BB5 type API 610 horizontal double casing multi-stage centrifugal pumps

The BB5 type pumps are double casing, radially split multistage between bearing pumps conforming to API 610 requirements.

These pumps are suitable for wide applications in high pressure fluid handling in oil refineries and petrochemical industry.

The discharge pressures are designed up to class 2500 and suitable for suction pressures up to 79 bar (g).

• Medium :

  Oil & Gas、Hydrocarbon

• Flows :

  to 600m3/h (2,640 GPM)

• Heads :

  to 2,500m (8,200 ft)

• Temperatures :

  to -20 ~ 420℃(-4-780℉)

• Pressures :

  to 350 bar (5,070 PSIG)

• Speed :

  /

• API Type Code :

  API 610-11th BB5

Product attributes:

Maximum head :>150m

Maximum fiow:>400L/min

Driving type:Motor

Working impeller number:Single-Stage Pump

Working impeller inlet way:Single Suction Pump

Pump shaft positon:Horizontal Pump

Installation height:Suction Centrifugal

Impeller structure:Closed

Transportation package:Wooden Case

Specification:API 610 standard 

Origin:Dalian,Liaoning,China

Size: ~DN800

Flow:~1000m3/H

Head: ~2000m

Temperature: -80-450 °C

Pressure:~5MPa

Construction features :
Horizontal ,double casing , multistage ,radially split,segmental ring, between-bearings centrifugal pumps(Barrel casing pumps).
Application:
Suitable for pumping clean,cold or hot,chemically neutral or aggressive liquids.
Apply in refineries , chemical industry, coal processing,steam power stations,frigorific industry,offshore engineering.
Material:
Carbonsteel; chromed steel; austeniticstainlesssteel; duplexsteel; Titanium and Titanium Alloys; Hastelloy C-276 and other special materials; It depends the customer's request.

BB5 type API 610 horizontal double casing multi-stage centrifugal pumps

Product profiles:

• Our API 610 type BB5 pumps are double-casing, radially split, multistage, between-bearing pumps, also known as barrel pumps.
• These pumps and their motors are flexibly coupled and mounted on a shared baseplate.
• The back pull-out design enables the rotor assembly to be removed without the need to disturb the driver, coupling hubs, or casing nozzle connections.

Features：

• Double casings, between bearing, with both volute and diffuser type, centerline mounted, top suctionand top discharge.
• Outer casing made of high quality material, perfect high pressure containment.
• Proven hydraulic, working efficiently at designed operating point, energy-saving.
• Quick replacement to pump cartridge unit with a special tool.
• Rigid shaft in forging material, designed with high rotating safety parameters.
• Rigid rotor with stable rotor dynamic.
• Rotor of dynamic balancing, reduced energy consumption for dynamic balancing, increased bearing lifetime.
• API 682 seal chamber accommodates multiple seal types and pipe plan.
• Self-lubricating or forced lubricating bearings upon technical selection.

Applications：

Oil & Gas:

• Water injection
• Crude oil transfer
• Pipeline

Power:

• Boiler Feed
• High Pressure Safety Injection

Hydrocarbon Processing:

• Refinery
• Petrochemical
•  

BB5 chemical pump in API 610 standard. BB5 is the top solution for dealing with extreme high pressure and ultra-high head conditions in the process industry, and is known as the "heavily armored warship" in the field of centrifugal pumps.

Core technical parameters of GSG universal type (guide vane cylinder bag pump). It should be noted that the parameters of this series are highly consistent in the Sulzer official website and other technical materials. The following is a summary of key data:

📊  GSG Universal Core Technical Parameters
Supplementary Explanation of Technical Specifications for Parameter Projects
The maximum flow rate can reach 900 m ³/h (4600 US gpm)
The maximum lift can reach 2600 m (10000 ft)
The maximum working pressure can reach 300 bar (4500 psi)
Applicable temperature range -30 ° C to+425 ° C (-20 ° F to+800 ° F)
Export size 40 mm to 200 mm (1.5 to 8 inches)
The maximum speed can reach 3600 rpm
The maximum number of stages can reach 16, and the back-to-back rotor stack design is particularly suitable for low-density fluids to ensure rotor stability.
💡  Core design concept and selection points
The core design concept of GSG Universal is to provide a cost-effective platform while meeting the API 610 BB5 standard, particularly adept at handling high-pressure transportation tasks in low-density media such as light hydrocarbons, ethylene, etc.

