Technical Articles
Long-form technical content written by FB Bombas' Engineering Team — based on eight decades of design, manufacturing and industrial customer support.
- Selection8 min read
Self-Priming Pump: How It Works and When to Use Gear Pumps
What self-priming means, why gear pumps generate suction without a foot valve, the real limits of self-priming (air, viscosity, speed, piping) and how to select between the FBE and FBEI series for industrial viscous fluids.
Read article - Engineering8 min read
NBR 10897: Automatic Sprinklers — Hazards, Densities and What the Standard Requires from the Pump
NBR 10897 governs automatic sprinkler systems in Brazilian buildings: hazard classification, the density/area method, system types and the water supply that sustains it all. A manufacturer guide to what the standard demands from the design — and why the fire pump is sized by hydraulic calculation, never from the catalog.
Read article - Engineering8 min read
Fire Water Reserve (RTI): What It Is, How to Calculate It and What It Requires from the Pump
The fire water reserve is the water volume dedicated exclusively to fire fighting — the system autonomy until the Fire Department takes over. A manufacturer guide: the V = Q × t formula from the hydrant standard, the state instruction tables, the difference between total volume and effective capacity, and why the reserve defines the fire pump suction.
Read article - Engineering7 min read
Fire Pump Room: Environment Requirements, Components and the Path to Approval
The pump room is the heart of the fire-fighting system — and the most failed room at inspection. Manufacturer guide: what NFPA 20 requires from the environment (fire-rated separation, temperature, ventilation, drainage), what goes inside, when the pre-assembled skid simplifies the job and how the state instruction leads the system to approval.
Read article - Maintenance7 min read
NFPA 25: Fire Pump Inspection, Testing and Maintenance — Weekly Test, Annual Test and the Records Inspections Demand
A fire pump sits idle for years and must work perfectly on the one day it is needed. NFPA 25 is the standard that guarantees this: it defines the periodic no-flow test, the annual flow test and the pump house inspections. A manufacturer guide to the routine that keeps the system alive — and the fire certificate valid.
Read article - Engineering7 min read
NBR 16704: Stationary Fire Pump Sets — Requirements, Performance Curve and Acceptance
NBR 16704 is the Brazilian standard for the stationary pump sets that pressurize sprinklers and fire networks. A manufacturer guide to what it requires: which pumps are accepted, which performance curve the set must meet, the role of the jockey pump and the tests that prove it all at acceptance.
Read article - Engineering10 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 - Engineering13 min read
Industrial Pump TCO: Lifecycle Cost, MTBF, Energy, Retrofit vs Replacement
Honest analysis of industrial pump total cost of ownership — 5 levers (CAPEX, energy, maintenance, downtime, retrofit), narrative comparative table between an aging imported pump and FB national retrofit, and qualitative payback ranges. No magic calculator.
Read article - Engineering12 min read
Extreme Service with FBE and FBOT Pumps: Viscous Fluids, High Temperatures and Critical Applications
Why FBE (external gear) and FBOT (thermally isolated centrifugal) pumps are the reference for fluids at the edge of the operational envelope — asphalt, thermal oil, molasses, polymers, glycerin and BPF oil. Technical narrative anchored in API 676 and FB Bombas manuals.
Read article - Selection10 min read
How to Specify a Centrifugal Pump for Public Tenders and Petrobras Processes
Practical guide for process engineers, buyers and tender-document writers: CRCC Petrobras Family 6 requirements, API 610 and ASME B73.1 compliance, hydraulic test bench, ISO 21940 G2.5 balancing, mandatory documentation, and the most common anti-patterns that exclude qualified national suppliers — including the false ISO 9001 requirement.
Read article - Maintenance10 min read
Pump-Motor Alignment: Types, Tolerances and Step-by-Step Procedure
Technical procedure for motor-pump set alignment: three misalignment types (parallel, angular, axial), practical tolerances (0.05 mm for rigid couplings, 0.10 mm for flexible), three measurement methods (dial indicator, laser alignment, straightedge + feeler gauge) and validation by ISO 10816 vibration — FB Bombas reference for FBCN, FBOT, FBE and FBEI.
Read article - Maintenance9 min read
Pump Overheating: 6 Real Causes and How to Solve
Overheating diagnostics in FBCN, FBOT and FBEI pumps: shutoff operation, internal recirculation from worn rings, unlubricated bearings, incorrect pump-motor alignment, over-tightened packing and mechanical seal without cooling — with ISO 10816 vibration limits and the critical 90 °C bearing threshold.
Read article - Maintenance8 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, internal clearances, partial cavitation, bypass, air in suction, clogged strainer, altered viscosity and reduced speed.
Read article - Maintenance9 min read
Pump Not Drawing Water: 9 Real Causes and How to Solve Each One
Field diagnostics for FBCN and FBOT centrifugal pumps that start but fail to establish flow: priming, suction sealing, foot valve, NPSHa, geometric height, strainer, rotation direction, internal wear and packing — with the practical fix for each cause.
