the ANSI pump and the API pump
must take into account the specific fluid properties as well as the operating conditions.
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One of the main differences between these choices is predominantly a result of the differences in casing
design ratings which are as follows:
ANSI Pump Rating = 300-psig at 300-deg F
API Pump Rating = 750-psig at 500-deg F
In view of these figures, it is apparent that the API pumps should be considered for higher pressure and
temperature services than the lighter duty ANSI pump.
Case Designs
Both styles are of a single stage design with a radially split casing to accommodate a back pullout
arrangement for ease of maintenance.
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Most ANSI pumps, and some API pumps, employ a single volute design in the interior passages of the
casing. This is particularly evident in the smaller sizes that involve low flow rates and lower specific
speeds of the impeller.
As shown in Figure 1, the area of the volute increases at a rate that is proportional to the rate of discharge
from the impeller, thus producing a constant velocity at the periphery of the impeller. This velocity energy
is then changed into pressure energy by the time the fluid enters the discharge nozzle.
Figure 1. Single Volute Case
The peculiar shape of the volute also produces an uneven pressure distribution around the impeller which,
in turn, results in an imbalance of the thrust loads around the impeller and at right angles to the shaft. This
load must be accommodated by the shaft and bearings, and much has been discussed on this problem in
recent years.
This load is at its maximum when the pump is run at the shutoff condition, and gradually decreases as the
flow rate approaches the B.E.P. If the pump operates beyond the B.E.P., the load increases again, but in the
opposite direction on the same plane. Examination of the resultant shaft deflection problems has indicated
that the radial plane on which the out of balance load acts is approximately 60-deg counterclockwise from
the cut-water of the volute.
Figure 2. Double Volute Case
Most of the larger API pumps are produced with a double volute design to reduce these loads on high flow
and high head units. This is accomplished by balancing the opposing out-of-balance loads from each
volute. While the cost of this is a slight reduction in efficiency, it is considered a small price to pay for the
increased reliability that ensues.
Another casing feature found in many API pumps is the top suction/top discharge arrangement, where the
suction nozzle is located at the top of the casing adjacent to the discharge nozzle, rather than on the end.
The drawback of this design is that, for most of these pumps, the NPSH required is usually greater than in
the end suction arrangement in order to accommodate the friction losses in the tortuous path from the
suction flange to the eye of the impeller.
Back Cover Arrangements
One of the major differences between the ANSI and API pump casings is in the manner in which the back
cover is secured to the casing.
Figure 3. Typical ANSI Pump Courtesy of Flowserve Corporation
In the ANSI design shown in Figure 3, the back cover and gasket is held against the pump casing by the
bearing frame adaptor, which is most frequently supplied in cast iron. This usually results in a gap between
the mating faces of the frame adaptor and the pump casing that has the potential to permit uneven torquing
of the bolts. This may cause a fracture of the adaptor in the event of a higher than normal pressurization of
the casing by the process system.
Figure 4. Typical API Pump Courtesy of Flowserve Corporation
The API design in Figure 4 bolts the back cover directly to the casing and uses a confined, controlled
compression gasket with metal to metal fits. The adaptor is bolted independently to the back cover and
does not play a part in the pressure boundary of the pump casing.
Mounting Feet
Another difference between the two pump styles is the configuration of the mounting feet. All ANSI pump
casings are mounted on feet projecting from the underside of the casing and bolted to the baseplate. If
these pumps are used on high temperature applications, the casing will expand upwards from the mounting
feet and cause severe thermal stresses in the casing which will detrimentally affect the reliability of the
pump. Operation at lower temperatures will not be affected by this feature.
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On the other hand, API pumps are mounted at the horizontal centerline of the casing on feet projecting
from each side of the casing and bolted to pedestals which form part of the baseplate. This arrangement
provides the API pump with the advantage of being able to operate with pumpage at elevated
temperatures. As the pump comes up to temperature in such cases, any expansion of the metal will be
above and below the casing centerline and will exert minimal amounts of stress to the casing, thus
contributing to the optimum reliability of the pump.
The ability to handle higher temperature services is also evident in the bearing housings of the API pumps,
which tend to be much more robust in design and also accommodate cooling jackets with a greater
capacity of cooling water.
Lets get practical. By keeping these factors in mind during the selection process, you can finish up with
the correct pump design that has been properly selected to provide a profitable and reliable operating
system.
Centrifugal Pump : API vs ANSI Pump
In the market and industry, you may find different application and construction of centrifugal pumps.
The most frequently find is API 610 Pump and ANSI/ASME B73.1 Centrifugal Pump.
The API 610 pump will be selected for handling Hydrocarbon fluid, while ANSI pump can be used for
non critical operation and services.
The overview of each standard requirement is provided below,
API 610 Pump.
Full faced flange.
Centerline mounting support.
Not allowed for Bearing Housing support.
Bearing type : Duplex, Single row,angular contact.
Impeller mounting with keyed.
Wear rings on the casing and impeller.
Seals system as per API 682.
Required seal chamber throat bushing.
Use sock weld or butt weld for auxilliary connections and sch 160 as minimum for the auxilliary
piping.
ANSI/ASME B73.1
Foot under the casing.
Bearing Housing support is acceptable.
Bearing type : not specified
Impeller mounting with keyed or threaded.
Wear rings are not specified.
No specific requirement for sealing system.
Not specified for the seal chamber throat bushing.
Use Threaded NPT for auxilliary connections and sch 40 as minimum for the auxilliary piping.
It is clearly indicated the requirement of API 610 is more stringent than ANSI Pump. As addition to
that, ANSI pump is limited for low pressure application.