Its structural features are different from the GSG-BFP type you previously focused on: the GSG universal type emphasizes the stability of the rotor in low-density fluids through back-to-back rotor stack design, and can be optionally connected in series rotor stacks to reduce costs; The GSG-BFP special type focuses more on the fast start stop and shock resistance of boiler feedwater scenarios, with features such as centerline installation and no need for preheating.

Do you want to learn about the application case of GSG universal pump in a specific industry (such as refining and long-distance pipelines), or do you need to further compare it with other pump types such as CP and BB3?

The technical parameters of the GSG-BFP boiler feedwater dedicated pump are as follows. This pump is specifically designed for boiler feedwater scenarios in industrial power plants such as fossil fuel and biomass power plants. Based on the latest data from Sulshou's official website, its core parameters are as follows:
📊  GSG-BFP dedicated core technical parameters


parameter item
Technical Specifications
Additional notes
maximum flow
Up to 1000 m ³/h (5300 US gpm)
The upper limit clearly marked on the official website-
one
In practical applications, in order to meet the needs of large power plants, existing projects have achieved a flow rate of over 1000 m ³/h-
two
-
three
.
Maximum head
Up to 2800 meters (10500 feet)
Originating from the product page of Sulzer's official website-
one
.
Maximum export pressure
Up to 350 bar (5080 psi)
Official website parameters-
one
.
Maximum inlet pressure
Up to 65 bar (940 psi)
Official website parameters-
one
.
Applicable temperature range
Maximum 210 ° C (410 ° F)
Official website standard values, with higher temperature requirements indicated for consultation-
one
.
Export size
Maximum 250 mm (10 inches)
Official website parameters-
one
.
maximum speed
Up to 3600 rpm
According to the official website information-
one
In actual power station projects, 2-pole motors are used for direct drive, operating at 3000 rpm-
two
-
three
.
Core design efficiency
Can exceed 80%
In a large-scale project, the GSG-BFP pump demonstrated over 80% efficiency, which can bring significant energy-saving effects to high-power units-
two
-
three
.
💡  Core design highlights
In addition to parameters, GSG-BFP also has several key design features that make it highly competitive in the field of boiler feedwater:
• Start without preheating: This is a significant advantage of this pump type, which can greatly simplify the start stop operation process of power plants and improve response speed-
one
.
• Centerline installation: The pump body adopts a centerline support method, which can effectively absorb the huge thermal stress and torque generated by the high-temperature pipeline system, ensure neutrality during operation, and thus improve reliability-
one
.
No need for a booster pump: With excellent hydraulic design, GSG-BFP can meet the necessary cavitation allowance requirements. In some projects, an independent booster pump can be omitted, making the entire water supply system more compact and cost-effective-
two
-
three
.
Are you conducting preliminary selection for a specific power plant project? If you can provide specific operating data such as flow rate and head, I can help you verify the compatibility of this pump.

MUlti-stage tandem type DCMC

Branch：DN25~DN200

Capacity：Max.700 m3/h

Head: max. 700m

Speed: 1450 to 3500 rpm

Operating temperature:Max. 160℃

Viscosity: max. 100mm2/s

Pressure rating: 2.5~16Mpa

Structural characteristics：

● BB5, barrel casing,multistage,ring section design

● On the basis of the muli-stage stangard type design, the pressure barrel casing is added to reduce the sealing points and make it safer.

● A pump of non-self priming type ,up to 12 stage.

● It makes internal high-pressure circulation, and the motor is cooled and the slide bearing lubricated by the medium being delivered.

● Tandem pressurized.

● With a low capacity,ahigh head,ithasan extremely lowNPSH.

