# Pump Curves

### Tutorial

A pump performance curve is a graphical representation of the head generated by a specific pump model at rates of flow from zero to maximum at a given operating speed.

(1.B.1) $$H = {{2.31 * p} \over s}$$

(1.B.1) $$H = {{0.102 * p} \over s}$$

where:

• P = pressure in
• s = specific gravity (unitless)

Specific gravity can be found by using the following equation:

(1.B.2) $$s = {ρ_{pumped fluid} \over ρ_{water}}$$

where:

• ρ = density, typically in

Using head, the performance of the pump can be shown independent of the density of the fluid pumped.

### Efficiency Curve

Pump efficiency is shown as a percentage on most pump curves. Pump efficiency is defined by the equation below:

(1.B.3) $$η_{p} = {P_{w} \over P_{p}}$$

where:

• Pw is pump output power (power imparted to the liquid), typically in
• Pp is pump input power, typically in

The efficiency curve shows pump efficiency at various flow rates. The flow rate where efficiency is at a maximum is called the pump’s best efficiency point (BEP). BEP is an important operating point that is further described later in this section.

Efficiency Curve

### Pump Input Power Curve

The pump input power curve shows the amount of input power required for different flow rates. Pp can be determined by the following equation where Q is flow in

(1.B.4) $$P_p = {{Q * H * s} \over {3960 * η_{p}}}$$

(1.B.4) $$P_p = {{Q * H * s} \over {366.6 * η_{p}}}$$

where:

• Pp = pump input power, in
• Q = rate of flow, in
• H = total head, in
• s = specific gravity
• np = pump efficiency

Pump input power can also be determined if the amount of power absorbed by the fluid and efficiency are known by rearranging the equation shown for the efficiency curve:

(1.B.5) $$P_p = {P_{w} \over η_{p}}$$

The pump input power curve is important, as it allows proper selection of a driver for the pump.

Pump Input Power Curve

### Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHr) Curve

The final curve typically shown on a pump performance chart is the NPSHr for different flow rates. NPSHr is the minimum NPSH needed to achieve the specified performance at the specified flow rate, speed, and pumped liquid. NPSHr is further defined in Pump Principles.

NPSHr Curve

### Operating Regions and Points

Best Efficiency Point (BEP):

A pump’s best efficiency point is defined as the flow rate and head at which the pump efficiency is the maximum at a given speed and impeller diameter. Typically, a pump is specified to have its duty point, or designed operating point, at BEP. At BEP, a pump will have low vibration and noise when compared to other operating points. Also, there is minimum recirculation within the impeller and shockless entry into the impeller. Shockless entry is when the flow entering the impeller matches the angle of the impeller vanes at entry.

Preferred Operating Region (POR):

The preferred operating region (POR) is a range of rates of flow to either side of the BEP within which the hydraulic efficiency and the operational reliability of the pump are not substantially degraded. Flow induced vibrations and internal hydraulic loading is low in this region. Depending on the specific speed of the pump, which is further defined in the pump principles section, the POR can be anywhere from 90-110% of BEP flow to 70-120% of BEP flow.

Allowable Operating Region (AOR):

The AOR is the flow range at the rated speed with the impeller supplied in which the pump may be allowed to operate, as limited by cavitation, heating, vibration, noise, shaft deflection, fatigue, and other similar criteria. It is the flow range at which the pump can be run with acceptable service life. The pump manufacturer should be consulted to define this region. Typically, operating intermittently within this region does not cause issues over the life of the pump. The graph above shows the various operating regions and the types of issues that can occur when operating outside of the POR and AOR.

These points are important during manufacturer testing to fully define the shape of the pump curve. They are the furthest points to the left and right on the curve. Shut-off is the condition of zero flow rate where no liquid is flowing through the pump, but the pump is primed and running. Operating at this point for more than a few seconds can cause serious mechanical issues. Pump Runout is the point at which flow is at a maximum. Operating at this flow can cause cavitation, vibration and, in some pumps, overloading of the driver. These points are to be avoided when operating pumps.

### Affinity Rules

Under the assumption that changing speed or impeller diameter of a pump maintains the same efficiencies, the Affinity Rules show the relationships between pump parameters (flow, pressure/head, power) and pump charactereistics (speed and impeller size) or a change in impeller size while maintaining a constant speed.

1. Changing Speed / Constant Impeller Size

As seen below flow (Q), head (H), and power (P) are all proportional to the rotational speed (n):

(1.B.6a) $${Q_2 \over Q_1} = {n_2 \over n_1}$$

(1.B.6b) $${H_2 \over H_1} = ({n_2 \over n_1})^2$$

(1.B.6c) $${P_2 \over P_1} = ({n_2 \over n_1})^3$$

2. Changing Impeller Size / Constant Speed

As seen below flow (Q), head (H), and power (P) are all proportional to the impeller Size (D):

(1.B.7a) $${Q_2 \over Q_1} = {D_2 \over D_1}$$

(1.B.7b) $${H_2 \over H_1} = ({D_2 \over D_1})^2$$

(1.B.7c) $${P_2 \over P_1} = ({D_2 \over D_1})^3$$

Speed Reduction and Impeller Trimming

Part 1 of the affinity rules is ideal for instances where you have a Variable Frequency Drive attached to a pump motor. The VFD will reduce or increase the pump speed therefore allowing it to operate at a multitude of operating conditions. Part 2 is essential in calculating the new pumpcharacteristics after impeller trimming which is the reduction of the impeller diameter.

