What Should it Be? ANSI Or API Pump?

Read both specification and then decide for yourself.

I used to specify pumps. If I were you, I'd let the pump supplier, who sells thousands of pumps every month tell me what he thinks I need. Then, if you understand both specs, you will be able to question or validate his recommendation.

Then, there's always search engines:

Which Process Pump Should I Use, ANSI or API ... - Pumps & Systems

A comprehensive comparison between API and ANSI chemical pumps

A little independent research (Google) would have saved us both some time.

I may not be as experienced as you are and that is the reason novices like me come on board and seek help from the experienced people, or subject Gurus like you. So please forgive our ignorance or more correctly lack of knowledge. If we do not ask how we will learn.

Yesterday a rep from Gould came and I asked him the same question and he did not give a very clear answer. All I wanted to know a clear line of demarcation between the selection of ANSI and API pumps. I have purchased several pumps in ammonia, Urea, refineries, iron ore reduction plant and HYCO plantrs here and abroad but always sent the information by filling out the pump datasheets. The pumps were delivered, installed and put to the operation without any problem but those were vendors' selection. All I wanted to know what decides when to use which pump. Very graciously, you answered the age old question by sending me the two sites. It is clear now. Thank you. I admire your vast range of information on various subjects.

Other folks who have answered I thank them all and I will consider this thread closed now as I have received my answer.

By the way, Guru. I did not take to my heart when you said my questions are amusing as I know that amusing was the last word before several you though but did not say. Thanks for that too. The teachers, sometimes have to be hard on thir pupils.

"If we do not ask how we will learn."

Indeed. You do not learn if someone gives you the answer. You learn how to depend on others to do your thinking for you and then just tell you what to do and think. That's having knowledge implanted into your brain without any knowledge of how the answers were gotten and what other details the learning process teaches you.

No, asking for the specific answer to the specific question and getting that answer is NOT learning because you won't know WHY the answer you were given is the right one.

You do yourself no favors by getting your education here, one answer at a time.

You have posted 21500 times with 800 good answers. That means people ar learning from you and you are giving good answers so your answers were good for me too. I did all the researc on google and books but the answer that you gave thru the sites had better explanation. Thank you.

Regards;

You're welcome.

It would help if you listed your criteria..........

Low at what your vendor supple you. I assume you had (3) three bids put out. Look at what they supplied. Such as:

1.) pump curve. Where does your requirement stand on the curve. Upper end of capability, efficiency, Horsepower requirement, output (pressure and flow), NSPH,

to name a few.

Also, if your flows are higher do you require a split case, do you have the footprint to accommodate a split case pump.

2.) What type of seals on the pump, mechanical or dynamic?

3.) the ability to service your pumps.

This will get you started....

Thank you. I have enough information now. I thank all of you who helped me.

Regards;

Thanks, I got it.

Regards;

Yes there are but we, the process engineers have to give them all the data so they will know what we are looking for. But I want to be able to understand and discuss with vendors/rotating equipment folks about their offer. Any way, I thank all of you and would like to close this thread. I am not sure if I have to request to close the thread as I started this thread for discussion. I do not wish to offend any one by closing it as I am not sure of the procedure how to close it. All of you have been very nice and helpful.

Regards;

I'd love to hear the first conversation between you and your pump vendor, after you become a pump expert.

Is this pump for your ammonia plant, or your PSA North plant?

Not for your sunflower plant, let's hope.

Just kidding. Your questions are..........................amusing.

ANSI pumps are what we called Chemical Service pumps. They are generally foot mounted pumps and are available in Special metal construction due to being used in harsh chemical pumping situations. They are generally limited as to pressure and especially temperature limitations due to the foot mounting design. They can be furnished in anything from cast iron, stainless steels, Duriron, Hastelloy to Inconels and so on.

API Pumps are required to be center-line mounted and have vertically split casings and steel casings as a minimum and are designed for use in refineries and petro-chemical applications. Casings are generally steel or for higher temperature applications a 11-13% chrome steel. If the application is to pump something flammable especially at higher temps you are better off making sure that it meets the API Design criteria.

Do not necessarily rely on the Manufacturer to provide the best choice. They will often sacrifice the best choice for the more competitive-less expensive- choice in order to get a sale. It is always YOUR responsibility that the proper design criteria is utilized for the application. After all, you will probably be the one standing next to the pump if it malfunctions, not the sales engineer who sold it.

This is the sort of question that shouldn't even be on CR4.

You look at what API is, and you look at what ANSI is, and the answer is there. If you are struggling, you shouldn't have to go beyond the first page of google search results. If you are a process engineer, you should know anyway.

OP's from Houston, TX.

How 'bout tat. He must not be in tha awl bin-ess.

I have enough answers now of course with your help. So I am going to sign off. Thanks, folks, for the help and please do not answe to this question.

Have a good Day.