Recently, a major oil company needed a ‘tiny’ multiphase circulation pump for a new process developed by them for use in a petrochemical plant.

This process could contain up to 20% gas (mainly CO2). Head and flow required are nominal values that could easily be accomplished with an ISO 13709 OH2 (end suction single stage) type pump – were it not for the substantial gas content.  . After investigating several alternatives it was concluded that Sulzer Pumps technology addressed the process needs. It was the only manufacturer capable of guaranteeing stable operation of the pump whatever the (fluctuating) gas content was.

The solution was to use Sulzer's OHH pump (ISO 13709/API 610 OH2 design) equipped with a helico-axial hydraulic taken from the world record holding MPP multistage multiphase pumps. In order to prove this solution met the system requirements, tests were carried out in the company's development centre in Winterthur, Switzerland.

Sulzer Pompes France is currently manufacturing pump sets for two end-users who use the process license:
Commissioning is planned in early 2008. Further orders are expected shortly as the technology becomes established with end users.
The Sulzer Pumps MPP-OHH is ideal for any process containing gas (up to 40 %) where separation is not desirable or practical.

The range covers:
• Flows up to 600 m3/h (2,600 USgpm),
• Pressure rises up to 5 bar (70 psi),
• Powers up to 250 kW (330 HP).

Section drawing of the new OHH-MPP multiphase process pump

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