-:: ~- ~: ·.

~;

•
' /' ..

COMMERCIAL
HYDRONIC
SYSTEMS
PART I
PUMP -CURVES -
HOW TO READ-
AND USE

(.:arning

Center

•
INTRODUCTION
This text provides reference information for a seminar on reading and using pump cuwes.

•
The information in this seminar will apply to products manufactured by TACO and other companies. TACO
products and illustrations are used in some cases to offer specific examples in the text.

CONTENTS
PART I - Fundamentals ......................................................................................................................................... 1

PART II - The System Curve ............................................................................................................................. 3

PART Ill - Stable Curves, Unstable Curves and Parallel Pumping ........................... 5

PART IV - Non-Overloading Pump Curve - What Does It Really Mean? ........... 7

PART V - NPSH and Pump Cavitation ..................................................................................................... 9

•

PART I - Fundamentals
A centrifugal pump operated at constant speed
delivers any capacity from zero to maximum
depending on the head, design and suction
• conditions. Pump performance is most commonly
shown by means of plotted curves which are
graphical representations of a pump's performance
characteristics. Pump curves present the average
results obtained from testing several pumps of the
same design under standardized test conditions. For
a single family residential application, considerations
other than flow and head are of relatively little
economic or functional importance, since the total
load is small and the equipment used is relatively
standardized. For many smaller circulators, only the
flow and pressure produced are represented on the
performance curve (Fig. 1-1 ). For larger and more
complex buildings and systems, economic and
functional considerations are more critical, and
performance curves must relate the hydraulic
efficiency, the power required, the shaft speed, and
the net positive suction head required in addition to
the flow and pressure produced (Fig. 1-2). Pump
performance curves show this interrelation of pump
head, flow and efficiency for a specific impeller
diameter and casing size. Since impellers of more
than one diameter can usually be fitted in a given
pump casing, pump curves show the performance of
a given pump with impellers of various diameters.
Often, a complete line of pumps of one design is
available and a plot called a composite or quick
selection curve can be used, to give a complete
picture of the available head and flow for a given
pump line (Fig. 1-3). Such charts normally give flow,
head and pump size only, and the specific
performance curve must then be referred to for
impeller diameter, efficiency, and other details. For
most applications in our industry, pump curves are
based on clear water with a specific gravity of 1.0.

PERFORMANCE FIELD

FLOW- M 3/H

•
6

10

'\
8 \

!r
4

\
6 o08'-.
] N
8"I'- s:- r-.
=::::: ~

~ r---.... ........,
4 ~ .....
\ ~0
006 007
'oo5
0 r\. .] 16 20 24 28 32
FLOW- GPM
Fig. 1-1

•
 Quick Selection Curve Custom Units R.P.M. is the term used to express the rotational

0 ' '
1750RPM
' ' . ., . . " .
' "
'
speed of a pump.
0
' Some additional terms that are often used when
' considering a pump's relationship to the particular

•
......__ '
0
'"'lq I'.. ~ system into which it will be installed are reviewed
\ "' \ .
below.

k
I-
III
Lll ~~ 16~1 Shut.()ff Head is the term used to express the head
IL ,. ,
I 15 developed by a pump at zero flow.

0
1--
-- ~
\ \ I
) .
'
static Head is the term used to express the pressure

""/\ at the pump discharge which the pump must

v.
161 '
overcome before it can produce flow. Static head is
a difference in elevation and can be computed for a
,
variety of conditions surrounding a pump installation.
FLOW IN GALLONS PER MINUTE
System Resistance is the term used to express the
. Fig. 1-3
pressure on the pump discharge resulting from the
resistance to flow created by friction between the
Flow is a volume measure to establish pump fluid and the piping system. This value will vary with
capacity per unit of time, usually as GPM. flow rate.
Head is a pressure measure represented by how high Suction Pressure is the term used to express the
the pump can lift a column of liquid, usually in feet. pressure observed at the pump suction connection.
To convert the popular pressure expression P.S.I. to This may be a positive pressure or a negative
feet of water, multiply P.S.I. x 2.31. pressure.
Horsepower (H.P.) is the term used to express the Discharge Pressure is the term used to express the
amount of power available to drive the pump. pressure at the discharge connection. This will always
be a positive pressure.
Brake Horsepower ( BHP) is the term used to express
the amount of power required to drive the pump. Differential Pressure is the term used to express the
algebraic difference between the discharge and
Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHR) is a suction pressures. This value represents pump head.
pressure measure - in absolute units - expressed in
feet and indicates the pressure required at the Service Factor is the term used to express the reserve •
pump suction to prevent cavitation. Reducing the power available from an electric motor when
pressure at the pump flange below the vapor operating under normal conditions.
pressure of the liquid can cause formation of vappr
pockets in the impeller passes. This condition System Curve is a graphical representation of the
(cavitation) will interfere with pump performance, hydraulic characteristics of a piping system. When
and is usually accompanied by noise as the vapor the pump performance curve is laid over the system
pockets collapse. NPSHR can be thought of as the curve, the intersection indicates the flow and head
amount of pressure in excess of vapor pressure pressure of the pump when coupled to the hydraulic
required to prevent the formation of vapor pockets. system.

Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHA) is the Constant Speed is the term used to express the RPM
term used to express the pressure available at the of a pump upon which a published pump curve is
pump suction flange. If NPSHA is less than NPSHR. based.
cavitation problems should be expected.
Pump Efficiency indicates the percentage of brake
horsepower converted into useful work. Pump
efficiency, along with flow, head, and liquid specific
gravity affect the power required to drive the pump.
The more efficient the pump, the less power required
to drive it.
Specific Gravity (S.G.) is the term used to express
reldtive weight of a liquid when compared with
water (water= 1.0 S.G.).

•
2
 PART II -The System Curve
Understanding a system curve, sometimes called a

•
system head curve, is important because conditions
in larger, more complex piping systems vary as a
result of either controllable or uncontrollable lUw
changes. A pump can operate at any point of rating LL
on its performance curve, depending on the actual
total head of a particular system. Partially closing a
valve in the pump discharge or changing the size or
length of pipes are changes in system conditions
that will alter the shape of a System Curve and, in
turn, affect pump flow. Each pump model has 0
definite capacity curve for a given impeller diameter
and speed. Developing a system curve provides the
means to determine at what point on that curve a
pump will operate when used in a particular piping FLOW - GALLONS PER MINUTE
system. Fig. 2-3
Pipe, valves and fittings create resistance to flow or
friction head. Developing the data to plot a system Fig. 2-3 illustrates the use of a discharge valve to
curve for a closed hydronic system under pressure change the system head to vary pump flow. Partially
requires calculation of the total of these friction head c!osing the valve shifts the operating point to a
losses. Friction tables are readily available that higher head or lower flow capacity. Opening the
provide friction loss data for pipe, valves and fittings. valve has the opposite effect. V\brking the system
These tables usually express the losses in terms of the curve against the pump performance curve for
equivalent length of straight pipe of the same size as different total resistance possibilities provides the
the valve or fitting. Once the total system friction is system designer important information with which to
determined, a plot can be made because this make pump and motor selection decisions for each
friction varies roughly as the square of the liquid flow system. A system curve is also an effective tool in
in the system. This plot represents the System Curve. analyzing system performance problems and

•
By laying the system curve over the pump choosing appropriate corrective action.
performance curve, the pump flow can be
determined (Fig. 2-2). Care must be taken that both
pump head and friction are expressed in feet and
that both are plotted on the same graph. The system
curve will intersect the pump performance curve at
the flow rate of the pump because this is the point at
which the pump head is equal to the required
system head for the same flow.
.:·

SYSTEM CURVE

POINT OF PUMP
Iiiw OPERATION
LL

c
<(
w
J:

•
FLOW - GALLONS PER MINUTE
Fig. 2-2

3
In on-epen hydrertie system; it maybe necessary to The terms associated with developing a system cuNe
(]dd head to raise the liquid from a lower level to a dre review9d below:
higher level. Called static or elevation head, this .
®mount is added to the friction head to determine Pump Performance.9~.Jrve - A graphical
the totdl system head c\.JNe. Fig'..2-1 illustrates a representation of a PWq1p's performance
~ystem curve developed by adding static head to characteristics. Each pump has a definite capacity •
the friction head resistance. cuNe for a given impeller diameter and speed. ·'
_,..,.· System Curve - A graphical representation of the
hydraulic characteristics of a piping system. Laying
;:;
the pump cuNe over the system cuNe gives the
point at which a particular pump will operate in the
system for which the cuNe is plotted.
Friction Head- The equivalent head needed to
overcome the resistance of the pipe, valves and
fittings in the pumping system, measured in feet.
Q
c(
UJ
static Head- The difference between two liquid
:I: levels measured in vertical feet. It is equal to the
QUJ
c(O~ head a pump must overcome before it can produce
UJ Z T flow.
:I:UJ
2ffi SYSTEM CURVE
!iu.
~!!:: _jo~..________________.
cnc .
0 FLOW · GALLONS PER MINUTE
Fig. 2-1