Working principle

Canned motor pump is a combination unit of centrifugal pump and 3-phase AC motor, with the hydraulic section connection directly with the motor drive shaft to constitute the rotor component jointly. The stator can is embedded on the inner side of the stator to isolate both the rotor chamber and stator chamber,  that makes pumps no leakage completely.

📐  Core structural characteristics of BB5 pump
The full name of BB5 is "Between Bearing, Radial Split, Two Casing, Multi Stage", which means two end support, radial splitting, double-layer shell, and multi-stage pump. Its design philosophy is to use the strongest double-layer shell to withstand extreme pressure, achieve ultra-high head through multi-stage impeller series connection, and ensure extreme reliability.

Structural characteristics and composition
1. Double layer shell • outer cylinder: a thick walled cylinder forged as a whole, which is the strongest part of all pressure bearing components and can withstand all system pressures.
Internal pump core: a complete radial split multi-stage segmented pump core installed inside the outer cylinder. This is the most obvious difference between BB5 and BB3.
2. Radial splitting: The inner pump core is cut open in the horizontal plane of the shaft centerline like a traditional multi-stage pump (open type), which facilitates inspection and replacement of internal components such as impellers, guide vanes, seals, etc. during maintenance, without the need to extract the pump core as a whole.
3. Multi stage impeller arrangement • Multiple impellers are connected in series, with all impellers facing in the same direction, thereby gradually stacking pressure and achieving extremely high outlet pressure for a single pump (up to hundreds or even thousands of bars).
Symmetrical arrangement: The impeller can also be arranged symmetrically back-to-back to balance axial forces and reduce the load on the balancing device.
4. Support and Balance • Two end Support: Extremely stable operation, suitable for high speed and high power.
Heavy duty balancing system: using a balancing drum or a combination of a balancing drum and a balancing disc to balance large axial forces.
5. Sealing system • Equipped with high-performance double end mechanical seals that comply with API 682 standards, used for sealing ultra-high pressure media inside the pump.
🏭  The main application industries and working conditions of BB5 pump
The BB5 pump is designed specifically for critical, continuous processes that require the pressurization of liquids to extremely high pressures, and is the heart equipment of the following industry core devices.

Why is it necessary to use BB5 pump for typical working conditions and sections in the application industry?
Thermal power generation and nuclear power • High pressure boiler feedwater pump (main application)
The maximum pressure of the main feedwater pump in a nuclear power plant is the ultra-high feedwater pressure required for supercritical and ultra supercritical boilers (often exceeding 30MPa).
Extremely high reliability: requires continuous operation without faults throughout the year, and the dual shell design provides redundant safety assurance.
High pressure and corrosion resistance of the high-pressure feedwater pump for seawater desalination and reverse osmosis: providing 5-8MPa or even higher operating pressure for the reverse osmosis membrane, and the material can withstand seawater corrosion.
Feed pumps for hydrocracking and residue hydrogenation units in petrochemical and refining industries
High pressure water injection pump (such as CO ₂ oil displacement) operates under high-temperature and high-pressure composite conditions: it can withstand high temperature, high pressure, and hydrogen environments simultaneously, and a double-layer shell is essential for safety.
Oil and Gas • Oilfield Water Injection Pump (Enhanced Recovery)
Pipeline transportation booster pump with ultra-high head: used to inject high-pressure water into deep wells or long-distance pipelines, with extremely high pressure requirements.
High pressure ammonium pump for urea synthesis in basic chemical engineering: High pressure and corrosion resistance for handling highly corrosive media under high pressure.

BB5 vs. BB3: Core Differences and Selection
This is the most crucial multiple-choice question, both are double shell, but applicable in different scenarios:

Feature BB5 (Radial Split Double Shell) BB3 (Axial Split Double Shell)
Internal core structure, radial subdivision, multi-stage segmented, axial integral "core package"
Performance focus: Extreme high head (multi-stage series), high temperature and pressure, thermal shock (single-stage or few stages)
Maintenance method: Open the outer cylinder, horizontally open the inner core, open the end cover, and axially extract the "core package" as a whole
Typical applications include boiler feed pumps, seawater desalination high-pressure pumps, hydrogenation reaction feed pumps, and high-temperature hydrocarbon pumps
The Golden Rule of Selection:

Pursuing "ultra-high lift" ->Choose BB5.

