Predictika · Process pumps

An AI sales agent's chemical process pump configuration, checked before the quote goes out

An AI sales agent configures a Flowserve Durco Mark 3 ISO mechanically sealed chemical process pump for a plant: the pump type and hydraulics, impeller and casing, seal chamber, frame, speed and motor power, the duty (flow, head, pressure, temperature and solids), a heating or cooling jacket, the baseplate and the casing pressure rating the quote states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published technical bulletin and returns a verdict, every reason and the casing rating and shaft power limit it computed.

Scope: Flowserve Durco Mark 3 ISO mechanically sealed pumps (bulletin PUTB000586): long-coupled, close-coupled, self-priming and recessed impeller pumps. See everything this validator covers

This validator models one product line, based on Flowserve's public technical bulletin for the Durco Mark 3 ISO mechanically sealed chemical process pump, and handles any configuration of the pump types below, not just the scenarios shown.

  • Pump type and hydraulics — long-coupled, close-coupled, unitized self-priming and recessed impeller pumps; A (extended flow), B (ISO 2858) and C (closed impeller) hydraulics and which type offers which.
  • Impeller, drive and wet end — reverse vane, open and closed impellers with their screw or key drive, the eleven material builds and which builds have a closed impeller, and the seal chambers (conical and cylindrical for A and B hydraulics, FMS and FMI for C).
  • Casing and pressure — the standard 16 bar casing, the 25 bar high-pressure casing and the centerline-mounted casing, the casing rating computed for the configuration, and the casing rating the quote states compared against it.
  • Speed and power — maximum speed by frame and hydraulics, and the maximum power by frame, shaft material and drive at the chosen speed.
  • Duty — flow, head, temperature and pressure ranges per pump type, solids size and percentages by impeller, and the heating or cooling jacket ratings.
  • Baseplates — folded steel, Polybase, reinforced and cast iron, against ISO 3661, chemical resistance, drain pan, lifting eye and stilt mounting needs.
  • Approvals — combinations the bulletin does not settle (a high-pressure casing on a pump other than the long-coupled, pressure above 16 bar on A or B hydraulics of those types, hot high-pressure duty, a solid super duplex or Alloy 20 shaft, paper stock with a reverse vane impeller, jacket pressure above the published rating) go to a person.

Any Mark 3 ISO configuration of these pump types is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Flowserve publishes none), the vertical sump pump, the ASME (ANSI) Mark 3 and other pump lines, pump size selection and performance curves, motor selection for the close-coupled pump, seals and flush plans, and any contract terms.

