Basic Hydraulics

Basic Pump Hydraulics

Basic Hydraulics

This is an overview of the various

aspects of Centrifugal Pump Hydraulic
Performance and the Curves used to
describe it.
Basic Hydraulics

Upon completion participants will be able to:

Identify information shown on Pump
Performance Curves.
Interpret Information shown.
Define Terms “Best Efficiency”, “NPSH”,
“Bhp”, etc.
Define and Apply Affinity Laws To Specify
Speed Changes and Impeller Diameter Cuts.
Basic Hydraulics

Casing

Impeller

Single Stage End

Suction Pump
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Velocity is the Key:

The Impeller accelerates the liquid to a Higher
Velocity
The Casing converts Velocity to Pressure or Head
The Head in the Casing increases as you travel
around the perimeter
The Larger the Impeller or the Faster the Shaft
Speed the more Velocity
More Velocity equals higher head
Basic Hydraulics

Cutwater
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Typical Centrifugal Pump Performance

BEP
TOTAL HEAD

EFFICIENCY

POWER
NPSHR

FLOW - GPM
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Pressure

Pressure = Force per unit area.

◆ Gauge Pressure = Is a measured pressure above

or below the surrounding atmospheric pressure
(i.e. tire pressure).
◆ Absolute Pressure = Is the amount of pressure
above an absolute vacuum. The absolute
pressure at sea level is about 14.7 psi.
Basic Hydraulics

Pressure
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Pressure
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Head Vs. Pressure

◆ A pump head curve (feet or meters) is used to
represent any pumped liquid with a viscosity
similar to water

H = V2
2g
◆ Process system losses (feet)

K = V2 = (ft / s)2 = ft2/ s2 = ft.

2g ft / s2 ft/ s2

◆ Elevation in Feet or Meters

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Effect S.G. On Pump Performance

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Effect of Specific Gravity on Static Head

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Pump Performance Equations

Brake Horse Power Required - Pump

BHP = H X Q X SG
3960 X EFF
H = Head in Ft.
Q = Flow in GPM
SG = Specific Gravity
EFF = Efficiency as a Decimal
BHP = Brake horse power to pump
Basic Hydraulics

Pump Performance Equations

Efficiency of the Pump (EFF)

EFF = H X Q X SG
3960 X BHP
BHP = Brake horse power to pump
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Gauge Height Correction

Gauge height is the distance between the center of the

gauge and the datum, usually the centerline of the
suction.
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Pump Performance Curves

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Pump Performance Curves

Performance Curves are just a

Graphic Representation of How
Much Pressure (Head) and Flow
a Pump Can Produce along with
Other Important Aspects of a
Pumps Characteristics
Basic Hydraulics

Pump Performance Curves

Information shown:
◆ Pump Model, Size and Speed
◆ Head vs Capacity Curve
◆ Efficiency of the Unit
◆ NPSH Required
◆ Approximate Brake Horsepower
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Typical Pump Performance Curve

Basic Hydraulics

Typical Pump Performance Curve

Note
Title Block
Basic Hydraulics

Typical Pump Performance Curve

Head vs Capacity
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Typical Pump Performance Curve

Iso - Efficiency Lines

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Typical Pump Performance Curve

NPSH Required
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Typical Pump Performance Curve

Brake Horsepower
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Typical Pump Performance Curve
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Published Pump Performance Curve
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Performance Curve Limitations

◆ Idealized pump performance @ Datum

◆ Not every pump unless test requested
◆ HI pump test tolerances
◆ HI piping conditions
◆ Deaerated water not user’s pumpage
◆ Use as a guide to pump performance
Basic Hydraulics

Net Positive Suction Head

Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

The Head on the Suction Side of the pump

needed to provide adequate flow into the
pump operating at a given flow rate.
Roughly equal to Barometric Pressure plus
or minus Static Head less Friction Losses
in the Piping and Vapor Pressure of the
liquid.
Basic Hydraulics

Atmospheric
Pressure
Basic Hydraulics

Atmospheric
Pressure
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Net Positive Suction Head

