Pump Curves
Pump Curves
Pump Curves
Most irrigation pumps dont operate at just one duty point they operate over a range of duties and need to be selected for this range. An important observation is the overall shape of the flow-head curve. If it slopes down from the left side to the right side, the pump is described as stable and having a non-overloading power characteristic. If the curve rises from the left to a point then slopes down to the right, the pump is described as having an unstable head and overloading power characteristic. A stable pump wont create overload on the prime mover if the head decreases for some reason (e.g. broken pipe) whereas an unstable pump might.
Efficiency curves
Curves for efficiency are included on the same chart. They are usually marked with percentages. They show how efficiently the input power (from the engine or motor) is transferred into energy to pump the water at a particular duty point. This is the pumping efficiency. Like most mechanical devices, it is not possible to achieve 100% efficiency in pumps.
(This is the pump power required. The prime mover needs to be rated significantly higher than this to overcome any drive train losses, unexpected changes of duty, change of power conditions, and wear in both the prime mover and pump.)
(Cavitation occurs when the suction pressure is too low and water partially turns into vapour bubbles at the eye of the impeller. As these bubbles are carried over to the discharge side of the impeller, they are compressed back
into a liquid by the high discharge pressure. This action occurs violently and may remove bits of material from the impeller. This will cause premature failure of the pump. It often sounds like gravel or marbles in the pump.)
The theoretical maximum vertical height any pump can lift water is about 10 metres at sea level, less at higher altitudes. The NPSHR is the amount of this 10 metres used by the pump just getting the water into it. This, plus an allowance for the friction loss in your suction pipe, is subtract from 10m (at sea level). The vertical suction lift should not exceed this figure. For our example, at 100 L/s and 25 m head, the NPSHR is about 3.5 metres. If the friction loss of the suction pipe is 1.0 metres, the total suction loss is 4.5m. This means the vertical suction lift should not exceed 10 4.5 = 5.5 metres. Turbine pumps are usually fully submerged, including the pump inlet, which means there is no suction lift. However, care needs to be taken to ensure the inlet is immersed sufficiently to avoid vortexing and sucking air.