Inline Flow Straightening Spools

Smith Pump Company & City of Dallas, Texas

CASE STUDY

Problem:

Smith Pump Company & the City of Dallas, Texas had experienced severe pump intake issues including vibration & noise.

 
 

 

Action:

Clemson Engineering Hydraulics in Anderson, South Carolina was contracted to model the intake and determined that a Flow Optimizers Spool Size 30-inch diameter x 19-inch length custom rolled to 31.63″ ID, 32.25 O.D. (.31 WALL) 316L pipe complete with a 5″ x 5″ square grid – 18″ long.  Order includes Five (5) Spool’s total.
Fig-5-1-Flow-Straightening-Grid

Solution:

Flow Conditioning Spools with Grid

  • Spool: custom rolled to 31.25 inches diameter
  • Spool: minimum Length: 19 inches with 18-inch grid length
  • Flanges: 150-lb bolt pattern flat face – welded (NOT 150lb. rated)
  • Pipe material: 316L A778 welded stainless steel pipe, Schedule 10S
  • Flange material: 316L stainless steel

 

Flow-Optimizers-dwg.-#FSS-3019-Dallas,-TX

SPECIFICATIONS

Inlet Flow Conditioning Spool

1. Pump manufacturer to provide a flow conditioner for each pump consisting of a flanged spool piece with internal flow conditioning grid as indicated and specified for all double suction split case pumps with suctions 8 inch [200 mm] and larger. 

a. Provide a certified drawing including dimensions, weight, welding requirements, material designations, material thicknesses and flange details for review with pump submittal.

2. Provide flow conditioning grid design approved by a Nationally recognized Hydraulics Testing Laboratory.

a. For sizes larger than 18 inch (450 mm) provide a design based on physical hydraulic modeling by a Nationally Recognized Hydraulics Laboratory

3. Design Criteria:

a. Spool, Minimum Length: 19 inches

    1. Inside Diameter: 31.625 inches (+/- 0.063) custom rolled
    2. Pipe wall thickness: 5/16 inch (0.3125” +/- 12.5% (0.274 min))
    3. Flanged Ends: 30 inches diameter x 1 inch thick
    4. Drilled for Flat Faced ANSI 150-lb bolt pattern
    5. Type: Fully welded to pipe

b. Grid, Minimum Length: 18 inches

    1. Thickness: 0.125 inch (3 mm)
    2. Grid Spacing: 5 inches (125 mm) nominal

4. Materials: 

a. Spool: Type 316L A778 welded stainless steel pipe, Schedule 10S

b. Flanges: 316L stainless steel

c. Grid: 316L stainless steel

 

5. Finish: pipe & flange

Pickled and passivated, 

Completely immerse for a minimum of 15 minutes in 10% nitric acid and 3% hydrofluoric acid at 125 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a neutralizing rinse.

 

6. Manufacturer:  Flow Optimizers, LLC. 

CONTRACTOR:
Smith Pump Company, Inc.
4624 Martin Luther King Freeway
Fort Worth, TX  76119


ENGINEER: 
Clemson Engineering Hydraulics
120 River Heights Circle
Anderson, SC 29621

“The GRIDs really worked well.”
 
City of Dallas