Category
Rotating Equipment
Subcategory
Pump
Applicable standards
5
Issuing bodies
4
Description
Vertical in-line centrifugal pump (OH3/OH4/OH5 type), commonly chemical or utility duty.
Applicable Standards (5)
API — 1 standard
API 610 / ISO 13709
Centrifugal Pumps for Petroleum, Petrochemical and Natural Gas Industries
Workhorse standard for heavy-duty process centrifugal pumps. Pump types OH1–OH6, BB1–BB5, VS1–VS7.
Key requirements (13)
- Pump types: OH (overhung), BB (between bearings), VS (vertically suspended) — 13 configurations.
- OH1 = foot-mounted, OH2 = centerline-mounted, OH3 = vertical inline rigid coupling.
- BB1 = axially-split single-stage, BB2 = radially-split, BB3 = axially-split multistage, BB5 = barrel (double-casing) multistage.
- VS = vertically suspended (sump, can-type, etc.) — VS1 to VS7.
- Minimum design pressure: max suction + 1.5 × differential, or maximum discharge — whichever is greater.
- Hydrostatic test: 1.5 × maximum allowable working pressure, ≥ 30 minutes.
- L10 bearing life: ≥ 25,000 hrs continuous operation; ≥ 16,000 hrs at maximum loads.
- Shaft deflection: ≤ 50 µm (0.002 in) at primary seal faces under maximum hydraulic loads.
- Allowable nozzle loads per Table 5 (forces and moments on suction & discharge).
- Performance test per ISO 9906 Grade 2B (typical).
- Vibration limits per API 670 — overall < 3 mm/s RMS for new pumps typically.
- Materials: Annex H — material classes A (CI), B (CS), C (12Cr), D (austenitic SS), S (duplex), etc.
- Sealing: per API 682 (mechanical seal piping plans 11, 13, 21, 23, 32, 52, 53A/B/C, 54).
Note: Default for refinery, petrochemical and oil & gas pumps.
ASME — 2 standards
ASME B73.2
Specification for Vertical In-Line Centrifugal Pumps for Chemical Process
Vertical in-line centrifugal pumps for chemical service.
ASME B73.1
Specification for Horizontal End Suction Centrifugal Pumps for Chemical Process
Horizontal end-suction chemical process pumps (often called ANSI pumps).
Key requirements (6)
- Horizontal end-suction centrifugal chemical pumps with dimensional interchangeability.
- 10 standard frame sizes (AA through A105) with fixed dimensions (suction/discharge sizes, footprint).
- Single-stage, single-suction, top-discharge, foot-mounted construction.
- Lower duty than API 610 — typical for chemical / dilute service.
- Performance per ANSI/HI 1.6 (counterpart of ISO 9906).
- Bearing life L10 ≥ 17,500 hrs at design; ≥ 8,800 hrs at maximum.
ISO — 1 standard
ISO 9906
Rotodynamic pumps — Hydraulic performance acceptance tests — Grades 1, 2 and 3
Hydraulic performance acceptance testing of pumps.
Hydraulic Institute — 1 standard
HI 1.3
Rotodynamic Centrifugal Pumps for Design and Application
Application guidance for centrifugal pumps.