Pump Performance Curves and Similarity Laws

Pump performance results are typically obtained from an experimental test of the
given pump and are presented graphically for each performance parameter.
Typical independent variable - Q {usually gpm (liquids) or cfm (gases)
Typical dependent variables are
! " head pressure rise# in some cases P
$!P " input po%er requirements (motor si&e)
" pump efficiency
These are graphed for fixed pump speed for each impeller diameter in a
given family of pumps
Typical performance curves for a single impeller speed and diameter appear as
'ig. ((.) Typical *entrifugal Pump Performance *urves
at 'ixed Pump +peed and diameter
These curves are observed to have the follo%ing characteristics,
(. h
p
is approximately constant at lo% flo% rate.
-. h
p
. / at Q
max
.
01-((
2. $!P is not equal to / at Q . /.
3. $!P increases monotonically %ith the increase in Q.
4.
p
. / at Q . / and at Q
max
.
). 5aximum pump efficiency occurs at approximately Q6 . /.) Q
max
. This is
the best efficiency point $7P. 8t any other operating point# efficiency is
less# pump head can be higher or lo%er# and $!P can be higher or lo%er.
9. 8t the $7P# Q . Q6# h
p
. h
p
6# $!P . $!P6.
Measured Performance Data
8ctual pump performance data %ill typically be presented graphically as sho%n in
'ig. ((.9. 7ach graph %ill usually have curves representing the pump head vs.
flo% rate for t%o or more impeller diameters for a given class:model of pumps
having a similar design. The graphs %ill also sho% curves of constant efficiency
and constant pump po%er ($!P) for the impeller diameters sho%n. 8ll curves %ill
be for a fixed pump impeller speed.
01-(-
'ig. ((.9 5easured performance curves for t%o models of a centrifugal
%ater pump
01-(2
How to Read Pump Performance Curves
*are must be ta;en to correctly read the performance data from pump curves. This
should be done as follo%s,
(() 'or a given flo% rate Q
(-) <ead vertically to a point on the pump head curve h for the impeller
diameter = of interest.
(2) 8ll remaining parameters ( efficiency > $!P) are read at this point? i.e.#
graphically interpolate bet%een ad@acent curves for $!P to obtain the pump
po%er at this point.
Aote that the resulting values are valid only for the conditions of these curves,
(() pump model and design# (-) pump speed " A# (2) impeller si&e " =# (3) fluid
(typically %ater)
Thus for the pump sho%n in 'ig. ((.9a %ith an impeller diameter = . 2- in# %e
obtain the follo%ing performance at Q . -/#/// gpm,
Q . -/#/// gpm# = . 2- in# A . ((9/ rpm
! 2B4 ft# $!P -2// bhp#
p
B).2 C
Aote that points that are not on an h vs. Q curve are not valid operating points.
Thus for 'ig. ((.9b# the conditions
Q . --#/// gpm# $!P . (4// bhp# hp . -4/ ft
do not correspond to a valid operating point because they do not fall on one of the
given impeller diameter curves. !o%ever# for the same figure# the point
Q . -/#/// gpm# $!P . (-4/ bhp
is a valid point because it coincidentally also falls on the = . 2B in impeller curve
at hp . --9 ft.
01-(3
Net Positive Suction Head - NPSH
Dne additional parameter is typically sho%n on pump performance curves,
AP+! . head required at the pump inlet to ;eep the fluid from cavitating.
AP+! is defined as follo%s,
NPSH
P
i
g
+
V
i
2
2g

P
v
g
%here P
i
. pump inlet pressure
P
v
. vapor pressure of fluid
*onsidering the ad@acent figure#
%rite the energy equation bet%een
the fluid surface and the pump
inlet to obtain the follo%ing,
a
z=0
z
i
P
i
P
a
Pumpinlet
NPSH
P
i
g
+
V
i
2
2g

P
v
g

P
a
g
Z
i
h
f, ai

P
v
g
'or a pump installation %ith this configuration to operate as intended# the right-
hand-side of the above equation must be E the AP+! value for the operating
flo% rate for the pump.
Example,
8 %ater supply tan; and pump are connected
as sho%n. P
a
. (2.) psia and the %ater is at
-/
o
* %ith P
v
. /.23 psia. The system has a
friction loss of 3.23 ft. Fill the AP+! of the
pump of 'ig. ((.9a at -/#/// gpm %or;G
a
10ft
i
a
01-(4
8pplying the previous equation %e obtain
NPSH
P
a
g
Z
i
h
f, ai

