Pump Performance curve

Pump performance curves are the least used,

least consulted, least appreciated, and least
understood aspect of the world of industrial
pumps.
In reality, the performance curve is easy to
understand. It isn’t rocket science.

The performance curve indicates that the pump

will discharge
A certain volume or flow (m3/hr) of a liquid,
At a certain pressure or head (H).
By definition, the pump is a machine designed to
add
  energy
to a liquid
 with the
 purpose
 of

 
elevating it or moving it through a pipe. The

pump can elevate
a liquid
 in
a vertical
  tube up to

a 
point where the weight of the liquid and gravity

will
 permit
nomore
 elevation.


There’s a language barrier between the pump
manufacturers and the pump users.

They use different terminology.

Pump users, operators and mechanics, use

pressure gauges that read in bar, kg/cm2 etc.

The pump manufacturer denotes pressure in

meters of head ( mlc).

mlc : meters of liquid

column
Therefore when we operate a centrifugal pump
we have to calculate the Total head of the pump.

HOW ?
Using the following formula
Manometric pressure is the difference of
discharge and suction manometers.

Keep in mind always :

If suction gauge is below zero (vacuum)

Manometric pressure = Discharge + suction

If suction gauge is above zero (positive suction)

Manometric pressure = Discharge - suction
 Easy formulas

But in LPGs things are WORSE

 Total head calculation in LPG ship

[ (PD - PT) + PL] x 10,2

TH = SG
+ HM - HL

Pump discharge pressure calculation

in LPG ship

[ (TH - HM) + HL] x SG

PD 10,2
+ PT - PL

=
 Given :
PD = Discharge gauge pressure ( bar ) = 7,5 bar
PT = Tank pressure ( bar ) = 0,03 bar
PL = Pump column losses ( bar ) = 0,2 bar
SG = Specific gravity ( kg/dm3 ) = 0,6815 @ -33,2 C
HM = Discharge pressure gauge height ( mtrs ) = 18,3 mtrs
HL = Tank Sounding level ( mtrs ) = 13,5 mtrs

Required :
TH = Total Head ( mlc )
[ (PD - PT) + PL] x 10,2
TH = + HM - HL
SG
[ (7,5 – 0,03) + 0,2] x 10,2
TH = + 18,3 – 13,5
0,6815

TH 120
= mlc
TH= mlc
BEP

Q= m3 /hr
The pump is designed for a discrete value of
flow rate, differential head, and speed.
This is the Best Efficiency Point of operation.

BEP

However,
in practical applications, the pumps are rarely
operated at the operating parameters for which
the pump has been designed.
 Given :
TH = Total Head ( mlc ) = 120 mlc
PT = Tank pressure ( bar ) = 0,03 bar
PL = Pump column losses ( bar ) = 0,2 bar
SG = Specific gravity ( kg/dm3 ) = 0,6815 @ -33,2 C
HM = Discharge pressure gauge height ( mtrs ) = 18,3 mtrs
HL = Tank Sounding level ( mtrs ) = 13,5 mtrs

Required :
PD = Discharge gauge pressure ( bar )

[ (TH - HM) + HL] x SG

PD = + PT - PL
10,2

[ (120 – 18,3) + 13,5] x 0,6815

PD = + 0,03 – 0,2
10,2
PD 7,53
= bar
In the final analysis,
Pumps should be operated at or near
their BEP.
These pumps will run for years without
giving problems.
The pump curve is the pump’s control
panel, and it should be in the hands of
the personnel who operate the pumps
and understood by them.
In case you have understand what we just said
Then you can use my application to calculate the
Total head and required gauge pressure.

Thank you