API Pumps vs. Non API Pumps

A pump is a pump is a pump! There is no difference as such. The major difference is that an API conform pump does need certificates for materials and specs being established. Documentation and paying the certification is what should make the prices difference. Now if you really want to know what the price tag on this is try buying a standard uncertified pump and put it through the certification process.

Maybe 4 times higher is too much, but that is what you are going to find out!

thanks for your reply....

you are right API conform pump does need certificates for material & specs being establish.

but apart from that IS API ask for some other criteria such as Toleance,material etc.??

that is what i want to know.

again thanks...

I think tolerances should always be met in the manufacturing process. I do not know if API requires higher accuracy during manufacturing, but certainly the quality has to documented.

You need to read the API specs to find out. If you are asking or getting asked for certain specs to work with it is always wise to get a copy of the specification.

go here and ask these guys. They can help you better than anyone here!

www.api.org

To say that "a pump is a pump is a pump" is like saying that a Volkswagen Beetle is no different than a Mercedes AMG. It just ain't so. A foot mounted cast iron body pump with a packing gland and a rubber bushing coupling is not the same as a Center line mounted, vertically split steel casing API 610 pump with seals and approved floating gear or other approved couplings. Like with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Based on the service conditions, (temperature, pressures, specific gravities, hazardous nature of fluid) the design of the pump, the seals and the couplings cannot be "one size or design fits all." As it was pointed out by the other contributors the API 610 design requirements are based on long reliable service life with safety features necessary to prevent fires and explosions. This is based on many years of Refinery experience and should not be taken lightly. API 610 was the bible back in the 60's and 70's when I was in the field and has probably gone though many updates since then to incorporate experience and improvements in the technology. "Documentation and certification" are meaningless without the proper design characteristics being incorporated. There are probably many companies out there who might be willing to "certify' that their product can handle the application but who would not be willing to certify that it was made to API 610 requirements.

My line of thinking was more that one and the same pump can be API approved or not.

If it is different pumps it will be as you said comparing a Beetle with a Mercedes. But then we never discuss the price difference of those right?

Maybe it is less obvious for pumps as they could have the same flow and pressure rating and still be Beetle or Merc.

Yes you get what you pay for!

For same technical/process specifications, there might be difference between API and Non-API pumps in shape, size, design and MOC. However certain manufacturer do supply same pump without API certificates as non-API pumps at minor difference of cost.

We were using NON API pumps for pumping furnace oil. Due to severe contamination in the furnace oil supplies, pumps used to deteriorate within 6 to 8 months of service. However for same service, API pump was installed at almost 2.8 times cost of non-API pump, service life improved from 8 months to more than 16 months.