Atmospheric Pressure provides the force:

14.7 PSI at Sea Level = 33.9 Ft. of Head
14.7 X 2.31 Ft / PSI = 33.957 Ft.
As the Pump Impeller reduces the pressure
in the eye atmospheric pushes the water
into the pump.
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

Static Lift Condition:

Level below the centerline of the pump.
Losses include the Lift, Friction and Vapor
Pressure of Liquid.
Static Head Condition:
Level above the pump. Static helps, Friction
and Vapor Pressure hurts.
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

Vapor Pressure
The pressure below which a liquid will
change phase from a liquid to a gas.
Is influenced by Temperature.
Example:
Water at 212 Deg. F has a V.P. of 14.679 PSI
At 80 Deg. F it has a V.P. of .500 PSI
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

Vapor Pressure
To boil water (change phase) you can heat it
to 212 Deg. F or reduce the pressure on it
to about .5 PSI. The result is the same:

The Water Boils… changing phase from a

liquid to a gas. That gas is called Water
Vapor, if we can see it it’s called steam.
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

Vapor Pressure

Temp. F Temp. C SG Vapor

Pressure
70 21 .999 0.36
160 71 .979 4.71
212 100 .959 14.69
400 204 .860 247.31
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

Vapor Pressure
If the pressure drop at the center of the
impeller is great enough, the liquid
changes phase in the eye of the impeller, a
bubble of vapor is created, blinds off the
impeller and the pump stops pumping; it
is said to have “Lost it’s Prime”.
Called “Flow or Column Separation”
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Net Positive Suction Head

Vapor Pressure
If you shut the pump off the bubble escapes
from the center of the impeller, is replaced
by liquid and turning the pump back on
causes it to pump once again.
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

How Is NPSHR Determined On The Test Stand?

Typically based on test methods per

Hydraulic Institute Test Standards. Based
upon a 3% drop in total head.

Note the published NPSHR is after you’ve

already lost 3% of the the Discharge Head!
Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

T
o
t
a
l
Constant Flow
H
e of Total
a Head
d
F
e
e
t

Ex. hgs. 3% = 8 ft.

Basic Hydraulics
Net Positive Suction Head

NPSHR = (hatm + hgs, 3% - hvp) + Zs + hvs

SG
Where: hatm = Barometric pressure, ft.
hgs, 3% = Suction gauge pressure @ 3% drop
in head, ft.
hvp = Vapor pressure, ft.
Zs = Suction gauge height, ft.
Hvs = suction velocity head, ft.
SG = Specific gravity
Basic Hydraulics

Cavitation
Basic Hydraulics
Cavitation

If the NPSH Available in the System drops to

or below the NPSH Required by the pump
the Pump will Experience Cavitation.
It is the continuous formation and collapse
of Vapor Bubbles in the Impeller or Casing
and causes damage.
Basic Hydraulics
Cavitation

Pressure at the eye of the Impeller or

elsewhere drops to below the Vapor
Pressure of the Liquid and Bubbles form.
As the bubble moves through the Pump the
Pressure increases and the Bubble
collapses.
It is in the collapse the Damage is Done.
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Cavitation

Low Velocity / High Inc. Vel. / Pressure Drop

Pressure
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Cavitation
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Cavitation
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Cavitation

Bubble collapse creates intense pressure,

up to 10,000 psi and severe shock waves.
Pressure and shock near metal surfaces
exceed material strength and fatigue
metals.
Fatigued metal breaks away creating pitted
surfaces.
Pitted areas become concentration points
for further collapse of bubbles.
Basic Hydraulics
Cavitation
Basic Hydraulics
Cavitation

Cavitation can only be avoided by having

adequate -
NPSH Margin
The difference between NPSH available and
NPSH required by the pump.
Changes with Flow Rate - High flows require
higher NPSHa
Basic Hydraulics
Cavitation

NPSH Margin

“Rule of Thumb” -
The NPSH Margin should be at least 3 Ft. or
10 % of the NPSHr greater than the
Required.
Within reason “More is Better”
Watch for “High Suction Specific Speed Pumps”
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Speed & Impeller Changes