Read article - Maintenance10 min read
Vibration in Centrifugal Pumps: ISO 10816-7 Limits, Causes and Measurement Points
Technical maintenance guide on measurement and interpretation of vibration in centrifugal pumps per ISO 10816-7 (rotodynamic pumps): zones A/B/C/D severity, RMS velocity values in mm/s, main causes of elevated vibration, correct measurement points and action thresholds — aligned with ISO 21940 G2.5 balancing of FB Bombas FBCN, FBOT and FBEI Series.
Read article - Engineering10 min read
NPSH in Centrifugal Pumps: NPSHa, NPSHr, Safety Margin and Suction-Specific Speed
Technical guide on NPSH specifically applied to centrifugal pumps: calculation of available NPSH (NPSHa) in the installation, reading of required NPSH (NPSHr) on the curve, safety margin per the application-specific guidelines of ANSI/HI 9.6.1, suction-specific speed (Nss), incipient cavitation regions and internal recirculation — with application in FB Bombas FBCN DN200+ series.
Read article - Engineering9 min read
How to Read a Centrifugal Pump Performance Curve: BEP, POR, AOR and Operating Points
Technical guide for reading the centrifugal pump performance curve: flow vs head, flow vs power, flow vs NPSHr and flow vs efficiency. Best Efficiency Point (BEP), Preferred Operating Range (POR 70-120% BEP), Allowable Operating Range (AOR), shutoff and runout — with reference to FB Bombas FBCN Series protocols.
Read article - Selection9 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, ASME B73.1) and FBOT Series (close-coupled for thermal oil) from FB Bombas.
Read article - Engineering9 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 - Engineering14 min read
How to Size an NFPA 20 Fire Pump: Step-by-Step Guide from FB Bombas Manufacturer
Complete technical guide from the manufacturer: flow, pressure, NPSH, mandatory characteristic curve, main pump sizing, diesel standby and jockey. With applied Hazen-Williams formulas and three real numerical examples (shopping center, hospital and logistics warehouse).
Read article - Engineering10 min read
Viscosity: The Definitive Guide for Industrial Pump Selection
What is viscosity, how to measure it, how to convert between units (SSU, cSt, cP), industrial fluid viscosity table and how viscosity determines the choice between FBE gear pump and FBCN centrifugal. Real data from FB Bombas technical manual.
Read article - Engineering12 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 - Engineering9 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 - Selection6 min read
CAP, Bitumen and Pitch: Heated Pumping Parameters — Technical Guide
How to select, specify and operate FBE gear pumps for CAP asphalt, asphalt emulsion and polymer-modified bitumen. Real data from the FB Bombas technical manual.
Read article - Selection7 min read
NFPA 20: What the Standard Requires from the Fire Pump System — Main, Diesel Standby and Jockey
NFPA 20 is the worldwide reference for stationary fire pump installation — and the technical basis cited in Brazilian Technical Instructions and specifications. Manufacturer guide: the three system pumps, the panel, the required curve, the complete skid and the mistakes that fail specification.
Read article - Selection7 min read
Cane Juice, Vinasse and Ethanol: Pump Selection Table by Process Stage
Which FB pump to use at each mill stage — from cane juice to molasses, from evaporator thermal oil to fire protection. Real data from technical manuals.
Read article - Selection8 min read
Gear Pump vs Centrifugal Pump: When to Use Each — Technical Guide with Real Data
Technical comparison between gear pumps (FBE/FBEI) and centrifugal pumps (FBCN/FBOT) based on the real operating limits from FB Bombas technical manuals. No opinion — just data.
Read article - Maintenance10 min read
Gear Pump Installation and Startup: Complete Manufacturer Checklist
Official installation, alignment, startup and operation procedure for FB Bombas gear pumps (FBE and FBEI series), extracted in full from the manufacturer technical manual.
Read article - Selection8 min read
How to Select a Gear Pump by Viscosity: Technical Guide with Real FBE Data
Real selection tables from the FBE technical manual: viscosity × rotation, maximum pressure by viscosity range, power reserve and model nomenclature.
Read article - Engineering12 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 - Selection13 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, cooling chamber, materials and mistakes that compromise service life.
Read article - History15 min read
History of the Brazilian Industrial Pump Industry: from the Post-War Era to the Digital Age
How Brazil built its national industrial pump industry from scratch, between 1944 and the 2000s — with FB Bombas among the pioneering companies that made import substitution viable and accompanied Brazilian industrial development for eight decades.
Read article - Maintenance8 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.
Read article - Engineering7 min read
Fire Fighting Pump System — Technical Guide: Components, Standards and Configurations
Complete guide to fire fighting pump systems: mandatory components, configurations (electric, diesel, redundant), NFPA 20 and NBR 16704 standards, sizing and how FB Bombas supplies integrated skids ready for installation.
Read article - Engineering7 min read
Motor-Pump Assembly — What It Is, Components and How to Specify for Your Industrial Application
Technical guide on motor-pump assembly: pump + motor + baseplate + coupling as an integrated unit. How to specify, advantages of factory-assembled units and what FB Bombas delivers ready for installation.
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