Suction Pipe Inlet Device For Centrifugal Pump

A suction pipe inlet device (1) for minimizing entrance losses in slurry systems involving centrifugal pumps (100);

• the suction pipe inlet device (1) being connected to a retention tank (5) and a suction pipe (4) that is connected to a centrifugal pump (100);
• the suction pipe inlet device (1) comprising:
• a hollow tubular axisymmetric body along a longitudinal axis (L) having an open first end (1a) protruding into a retention tank (5);
• an open second end (1b) fitting into or against an inflow end of a suction pipe (4) having an outer pipe diameter (Odp) and an inner pipe diameter (Idp);
• a converging section (10) located closer to the retention tank (5);
• a diverging section (20) located closer to the suction pipe (4);
• a throat (1c) located at the intersection point between the converging and diverging sections (10, 20), the converging and diverging sections (10, 20) defining an interior converging-diverging geometry within the tubular axisymmetric body and the throat (1c) defining a minimum inner cross sectional area of the tubular axisymmetric body;
• wherein the suction pipe (4) further comprises a liner (7) with a predetermined thickness (T) and wherein the suction pipe (4) also has an inner pipe lined wet diameter (ldw) adjacent the open second end (1b);
• wherein an outer diameter or outer surface of the suction pipe inlet device (1) is shaped such that the suction pipe inlet device can be extracted through a generally circular hole or recess in the retention tank (5);
• and
• wherein the outer pipe diameter (Odp) of the suction pipe (4) is approximately equal to an outer diameter of the hollow tubular axisymmetric body.