Numerical example of creating a system curve for single pump systems

Introduction

PSIM is an educational tool for pump system hydraulic modeling. If you want to learn how to
use the tool, install and run PSIM and then choose Show Examples from the Help menu and
follow the directions.

This example is based on a numerical example in the book Optimizing Pumping Systems in
section 2.13.1.1.

This example discusses creating a system curve for a simple fluid transfer system.

Overview of PSIM Model

Figure 1 shows a pump system as modeled in the PSIM tool. If you want to review the system
model electronically, it is called How To Create A System Curve - Single Pump.psm. This
model has data entered in metric units. Another model file exists which uses U.S. units and is
called How To Create A System Curve - Single Pump - US Units.psm. The two models are not
absolutely identical because of round-off in the different units, but do give comparable results.

Figure 1. PSIM model for which a system curve will be created.

These are the system data:

1. Fluid is water at 21 C (70 F)
a. This is entered in the System Properties window from the Analysis menu
2. Lower reservoir J 1 is at 3 m (10 ft) surface elevation and is open to atmosphere
Numerical example of creating a system curve for single pump systems
a. This is entered in the Reservoir Specifications window opened by double-clicking
the J 1 icon
3. Upper reservoir J 3 is at 18.3 m (60 ft) surface elevation and is open to atmosphere
a. This is entered in the Reservoir Specifications window opened by double-clicking
the J 3 icon
4. All pipes are 4 inch schedule 40 with wall roughness of 0.046 mm (0.0018 in)
a. Pipe data is entered in the Pipe Specifications window opened by double-clicking
the graphical pipe run
5. Pipes P1 and P2 are 3 m (10 ft) long
6. Pipe P3 is 300 m (980 ft) long
7. J 2 is at 0 m (0 ft) elevation
8. Pump J 2 has design flow rate of 114 m3/hr (500 gpm) and is modeled as a fixed flow rate
a. This is entered in the Pump Specifications window opened by double-clicking the
J 2 icon (see Figure 2)


Figure 2. Pump data for J2 pump. This pump is modeled as a fixed volumetric flow
rate.

Running the Model and Reviewing Output

Select Run Model from the Analysis menu to run this model. Once the model is converged
select the View Output button.
Numerical example of creating a system curve for single pump systems

Text-based output is shown in the Output window (Figure 3).



Figure 3. PSIM output with Pump Summary selected in top table.

Creating a Pump and System Curves Manually

To calculate the system curve, vary the pump flow from zero or some low value to 136 m3/h
(600 gpm, 20% more than design) and determine the required head at the pump at each flow rate
increment. For example, if the pump flow is fixed at 114 m3/h (500 gpm) as in the preceding
example the required pump head is 55 m (179 ft). This is shown in the top table Pump Summary
in Figure 3 in the dH column. If the 114 m3/h (500 gpm) flow rate is varied the head rise will
also change. Further review of the PSIM model or Figure 3 in the second table shows a frictional
head loss in the two pipes of 39 m (129 ft). With the 15.3-m (50-ft) elevation rise from J 1 to J 3,
the total required pump head is the sum of the elevation gain (i.e., static head) and friction head
loss: 55 m (179 ft).

If the system curve is started at 10% of the operating point flow then the data point will be 11.4
m3/hr (50 gpm). This can be evaluated in PSIM by changing the flow in the pump junction (e.g.,
Figure 2) from 114 m3/h (500 gpm) to 11.4 m3/h (50 gpm). Rerunning the model will show a
pump head rise of 16 m (52 ft). This is the first point of the system curve.

The previous flow rate of 11.4 m3/h (50 gpm) is now increased to 136 m3/h (600 gpm) in
increments. If increments of 11.4 m3/h (50 gpm) are used, the head generated at the pump can be
determined as shown in Table 1.
Numerical example of creating a system curve for single pump systems

PSIM can create a pump and system curve automatically. It does this by automatically varying
the flow rate in the J 2 pump junction. Select the Graph Results window from the Windows menu
and then choose Select Graph Data from the View menu. The Select Graph Data window is
shown in Figure 4. In the Pumps list select the junction 2 pump. Then select the Show button.
This will display the pump and system curve as in Figure 5. These values reflect the values from
Table 1.

Table 1. System curve values as determined by varying the flow rate.
Data
Point
Flow Rate
(m3/hr)
Flow Rate
(gpm)
Head (m) Head (ft)
1 11.4 50 15.8 51.7
2 22.8 100 17.2 56.1
3 34.2 150 19.3 63.0
4 45.6 200 22.1 72.3
5 57 250 25.7 84.1
6 68.4 300 30.0 98.2
7 79.8 350 35.1 114.8
8 91.2 400 40.9 133.8
9 102.6 450 47.4 155.2
10 114 500 54.7 179.0
11 125.4 550 62.7 205.2
12 136.8 600 71.4 233.8



Numerical example of creating a system curve for single pump systems

Figure 4. Creating pump and system curve using the Select Graph Data window.

Numerical example of creating a system curve for single pump systems

Figure 5. System curve for example system.