### Pump Fundamentals: Parallel and Series Pump Implications

Two or more pumps in a system can be placed either in parallel or in series. In parallel, a system consists of two or more pumps that are configured such that each draw from the same suction reservoir, wet well, or header, and each discharge to the same discharge reservoir or header. In series, a system consists of two or more pumps that are configured such that the discharge of one pump feeds the suction of a subsequent pump.

Pumps in Parallel

Pumps operating in parallel allow the pumping system to deliver greater flows than is possible with just one such pump. To determine the composite pump curve of two or more pumps operating in parallel, at each head value, the flowrate of each pump must be added together to obtain the composite flowrate.

The amount of increased flow that occurs within the system depends on both the shape of the system curve and shape of the pump curves. The composite pump curve intersects the system curve at different operating points yielding different flowrates. As more pumps are called to operate, the flow will increase accordingly:

It should be noted, however, that unless the system curve is completely flat (which means friction and other dynamic losses are negligible), bringing a second pump on-line does not double the flow rate. The increased flow will be something less than double. How much less depends on the steepness of the system curve.

Pumps in Series

While pumps placed in parallel provide greater flow capabilities at the same head as one pump operating individually, pumps placed in series provide greater head capabilities at the same flowrate.

A composite pump curve representing pumps in series can be generated by adding the individual head values of the pumps for a given flow. Plotting this sum at various flow values will yield a composite pump curve for the group of pumps. Figure 3 shows a composite pump curve for two and three identically sized pumps operating in series:

Pumps operating in series allow the pumping system to deliver greater heads than is possible with just one such pump. This allows a pump station to be designed to satisfy systems that require large discharge pressures that may not be practical with one pump. Where certain applications require, it may also allow a pump station to address a wide variation in system pressures by staging the number of operating pumps. Figure 4 shows how applying a configuration with pumps in series to a system with a steep system curve may allow the pumps to address different head requirements so long as inter-stage discharge piping is configured to permit so.

## Worked Examples

### Example 1 (U.S. Customary Units Only)

A booster pump is designed to operate at 1800 GPM and 135 ft., with a speed of 1740 RPM. Due to fluctuating flows the booster pump is equipped with a Variable Frequency Drive which reduces the pump speed by 10% during low flow conditions. Using the pump curve below and the affinity rules, generate the pump curve for low flow conditions and the new pumping conditions.

Data (Normal Conditions)
0 213
200 206
400 198
600 190
800 183
1000 176
1200 168
1400 159
1600 147
1800 135
2000 117
2200 98
Data (Normal Conditions)
0 213
200 206
400 198
600 190
800 183
1000 176
1200 168
1400 159
1600 147
1800 135
2000 117
2200 98

Determine the Reduced Speed

During low flow conditions the speed of the pump is reduced by 10%.

$$n_2= n_1 (1-.10)$$ $$n_2= 1740(1-.10)$$ $$n_2= 1566\,RPM$$

Calculate New Flow Values

Using Equation (1.B.6a), calculate the new values (repeat until you convert all points under the flow column):

(A) $${Q_2 \over Q_1} = {n_2 \over n_1}$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,{Q_2 \over 0} = {1566 \over 1740}$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,Q_2 = 0\,GPM$$

(B) $${Q_2 \over 200} = {1566 \over 1740}$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,Q_2 = 180\,GPM$$

(C) $${Q_2 \over 400} = {1566 \over 1740}$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,Q_2 = 360\,GPM$$

Using Equation (1.B.6b), calculate the new values (repeat until you convert all points under the Total Head column):

(A) $${H_2 \over H_1} = ({n_2 \over n_1})^2$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,{H_2 \over 173} = ({1566 \over 1740})^2$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,H_2 = 173\,ft.$$

(B) $${H_2 \over 173} = ({1566 \over 1740})^2$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,H_2 = 167\,ft.$$

(C) $${H_2 \over 198} = ({1566 \over 1740})^2$$ $$\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,H_2 = 160\,ft.$$

Plot Pump Curve for low flow conditions

Data (Low Flow Conditions)
0 173
180 167
360 160
540 154
720 148
900 143
1080 136
1260 129
1440 119
1620 108
1800 95
1980 75
Data (Low Flow Conditions)
0 173
180 167
360 160
540 154
720 148
900 143
1080 136
1260 129
1440 119
1620 108
1800 95
1980 75

Comparison of normal flow and low flow conditions:

### Example 2 (U.S. & Metric Units)

A pump designed with a

Calculate the New Impeller Diameter

$${H_2 \over H_1} = ({D_2 \over D_1})^2$$ $${67 \over 80} = ({D_2 \over 10.625})^2$$ $${\sqrt {67 \over 80}} = \sqrt(({D_2 \over 10.625})^2)$$ $$0.915 = {D_2 \over 10.625}$$ $$D_2 = 9.72\,in. \approx 9.75\,in.$$

$${H_2 \over H_1} = ({D_2 \over D_1})^2$$ $${20.42 \over 24.38} = ({D_2 \over 270})^2$$ $${\sqrt {20.42 \over 24.38}} = \sqrt(({D_2 \over 270})^2)$$ $$0.915 = {D_2 \over 270}$$ $$D_2 = 247\,mm$$

Calculate the New Flow

$${Q_2 \over Q_1} = {D_2 \over D_1}$$ $${Q_2 \over 2000} = {9.75 \over 10.625}$$ $$Q_2 = 1835\,GPM$$

$${Q_2 \over Q_1} = {D_2 \over D_1}$$ $${Q_2 \over 454.2} = {247 \over 270}$$ $$Q_2 = 416.8\,{m^3}/h$$

Last updated on May 26th, 2020