Coping with "high temperature and high pressure thermal shock" ->select BB3.

Summary: API 610 BB5 pump is an engineering masterpiece designed to conquer extreme pressures. Its position in fields such as thermal power generation and seawater desalination is unshakable. Its astonishing cost and complexity make it a necessary and worthwhile investment in the face of the absolute requirements of ensuring power grid stability, freshwater supply, and core chemical process safety. Choosing BB5 means choosing the top-level reliability and safety guarantee under extreme working conditions.

Sulzer's BB5 pump models mainly come in two series: the GSG series (guide vane type, vertically split inner shell) and the CP series (double volute type, horizontally split inner shell). Although they belong to the BB5 cylinder bag pump, there are significant differences in structural design and advantageous applications.

In order to give you a more intuitive understanding of their differences and applicable scenarios, I have organized the core information into the following table:

🔧  Comparison of structural characteristics between two series of Sulzer BB5 pumps
Comparison dimension GSG series (guide vane type) CP series (double vortex shell type)
Vertical subdivision of inner shell structure (Diffuser) and horizontal subdivision (Volute)
The impeller arrangement is back-to-back, which can effectively balance axial forces. Symmetric impellers can also balance axial thrust, and even small pumps do not require an external lubricating oil system.
The core design features a guide vane diffuser design with high single-stage head. The rotor is dynamically balanced and runs smoothly. The inner shell of the double volute shell balances the radial load and extends its lifespan. Optional dual suction head stage impeller to cope with extremely low inlet cavitation head (NPSHa) conditions.
The maintenance convenience of the guide vane structure allows for separate replacement of individual stage components. Horizontal splitting of the inner shell means that the rotor balance is not affected by disassembly and assembly; The large pump adopts a core package design, which can be extracted as a whole, greatly reducing maintenance time.
Maximum performance boundary flow rate~1000 m ³/h
Head up to 2800 m, flow up to 1000 m ³/h
Head up to~7000 m
The maximum pressure is 425 bar
Applicable temperature -50 ° C~425 ° C
Best applicable scenario for power plant boiler feedwater and low-density medium conditions with high requirements for rotor stability. High temperature and high pressure refining and petrochemical processes (such as hydrogenation), high-pressure water injection, offshore platforms, and long-distance pipelines.
🏭  Main application industries
Sulzer's BB5 pump is widely used in the following key industrial fields due to its high performance and reliability:

Petroleum refining: This is the core battlefield of the CP series, with typical applications including feedstock for hydrocracking units, feedstock for hydroprocessing units, and high-temperature and high-pressure conditions such as ethylene transportation.

Oil and gas extraction and transportation:

Offshore platform: used for high-pressure water injection (to improve oil recovery), crude oil export, and flow assurance (such as dead oil/hot oil circulation), to ensure stable production of deep-sea oil and gas. Sulzer recently received an order to provide multiple sets of 9.5MW BB5 water injection pumps for Petrobras' new generation FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit), which is a strong proof of its strength in this field.

Onshore pipeline: used for long-distance pipeline transportation of crude oil, refined oil (such as diesel, aviation kerosene), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and supercritical CO ₂ and other media, especially in complex terrains that require high pressure from a single station.

Electric power industry: The GSG series is commonly used as a boiler feed pump and is applied in thermal power plants, nuclear power plants (conventional islands), and large biomass power plants.

Other industrial sectors:

Water injection and produced water treatment: Water injection used in oil fields to enhance oil recovery, as well as treatment and reinjection of produced water and saltwater.

Hydraulic recovery: It can be used as a hydraulic recovery turbine to recover high-pressure energy in the process flow, achieving energy conservation and consumption reduction.

I hope this detailed review can help you better understand the structure and application of the Sulzer BB5 pump. If you have further questions about the selection for a specific application scenario, feel free to ask me again.

