
PIPING
The cause of many pumping problems can be traced to
suction piping. It should always be as large and short as
practical. For help in selecting the proper size piping, both
suction and discharge, refer to Viking General Catalog
Section 510.
Before starting the layout and installation of your piping
system, consider the following points:
1. Never use piping smaller than the pump port connections.
2. Be sure the inside of the pipe is clean before hooking it up.
3. FOOT VALVE - When pumping a light liquid with a suction
lift, a foot valve at the end of the suction piping or a check
valve in the first horizontal run will hold the liquid in the
line and make it easier for the pump to prime. Be sure the
foot or check valve is big enough so that it doesn’t cause
excessive line loss.
4. When approaching an obstacle in the suction or discharge
line, go around the obstacle instead of over it. Going over
it creates an air pocket. See Figure A13.
5. Where practical, slope the piping so no air or liquid
pockets will be formed. Air pockets in the suction line
make it hard for the pump to prime.
6. For a suction line with a long horizontal run, keep the
horizontal portion below the liquid level if possible. This
keeps the pipe full so the pump does not have to remove
so much air when starting; this is most helpful when there
is no foot valve. See Figure A14.
7. When piping a hot or cold system (liquid being handled is at
a temperature different from the air surrounding the pump),
be sure allowance is made for expansion and contraction of
the piping. Loops, expansion joints, or unsecured (this does
not mean unsupported) runs should be used so the pump
casing is not distorted or put into a bind.
8. STRAINER - It is always good practice to consider a
strainer on the suction side of a positive displacement
pump. The strainer will keep foreign objects from going
into the pump; without a strainer some would go through;
others would cause a jammed pump, a broken part, or
a torn up drive. The strainer basket mesh or perforation
size should be big enough so that it does not cause
excessive pressure drop, but it should be fine enough to
protect the pump. When in doubt as to the proper size,
check with the manufacturer, giving pipe size, flow rate,
and viscosity involved. Provision should be made for
cleaning the strainer. If the pump operates continuously, a
bypass should be built around the strainer or two strainers
should be put in parallel with proper valving so they can
be isolated for cleaning. Use of a strainer is particularly
important at start up to help clean the system of weld
beads, pipe scale, and other foreign objects. For additional
information, refer to TSM 640.
9. If the pump is not equipped with a relief valve,
consideration should be given to mounting one in the
discharge line. Refer to discussion on pressure protection
in item 5 in General Comments section.
10.The pump should not be used to support the piping.
The weight of the piping should be carried by hangers,
supports, stands, etc.
11. When fastening the piping to the pump it should not be
necessary to impose any strain on the pump casing.
“Springing” or “drawing” the piping up to the pump will
cause distortion, possible misalignment, and probable
rapid wear of the pump. Do not use the pump to correct
errors in piping layout or assembly.
12.All joints of the piping system should be tight; pipe sealer
will help assure leak-free threaded joints. Leaks in the
suction line permitting air to be drawn in may cause a
noisy pump or a reduction in capacity.
13.ALIGNMENT - Check the alignment of the drive after the
piping is hooked up. As a final check on pump alignment,
remove the head of the pump and with a feeler gauge
determine if there is clearance all the way around between
the rotor and casing. Because of manufacturing tolerances,
bushing clearances, etc., the rotor may not be centered
in the casing, but it should not drag; dragging would
indicate unit misalignment or casing distortion from piping
strain. Making this check is most desirable on installations
involving Q, M and N size general purpose pumps.
14.The auxiliary piping hooked to jackets, glands, etc. for
heating, cooling, quenching, or for other purposes should
receive the same attention as the piping handling the
pumped liquid.
15.Provide a pressure relief device in any part of a pump and
piping system that can be valved off and, thus, completely
isolated. This is particularly important:
a. When handling a cold liquid such as refrigeration
ammonia that can warm up to ambient temperatures
when the pump is shut off or
b. When handling a liquid such as asphalt or molasses
that has to be heated before it can be pumped.
The rise in temperature causes the liquid to expand; if
there is no provision for pressure relief in the closed o
section, there is a chance that the pump or piping will
rupture.
FIGURE A13
Go around the
obstruction on
the horizontal
Obstruction
DO THIS NOT THIS
Obstruction
FIGURE A14
Keep Long Horizontal
Line Below Liquid Level
DO THIS
NOT THIS
TSM 1462 |Issue A |Page 13 of 18
Viking Pump, Inc. • A Unit of IDEX Corporation • Cedar Falls, IA ©2018