Articles
Pump selection, operation, installation and maintenance: find the topic that helps you understand your application.
Engineering
Concepts, curves and criteria to understand how your system works.
- 7 min read
ASME B73.1 and B73.2: The Chemical Process Centrifugal Pump Standard — Scope, Interchangeability and Specification
Understand the scope of the standards, the difference between construction and dimensions, and the documents needed to assess a replacement in chemical process service.
Read article - 14 min read
NBR 10897: Automatic Sprinklers — Hazards, Densities and What the Standard Requires from the Pump
NBR 10897 is the Brazilian standard for automatic sprinkler fire protection systems, and Fire Department rules apply it with their own parameters. A manufacturer’s guide based on Federal District NT 13 and São Paulo IT 23: hazard classification by fire load, density/area curves, system types and what the design requires from the fire pump.
Read article - 10 min read
Fire Water Reserve (RTI): What It Is, How to Calculate It and What It Requires from the Pump
The fire water reserve (RTI) is the water volume dedicated exclusively to firefighting, provided for first response over a defined time. A manufacturer’s guide: the V = Q × t formula of the hydrant standard, the state Technical Instruction tables, the difference between total volume and effective capacity, and what the reserve requires from the fire pump suction.
Read article - 12 min read
Fire Pump Room: Environment Requirements, Components and the Path to Approval
A manufacturer’s guide to the fire pump room: what NFPA 20 requires from the room, what the São Paulo and Goiás technical instructions add, what goes inside and what is checked at acceptance and in periodic inspections.
Read article - 13 min read
NBR 16704: Stationary Fire Pump Sets — Requirements, Performance Curve and Acceptance
NBR 16704 is the ABNT standard for the stationary pump sets that supply automatic fire protection systems such as sprinklers. A manufacturer guide to what it covers and where it is required, which pumps NFPA 20 accepts, the curve the pump must meet, the role of the jockey pump and the tests and documents for acceptance.
Read article - 14 min read
NBR 13714: Hydrant and Hose Station Systems — Types, Components and the Role of the Fire Pump
NBR 13714 defines hydrant and hose station systems in Brazilian buildings: the three system types by risk, the fire water reserve, the network, the fire department connection and the pump that sustains it all. A manufacturer guide to what the standard requires — and how it relates to NBR 16704 and NFPA 20.
Read article - 7 min read
Industrial Pump TCO: Lifecycle Cost, MTBF, Energy, Retrofit vs Replacement
Purchase, energy, maintenance and downtime: the data needed to compare pump refurbishment with replacement.
Read article - 7 min read
Extreme Service with FBE and FBOT Pumps: Viscous Fluids, High Temperatures and Critical Applications
FBE for assessing viscous-liquid transfer and FBOT for thermal-oil circulation: documented limits, selection data and checks for materials, heating and suction.
Read article - 12 min read
NPSH in Centrifugal Pumps: NPSHa, NPSHr, Safety Margin and Suction-Specific Speed
Technical guide to NPSH in centrifugal pumps: installation NPSHa, NPSHr and NPSH3 from the curve, the formula with atmospheric pressure by altitude and water vapour pressure, a worked example from 20 to 95 °C, application-based margin under ANSI/HI 9.6.1, suction specific speed and the NPSHr curves of the FBCN series.
Read article - 13 min read
How to Read a Centrifugal Pump Performance Curve: BEP, POR, AOR and Operating Points
Technical guide to reading a centrifugal pump performance curve: flow × head, flow × power, flow × NPSHr and flow × efficiency. It explains the best efficiency point (BEP), the preferred operating region (POR) and the allowable operating region (AOR), shutoff and runout, with the flow limits the FB Bombas FBCN Series manual publishes for each size.
Read article - 5 min read
How a Centrifugal Pump Works: Physical Principle, Components and Industrial Application
Technical guide on how a centrifugal pump works: how the impeller converts mechanical energy into pressure energy, role of the volute, simplified Euler equation and references to FB Bombas FBCN pumps per ASME B73.1.