P
v
g
NPSH
13.60.34 ( )lbf/in
2
*144in
2
/ft
2
62.4lbf/ft
3
10ft ( ) 4.34ft
NPSH = 36.26ft
The pump %ill %or; because the system AP+! as sho%n in
'ig. ((.9a is 2/ ft %hich provides a ).2 ft safety margin.
*onversely# the pump could be located as close as 2.9 ft
belo% the %ater surface and meet AP+! requirements.
Pump Similarity Laws
8pplication of the dimensional analysis procedures of *h. H %ill yield the
follo%ing three dimensionless performance parameters for centrifugal pumps,
=imensionless flo% coefficient,
C
Q

Q
D
3
=imensionless head coefficient,
C
H

gH

2
D
2
=imensionless po%er coefficient,
C
P

BHP

3
D
5
%here is the pump speed in radians:time and other symbols are standard design
and operating parameters %ith units that ma;e the coefficients dimensionless.
How are these usedG
These terms can be used to estimate design and performance changes bet%een t%o
pumps of similar design.
01-()
+tated in another %ay,
1f pumps ( and - are from the same geometric design family and are operating at
similar ;inematic and dynamic operating conditions# the flo% rates# pump head#
and pump po%er for the t%o pumps %ill be related according to the follo%ing
expressions,
Q
2
Q
1

N
2
N
1
D
2
D
1



_
,

3
H
2
H
1

N
2
N
1



_
,

2
D
2
D
1



_
,

2
BHP
2
BHP
1

1



_
,

N
2
N
1



_
,

3
D
2
D
1



_
,

5
Ised to predict the ne% flo% rate for a
design change in pump speed A and
impeller diameter =.
Ised to predict the ne% pump head ! for a
design change in pump speed A and
impeller diameter =.
Ised to predict the ne% pump po%er $!P
for a design change in fluid# # pump speed
A and impeller diameter =.
Example
1t is desired to modify the operating
conditions for the 2B in diameter
impeller pump of 'ig. ((.9b to a
ne% pump speed of J// rpm and a
larger impeller diameter of 3/ in.
=etermine the ne% pump head and
po%er for the ne% pump speed at
the $7P.
a
Q(gpm)
H(ft)
BEP
2
BEP
1

01-(9
'or the = . 2B in impeller of 'ig. ((.9b operating at 9(/ rpm# %e read the best
efficiency point ($7P) values as
Q6 . -/#/// gpm# !6 . --4 ft# $!P 6 . (-4/ hp
8pplying the similarity la%s for A
-
. J// rpm and =
-
. =
(
. 2B in# %e obtain
Q
2
Q
1

N
2
N
1
D
2
D
1



_
,

3

900
710
40
38


_
,
3
1.478
Q
-
. -/#///6(.39B . -J#49/ gpm ans
H
2
H
1

N
2
N
1



_
,

2
D
2
D
1



_
,

2

900
710


_
,
2
40
38


_
,
2
1.78
!
-
. --46(.9B . 3//.4 ft ans
BHP
2
BHP
1

1



_
,

N
2
N
1



_
,

3
D
2
D
1



_
,

5
1 ( )
900
710


_
,
3
40
38


_
,
5
2.632
$!P- . 2-J/ hp ans
Thus# even small changes in the speed and si&e of a pump can result in significant
changes in flo% rate# head# and po%er.
1t is noted that every point on the original 2B in diameter performance curve
exhibits a similar translation to a ne% operating condition.
The similarity la%s are obviously useful to predict changes in the performance
characteristics of an existing pump or to estimate the performance of a modified
pump design prior to the construction of a prototype.
01-(B
Matc!in" a Pump to System C!aracteristics
The typical design:si&ing requirement for a pump is to select a pump %hich has a
pump head %hich matches the required system head at the design:operating flo%
rate for the piping system.
#ey Point
!
p
$ !
sys
at %
des

1t is noted that pump selection should occur such that the operating point of the
selected pump should occur on the pump curve near or at the $7P.
'rom the energy equation in *h. H1# the system head is typically expressed as
h
sys

P
2
P
1
g
+
V
2
2
V
1
2
2g
+ Z
2
Z
1
+ f
L
D
+ K
i

'


;

V
2g
2
Thus# the selection of a pump for a
piping system design should result in
a pump for %hich the pump head
h
p
at the design flo% rate Q
des
is
equal ( or very close) to the head
requirements h
sys
of the piping
system at the same flo% rate# and this
should occur at or near the point of
maximum efficiency for the chosen
pump.
a
Q(gpm)

Q
des
H
des
h
p
h
sys
p

Dther operating and performance requirements (such as AP+!) and cost are
obviously also a part of the selection criteria for a pump.
01-(J