Prospects of canned motor pump units in main pipeline transport applications

UDK: 622.24.05:681.5

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2025-6-93-97

Key words: main pump, canned motor pump, hermetic pump

Authors: I.A. Flegentov (The Pipeline Transport Institute LLC, RF, Moscow); D.M. Starshinov (The Pipeline Transport Institute LLC, RF, Moscow); A.V. Kuleshov (The Pipeline Transport Institute LLC, RF, Moscow); Y.B. Mikheev (The Pipeline Transport Institute LLC, RF, Moscow); E.A. Ryabtsev (The Pipeline Transport Institute LLC, RF, Moscow)

The article discusses prospects of use of canned motor pump units in main pipeline transport systems. Presently, oil and product main pipeline transport systems utilize pumping equipment that fails to provide complete impermeability of the transported fluid due to inherent design limitations. Achieving complete impermeability during oil and petroleum product transportation requires additional systems such as dual mechanical sealings or even comprehensive pump redesign. This paper assesses the feasibility of using pump units operating directly in the pumped fluid, which are capable of ensuring complete impermeability due to their installation directly inside the pipeline. The article presents a comprehensive analysis of benefits and drawbacks of this pump unit design and also a critical assessment of their performance in main pipeline operating conditions. The use of such hermetic pumps shall increase transportation safety thereby preventing the risk of leaks considering, however, the restrictions associated with the structural features of these hydraulic machines and of the equipment operating conditions. The operational characteristics of canned motor pumps are thoroughly discussed, along with an evaluation of their potential application in main pipeline transport systems. The study outlines prerequisites for addressing technical challenges in hermetic pump unit development and defines research directions for their future engineering design.

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