Read article - 21 min read
How to Size an NFPA 20 Fire Pump: Step-by-Step Guide from Manufacturer FB Bombas
A manufacturer's step-by-step technical guide: design flow, total head with Hazen-Williams, suction and NPSH, the NFPA 20 curve envelope, driver and diesel tank, and jockey pump settings. Three hypothetical numerical examples show the full calculation, from the rated point to the 150% point.
Read article - 9 min read
Viscosity in Industrial Pump Selection
Dynamic and kinematic viscosity, units, temperature and data needed to compare FBE, FBEI and FBCN. Consult fluid data and configuration tables.
Read article - 15 min read
Pressure Loss in Industrial Piping: Calculation, Tables and Impact on Pump NPSH
Technical guide from FB Bombas manufacturer: how to calculate distributed and localized pressure losses, why this directly impacts pump NPSH and performance, and how to size suction piping to prevent cavitation.
Read article - 14 min read
Cavitation in Industrial Pumps: What It Is, How to Identify and How to Prevent
Complete technical guide on cavitation in gear (FBE/FBEI) and centrifugal (FBCN/FBOT) pumps: physical mechanism, field symptoms, real causes, NPSH relationship and prevention checklist based on FB Bombas manuals.
Read article - 15 min read
NPSH in Gear Pumps: Practical Calculation for Viscous Fluids
How to size your installation's available NPSH, interpret the manufacturer's required NPSH, and avoid cavitation in FBE pumps transferring oils, asphalt, resins and viscous chemicals.
Read article - 8 min read
Gear Pump Sizing: How to Calculate Flow, Pressure and Power Step by Step
The three calculations that define the right pump: actual flow from volumetric displacement, differential pressure from the circuit, and shaft power with motor reserve — with a fully worked numerical example.
Read article - 12 min read
Fire Fighting Pump System — Technical Guide: Components, Standards and Configurations
Understand pump functions, drivers and protection-system interfaces. See which data to gather to select an assembly and check installation, testing and maintenance scope.
Read article - 8 min read
Motor-Pump Assembly — What It Is, Components and How to Specify for Your Industrial Application
Pump, driver, base and coupling: define components, check alignment and document installation interfaces. Inputs for a comparable technical proposal.
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Selection
Fluid, application and operating conditions: what to consider before specifying.
- 11 min read
Foam Concentrate Pumps: Transfer, Viscosity and NFPA 11
Distinguish transfer from proportioning, check concentrate data and assess assembly compatibility when transitioning from fluorinated foams to SFFF.
Read article - 10 min read
Self-Priming Pump: How It Works and When to Use Gear Pumps
What self-priming means and what to confirm: suction lift, fluid, viscosity, speed, sealing and startup preparation for FBE and FBEI.
Read article - 7 min read
How to Specify a Centrifugal Pump for Public Tenders and Petrobras Processes
Duty point, applicable standards and acceptance documentation: how to organize the technical specification and tell product quality evidence apart from supplier qualification.
Read article - 12 min read
Types of Centrifugal Pumps: Technical Classification and Selection Criteria
Technical classification of centrifugal pumps by flow direction (radial/mixed/axial), number of stages, shaft orientation, casing configuration and impeller geometry — with references to the FBCN Series (horizontal end-suction back pull-out, mechanically to ASME B73.1), the FBOT Series (back pull-out for thermal oil) and the FBME Series (horizontal multistage) from FB Bombas.
Read article - 5 min read
CAP, Bitumen and Pitch: Heated Pumping Parameters — Technical Guide
Criteria for assessing FBE in CAP and bitumen transfer: viscosity at actual temperature, size-specific speed, heating and configuration materials.
Read article - 11 min read
NFPA 20 and Brazilian Standards: Specifying Fire Pumps
Understand the role of each reference, the functions of main, standby and jockey pumps and the documents needed to compare proposals. The standard edition and jurisdiction are part of the specification.