The AI sales agentConfigures the pump from the conversation and says the quote is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Options that depend on the hydraulics (impeller, seal chamber, casing)Only with care
Each pair is a rule of its own, and the same option is fine with A or B hydraulics and not with C, so a missing pair lets a wrong pump through.		Every pairing is checked together, in any order the choices arrive.
Maximum power from frame, shaft material, drive and speedOnly with workarounds
The limit is a table of 24 figures that is then scaled by the speed, so it needs a lookup and a calculation before the motor can be compared.		The limit is computed from the configuration on every call and the motor is compared against it.
Casing rating that depends on pump type, hydraulics and casingOnly with care
The rating is 16 or 25 bar depending on three fields, and the figure on the quote has to be recomputed and compared.		The rating is computed on every call and compared with the one the quote states.
Solids limits that change with the impeller and the pump typeOnly with care
Four impeller and pump combinations each have their own size and percentage limits, so every limit is a rule with several conditions.		Each limit is looked up from the configuration and then every value is tested.
Combinations the bulletin does not settleOnly with workarounds
A rules engine either allows or blocks; it has no way to say a person should confirm with the maker.		Unclear cases go to a person with the reason, and are not guessed.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as a step is completed, so a person often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The close-coupled pump is offered with A and B hydraulics only, not C hydraulics.
2The close-coupled pump is offered with reverse vane or open impellers, not a closed impeller.
3The self-priming pump is offered with A hydraulics (extended flow) only.
4The recessed impeller pump is offered with A hydraulics only.
5The high-pressure and centerline-mounted casings are offered with A and B hydraulics only.
6The self-priming and recessed impeller pumps are built with an open impeller.
7The closed impeller goes with C hydraulics; reverse vane and open impellers go with A and B hydraulics.
8The materials table lists a closed impeller only for the ductile iron, 316L, 316 and CD4MCuN duplex builds.
9The reverse vane impeller is screw driven; a key drive is for open and closed impellers.
10The closed impeller is key driven; a screw drive is for open, reverse vane and recessed impellers.
11Conical and cylindrical bore seal chambers go with A and B hydraulics; FMS and FMI covers go with C hydraulics.
12Frame 5 is not offered; the power frames are 1, 2, 3 and 4.
13C hydraulics with the closed impeller are not offered in frame 4.
14A speed of 4,700 rpm is above the 3,600 rpm maximum for this frame and hydraulics.
15A speed of 2,900 rpm is above the 1,800 rpm maximum for this frame and hydraulics.
16A speed of 3,500 rpm is above the 3,000 rpm maximum for this frame and hydraulics.
17A motor of 79 kW is above the shaft power limit of 78.3 kW at this speed for this frame, shaft and drive.
18A motor of 33 kW is above the shaft power limit of 31.9 kW at this speed for this frame, shaft and drive.
19The operating limits table has no power figure for a solid super duplex or Alloy 20 shaft, so a person should confirm the motor power with Flowserve.
20A flow of 600 cubic metres per hour is above the 570 cubic metres per hour this pump type reaches.
21A head of 120 metres is above the 100 metres this pump type reaches.
22A process temperature of 170 degrees Celsius is outside the range of this pump type, which is -20 to 160 degrees.
23A process temperature of -30 degrees Celsius is outside the range of this pump type, which is -20 to 160 degrees.
24A process temperature of 420 degrees Celsius is outside the range of this pump type, which is -80 to 400 degrees.
25A pressure of 20 bar is above the 16 bar rating of this casing.
26A pressure of 26 bar is above the 25 bar rating of this casing.
27The bulletin gives 16 bar for A and B hydraulics with the standard long-coupled casing and 25 bar as the range of this pump type; a person should confirm 20 bar with Flowserve.
28The casing pressure limit falls with temperature, and the bulletin shows its curves only as examples for two material groups; a person should confirm 8 bar at 120 degrees Celsius with Flowserve.
29The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar; the bulletin gives 16 bar for this configuration.
30The quote states a casing rating of 16 bar; the bulletin gives 25 bar for this configuration.
31The bulletin lists the high-pressure and centerline-mounted casings for long-coupled pumps only, so a person should confirm this combination with Flowserve.
32Solids of 29 mm are larger than the 280 tenths this impeller passes.
33Solids of 26 mm are larger than the 250 tenths this impeller passes.
34Solids of 0.4 mm are larger than the 3 tenths this impeller passes.
353 percent soft solids is above the 2 percent this impeller handles.
3611 percent hard solids is above the 10 percent this impeller handles.
3711 percent paper stock is above the 10 percent this pump handles.
38The bulletin gives no paper stock limit for the reverse vane impeller, so a person should confirm 2 percent with Flowserve.
394 percent paper stock is above the 3 percent this pump handles.
40The published rating for this heating or cooling medium is 13.3 bar and may be reduced by the jacket material; a person should confirm 14 bar with Flowserve.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Acid transfer, closed impeller: Acid transfer pump with a centerline casing and a 3,500 rpm closed impeller

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO long-coupled pump for Northgate Chemical: C hydraulics (closed impeller), high-pressure centerline-mounted casing, closed impeller in 316 stainless steel, cylindrical bore seal chamber, solid shaft with a screw drive, frame 3 at 3,500 rpm with a 75 kW motor. Duty: 180 cubic metres per hour at 60 metres of head, 20 bar and 90 degrees Celsius, 0.2 mm solids with 1 percent soft, 1 percent hard and 0 percent paper stock. Baseplate: Polybase baseplate (needs chemical resistance). The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • High-pressure or centerline casing needs A or B hydraulics. The high-pressure and centerline-mounted casings are offered with A and B hydraulics only.
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  • Closed impeller uses a key drive. The closed impeller is key driven; a screw drive is for open, reverse vane and recessed impellers.
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  • Seal chamber does not match the hydraulics. Conical and cylindrical bore seal chambers go with A and B hydraulics; FMS and FMI covers go with C hydraulics.
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  • Speed above the frame limit. A speed of 3,500 rpm is above the 3,000 rpm maximum for this frame and hydraulics.
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2. Acid transfer, closed impeller: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO long-coupled pump for Northgate Chemical: C hydraulics (closed impeller), standard casing, closed impeller in 316 stainless steel, FMS cover, solid shaft with a key drive, frame 3 at 2,900 rpm with a 75 kW motor. Duty: 180 cubic metres per hour at 60 metres of head, 20 bar and 90 degrees Celsius, 0.2 mm solids with 1 percent soft, 1 percent hard and 0 percent paper stock. Baseplate: Polybase baseplate (needs chemical resistance). The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Pump summary. Casing rated 25 bar, shaft power limit 110.2 kW at 2,900 rpm.
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3. Casing rating and pressure: Duplex pump for 20 bar on the standard casing, rated at 25 bar