Like Sulzer, Flowserve also has a deep technical accumulation and rich product line in the field of BB5 horizontal multi-stage centrifugal pumps. The characteristic of Flowserve is that it provides a variety of BB5 pump types with different structures through the integration of technology from multiple long-standing brands under its umbrella, such as Pacific and Byron Jackson, to adapt to various harsh working conditions, from ultra-low flow to extremely high pressure.

In order to present more clearly, I have compiled the structural characteristics and application information of Flowserve's mainstream BB5 pump series into the following table:

🔧  Comparison of the structural characteristics and applications of the three major series of Flowserve BB5 pumps
Comparison Dimension WIK/WIKO Series WXB/WXBB Series HDB/HSB Series
Vertical subdivision of inner shell structure (guide vane type), vertical subdivision (diffuser type), horizontal subdivision (double vortex shell type)
Impeller arrangement in series (Tandem) or opposed (WIKO type, Opposed) series (Tandem) back-to-back (Opposed)
The core design feature is a heavy-duty rigid rotor design, derived from Pacific IJ pump technology. Adopting a multi blade radial split diffuser, the operation is extremely stable. The WIKO model responds to ultra-high pressures exceeding 450 bar through opposed impellers. Combining the hydraulic range of the annular pump with the maintenance convenience of the bucket pump. The WXBB model adopts a Barske style impeller, optimized for stable performance with low flow and high head. The inner shell is designed with double vortex shells, which can automatically balance radial forces. Double suction first stage impellers are optional to cope with extremely low inlet cavitation head (NPSH) conditions. The rotor can be dynamically balanced as a whole, making maintenance convenient.
Performance boundary flow rate: up to 2000 m ³/h
Lift: up to 7000 meters
Pressure: standard up to 450 bar, WIKO type can be higher
Temperature: up to 450 ° C WXB: flow rate up to 300 m ³/h, head up to 1200 m
WXBB: Flow rate up to 35 m ³/h, head up to 1560 m
Pressure: up to 200 bar
Temperature: WXB to 300 ° C, WXBB to 200 ° C for high temperature and high pressure applications, especially suitable for high flow boiler feedwater. The specific parameters are not explicitly listed, but they are positioned as high-performance operating conditions.
Typical applications and industries include hydrocracking/hydroprocessing feed in refineries, coke removal systems, high-pressure water injection, high-temperature and high-pressure processes, and nuclear power. Refining, petrochemical, LNG station, condensing service, boiler feedwater. Boiler feedwater, high-pressure water injection, electricity, crude oil transportation, hydrocracking, etc.
💡  How to choose Flowserve BB5 pump according to demand?
By comparison, it can be seen that Flowserve covers almost all high-end application scenarios of BB5 pumps through differentiated product design. You can make a preliminary judgment based on specific working conditions:

Pursuing ultimate pressure and extreme reliability: If facing high temperature (up to 450 ° C) and ultra-high pressure (above 450 bar) conditions such as hydrocracking, or for use in coking systems for delayed coking units in refineries, then the WIK/WIKO series is its most essential choice. It originates from the Pacific brand and is known for its heavy-duty rigid rotors and high stability, making it a recognized high-end solution in the industry.

The working condition is low flow and high head: If the process requires precise low flow conveying and very high head (such as certain chemical processes or specialized pressurization), then the WXBB series designed with Barske impellers will have great advantages, as it can maintain stable performance at low flow.

More emphasis is placed on maintenance convenience and medium parameter operating conditions: If the operating parameters belong to the medium range (pressure ≤ 200 bar, temperature ≤ 300 ° C), but require extremely high maintenance and start-up rate of the device, and it is hoped that the rotor can be quickly extracted as a whole during maintenance, then the HDB/HSB series (derived from Byron Jackson technology) with a horizontally split inner shell and back-to-back impeller design is a good choice. Its double vortex shell structure can effectively balance radial forces, making it particularly suitable for applications such as boiler feedwater.

Is it convenient to disclose your specific operating parameters? For example, medium, flow rate, head, temperature, and pressure. Tell me these details, and I can help you further analyze which series is more suitable for you.