Read article - 6 min read
Cane Juice, Vinasse and Ethanol: Pump Selection Table by Process Stage
Compare juice, vinasse, molasses and utility data before selecting a pump. Distinguish steam processes from circuits that actually use thermal oil.
Read article - 7 min read
Gear Pump vs Centrifugal Pump: When to Use Each — Technical Guide with Real Data
Compare operating principles and FBE, FBEI, FBCN and FBOT range data. Selection combines fluid, duty point, suction and configuration limits.
Read article - 7 min read
How to Select a Gear Pump by Viscosity: Technical Guide with Real FBE Data
Viscosity and speed, models covered by the FBE manual, inlet pressure and motor allowance. Compare the tables with the current catalogue and proposed configuration.
Read article - 7 min read
Thermal Oil Pumps up to 350 °C: Selection Criteria and Common Pitfalls
Technical selection guide for centrifugal pumps specialized in organic thermal oil circulation in industrial heating systems — mechanical seal, bearing-housing thermal barrier, materials and mistakes that compromise service life.
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Maintenance
Installation, startup and fault investigation, considering both equipment and process.
- 16 min read
NFPA 25: Fire Pump Inspection, Testing and Maintenance
A manufacturer’s guide to the fire pump routine after handover: what NFPA 25 requires in the no-flow test, the annual flow test, weekly inspection and maintenance, and what NBR 13714 and the technical instructions add in Brazil.
Read article - 11 min read
Pump-Motor Alignment: Types, Tolerances and Step-by-Step Procedure
Procedure for aligning pump-motor sets: the three deviations (parallel, angular and axial), a tolerance table by speed, the three measurement methods (dial indicator, laser and straightedge with feeler gauge), thermal compensation in hot service and the role of vibration under ISO 10816-7.
Read article - 10 min read
Pump Overheating: 6 Real Causes and How to Solve
Overheating diagnosis for centrifugal and gear pumps: blocked discharge, internal recirculation, bearing lubrication, alignment, packing and mechanical seal — with the limits published in the FBCN, FBOT and FBEI manuals and the method to measure each cause.
Read article - 10 min read
Pump Losing Pressure: Systematic Diagnosis and 8 Real Causes
Field methodology to diagnose gradual or sudden pressure drop in FBCN, FBOT and FBE pumps: Q×H measurement, comparison with catalog curve, root cause identification among impeller wear (centrifugal) or gear wear (FBE), internal clearances, partial cavitation, bypass, air in suction, clogged strainer, altered viscosity and reduced speed.
Read article - 13 min read
Pump Not Drawing Water: 9 Real Causes and How to Solve Each One
Field diagnostics for centrifugal water pumps — such as the FBCN line — that start but fail to establish flow: priming, suction sealing, foot valve, NPSHa, suction lift, strainer, rotation direction, internal wear and packing, with the practical fix for each cause. The nine causes also apply to home, well or pool pumps; FB Bombas manufactures industrial pumps and, for a process pump in a plant, send the model and nameplate to FB engineering.
Read article - 11 min read
Vibration in Centrifugal Pumps: ISO 10816-7 Limits, Causes and Measurement Points
Technical maintenance guide on measuring and interpreting vibration in centrifugal pumps per ISO 10816-7: zones A, B, C and D, limits in mm/s RMS by category and power, measurement points, causes of high vibration, alarm and trip, and the difference between rotor balancing and installed-pump vibration.
Read article - 7 min read
Gear Pump Installation and Startup: Complete Manufacturer Checklist
A verification checklist based on FBE and FBEI manuals. Limits and procedures must match the series, coupling and configuration actually supplied.
Read article - 16 min read
Mechanical Seal for Pumps — Complete Technical Guide: Types, Materials and How to Specify
Everything about mechanical seals in industrial pumps: operating principle, types (single, double, cartridge), face materials, difference between seal and packing, and how to specify for centrifugal and gear pumps.
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History
The industrial context of pump manufacturing in Brazil.