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO long-coupled pump for Northgate Chemical: A hydraulics (extended flow), standard casing, reverse vane impeller in CD4MCuN duplex, conical bore seal chamber, solid shaft with a screw drive, frame 2 at 2,900 rpm with a 30 kW motor. Duty: 120 cubic metres per hour at 45 metres of head, 20 bar and 70 degrees Celsius, 12 mm solids with 20 percent soft, 5 percent hard and 0 percent paper stock. Baseplate: reinforced baseplate (needs lifting eyes). The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Pressure above the casing rating. A pressure of 20 bar is above the 16 bar rating of this casing.
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  • Stated casing rating does not match. The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar; the bulletin gives 16 bar for this configuration.
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4. Casing rating and pressure: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO long-coupled pump for Northgate Chemical: A hydraulics (extended flow), high-pressure foot-mounted casing, reverse vane impeller in CD4MCuN duplex, conical bore seal chamber, solid shaft with a screw drive, frame 2 at 2,900 rpm with a 30 kW motor. Duty: 120 cubic metres per hour at 45 metres of head, 20 bar and 70 degrees Celsius, 12 mm solids with 20 percent soft, 5 percent hard and 0 percent paper stock. Baseplate: reinforced baseplate (needs lifting eyes). The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Pump summary. Casing rated 25 bar, shaft power limit 115.13 kW at 2,900 rpm.
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5. Self-priming duty with a steam jacket: Self-priming pump with B hydraulics, 30 mm solids and a steam jacket at 14 bar

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO unitized self-priming pump for Northgate Chemical: B hydraulics (ISO 2858), standard casing, open impeller in 316 stainless steel, conical bore seal chamber, solid shaft with a screw drive, frame 2 at 1,450 rpm with a 18 kW motor. Duty: 60 cubic metres per hour at 40 metres of head, 8 bar and 95 degrees Celsius, 30 mm solids with 20 percent soft, 5 percent hard and 5 percent paper stock. A steam jacket at 14 bar. The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Self-priming pump needs A hydraulics. The self-priming pump is offered with A hydraulics (extended flow) only.
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  • Solids larger than the impeller passes. Solids of 30 mm are larger than the 250 tenths this impeller passes.
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  • Jacket pressure above the published rating. The published rating for this heating or cooling medium is 13.3 bar and may be reduced by the jacket material; a person should confirm 14 bar with Flowserve.
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6. Self-priming duty with a steam jacket: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO unitized self-priming pump for Northgate Chemical: A hydraulics (extended flow), standard casing, open impeller in 316 stainless steel, conical bore seal chamber, solid shaft with a screw drive, frame 2 at 1,450 rpm with a 18 kW motor. Duty: 60 cubic metres per hour at 40 metres of head, 8 bar and 95 degrees Celsius, 20 mm solids with 20 percent soft, 5 percent hard and 5 percent paper stock. A steam jacket at 14 bar. The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Jacket pressure above the published rating. The published rating for this heating or cooling medium is 13.3 bar and may be reduced by the jacket material; a person should confirm 14 bar with Flowserve.
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  • Pump summary. Casing rated 25 bar, shaft power limit 39.15 kW at 1,450 rpm.
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7. Self-priming duty with a steam jacket: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO unitized self-priming pump for Northgate Chemical: A hydraulics (extended flow), standard casing, open impeller in 316 stainless steel, conical bore seal chamber, solid shaft with a screw drive, frame 2 at 1,450 rpm with a 18 kW motor. Duty: 60 cubic metres per hour at 40 metres of head, 8 bar and 95 degrees Celsius, 20 mm solids with 20 percent soft, 5 percent hard and 5 percent paper stock. A steam jacket at 12 bar. The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Pump summary. Casing rated 25 bar, shaft power limit 39.15 kW at 1,450 rpm.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent configures a Flowserve Durco Mark 3 ISO mechanically sealed chemical process pump for a plant: the pump type and hydraulics, impeller and casing, seal chamber, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published technical bulletin and returns a verdict, every reason and the casing rating and shaft power limit it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a Durco Mark 3 ISO long-coupled pump for Northgate Chemical: C hydraulics (closed impeller), high-pressure centerline-mounted casing, closed impeller in 316 stainless steel. Duty: 180 cubic metres per hour at 60 metres of head, 20 bar and 90 degrees Celsius, 0.2 mm solids with 1 percent soft. The rest of the request is on screen. The quote states a casing rating of 25 bar.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with four findings, all in one answer. The high-pressure and centerline-mounted casings are offered with A and B hydraulics only. The closed impeller is key driven; a screw drive is for open, reverse vane and recessed impellers. Conical and cylindrical bore seal chambers go with A and B hydraulics; FMS and FMI covers go with C hydraulics. The other one is on screen.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned four blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for options that depend on the hydraulics (impeller, seal chamber, casing), a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
    9. 
      
  9. The corrected request. It changes the casing to standard casing, the seal chamber to FMS cover, the impeller drive to key and the speed to 2,900 rpm.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. This time the validator clears it.
    12. 
      
  12. All four earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
    13. 
      
  13. Four problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.