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Speed & Impeller Changes

A Customers Desired Operating

Point can be marked on the Curve to
Graphically show where it falls in
relationship to the Efficiency, Brake
Horsepower, and NPSH.
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Speed & Impeller Changes

In the previous Slide the

Customers Desired Point of 200
GPM at 120 Ft. of Head falls
exactly on the Curve for a 5 - 1/2”
Dia. Impeller.
Basic Hydraulics
Speed & Impeller Changes

What if the Desired Point were

200 GPM at 140 Ft.? How would
we select the correct Speed or
Impeller Diameter?
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“Affinity Laws”
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Affinity Laws

Head and Flow are related to the

Velocity.
Velocity is related to Speed and / or
Diameter of Impeller.
Therefore, Head and Flow vary as the
Speed or the Diameter Varies.
Basic Hydraulics
Affinity Laws

The change is very Predictable

using the “Affinity Laws”.
Q1 = D1 or N1
Q2 D2 N2
H1 = D1 2 or N1 2
H2 D2 N2
Basic Hydraulics
Affinity Laws

“Affinity Laws” further state:

BHP1 = D1 3 or N1 3
BHP2 D2 N2
Horsepower goes up at the Cube of the Speed or
Diameter change. A 20% increase in speed
causes a 70%increase in Horsepower!
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Affinity Laws

Example:
3175 @ 880 RPM w/ 13.5” Impeller

How much change in Head, Flow and

Horsepower with 14.5” Impeller?
This is a 7.5 % Increase in Impeller Diameter.
Basic Hydraulics
Affinity Laws

Flow: 1400 = 13.5”

Q2 14.5”

Q2 = 1 / 13.5 X 1400
14.5
Q2 = 1503 GPM (7.5% Inc.)
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Affinity Laws

Head: 40 = 13.5 2
H2 14.5

H2 = 1 / 13.5 2 X 40
14.5
H2 = 46 Ft. (15% Inc.)
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Affinity Laws

BHP: 20 = 13.5 3
Hp 2 14.5

Hp 2 = 1 / 13.5 3 X 20
14.5
Hp 2 = 25 Hp.( 24% Inc!)
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Parallel & Series Operation

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Parallel & Series Operation

Multiple Pumps in Operation on a

System can be Parallel, Series or
Separate Operation
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Parallel & Series Operation

Series Operation:
One pump discharges into the suction of
a second pump.
Head is cumulative, flow is constant
Slurry Pipelines, Vertical Multi-Stage
Turbine Pumps.
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Parallel & Series Operation

Series Operation:
Normally where one pump at a given
speed can’t produce the head required
multiple pumps are used.
One Pump 125 Ft. of Head
Add a second = 250 Ft. a Third = 375 Ft.
Basic Hydraulics
Parallel & Series Operation
System Curve

Two Pumps

300 GPM @ 200 Ft.

One Pump

133 GPM @ 120 Ft.

Basic Hydraulics
Parallel & Series Operation

Parallel Operation:
More than one pump draws from the
same suction source and discharges to
the same discharge line.
Flow is cumulative, Head varies as the
flow increases.
Municipal Sewage and Water Supply
Applications.
Basic Hydraulics
Parallel & Series Operation

Parallel Operation:

If the System Curve was perfectly flat the

flow would be equally cumulative. Two
Pumps would equal twice the flow.
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Parallel & Series Operation
Real System Curve

One Pump Two Pumps

Flat System Curve

300 GPM 600 GPM

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Parallel & Series Operation

Parallel Operation:

Because the Friction Head goes up as the

flow, Curve becomes steeper, two
pumps do not equal twice the flow.
Basic Hydraulics
Parallel & Series Operation
System Curve

200’ 3” Pipe
4 Elbows
1 Foot Valve
2 Globe Valves
One Pump

266 GPM @ 175 Ft.

Basic Hydraulics
Parallel & Series Operation
System Curve

One Pump 295 GPM @ 190 Ft.

Two Pumps