In more complex piping systems, two or more pumps

may be·arrangedfor parallel or series operation to
meet a wide range of demand in the most
economical manner. When demand drops, one or

•
more pumps can be shut down, allowing the
remaining pumps to operate at peak efficiency. •
Pumps operating in parallel give multiple flow /'
capacity against a common head. When pumps
operate in series, performance is determined by
adding heads at the same flow capacity. Pumps to
be arranged in series or parallel require the use of a
System Curve in conjunction with the composite
pump performance cuNes to evaluate their
p~rformance under various conditions. Additional
information about series and parallel pumping is
provided on page 6.

•
4
 All system resistance curves originate at zero flow
PART Ill- Stable Curves, and head. Any pump, no matter how large or small,
Unstable Curves And will produce some flow in a closed system.

•
For a given system resistance curve, the flow
Parallel Pumping produced by any pump is determined by the
intersection of the pump curve with the system
One of the ways in which the multitude of possible resistance curve since only at this point is operating
performance curve shapes of centrifugal pumps can equilibrium possible. For each combination of system
be subdivided is as stable and unstable. The head of and pump, one and only one such intersection exists.
a stable curve is highest at zero flow (shutoff) and Consequently, whether a pump curve is stable or
decreases as the flow increases. This is illustrated by unstable is of no consequence. This is illustrated in
the curve of Pump 2 in Fig. 1. So-called unstable Fig. 1.
curves are those with maximum head not at zero,
but at 5 to 25 percent of maximum flow, as shown by Single Pump In Open System With Static Head
the curve for Pump 1 in Fig. 1. In an open system with static head, the resistance
curve originates at zero flow and at the static head
The term unstable, though commonly used, is rather to be overcome. The flow is again given by the
unfortunate terminology in that it suggests unstable intersection of system resistance and pump curves as
pump performance. Neither term refers to operating illustrated for a stable curve in Fig. 2.
characteristics, however. Each is strictly a designation
for a particular shape of curve. Both stable and It has been said that in an open system with static
unstable curves have advantages and head a condition could exist where an unstable
disadvantages in design and application. It is left to curve could cause the flow to "hunt" back and forth
the discretion of the designer to determine the shape between two points since the system resistance
of his curve. curve intersects the pump curve twice, as shown in
Fig. 3. The fallacy of this reasoning lies in the fact that
In a vast majority of installations, whether the pump the pump used for the system in Fig. 3 already
curve is stable or unstable is relatively unimportant represents an improper selection in that it can never
as the following examples of typical applications deliver any fluid at all. The shutoff head is lower than
show. the static head. The explanation for this can be
found in the manner in which a centrifugal pump
Single Pump In Closed System develops its full pressure when the motor is started.

•
In a closed system, such as a hydronic heating or The very important fact to remember here is that the
cooling system, the function of the pump is to shutoff head of the pump must theoretically always
circulate the same quantity of fluid over and over be at least equal to the static head.
again. Primary interest is in providing a flow rate. No
static head or lifting of fluid from one level to another
takes place.

200 200
0 - f) i ~
r---. r--..... System resistance r---. r-..... ' I •estslan-:e
I I
1. -
150
-.. v 150 .........
,.,.. 150 Sy~tern -·

-' '
~System resistance •'f".uf'l·,ng
~ ........ ;;"
.,../
....... ~
I'.. ~
:....- ~

~ :..-
I"'" ..........
.........
- ~ 100
~ ~ I I
.,
g
J:
50
v
/
/ ['Pump 1
-.._·Pump 2
50
,_St~ti~-
head
I I I
50
-
I
"" St~tic
head-
I I I

0
./
V"
50 100 150 200 250
0
50 100 150 200
l
250 100 150 200 250
I
50
Flow, gpm Flow, gpm Flow, gpm

Fig. 3-1 Fig. 3-2 Fig. 3-3

•
5
From a practical point of view, the shutoff head It is also important to realize that stable curves do
should be 5 to 10 percent higher than the static not guarantee successful parallel pumping by the
head because the slightest reduction in pump head mere fact that they are stable. Fig. 6 illustrates such a
(such as that caused by possible impeller erosion or case. lWo dissimilar pumps with stable curves are
lower than anticipated motor speed or voltage) installed in a closed system with variable resistance •
would again cause shutoff head to be lower than (throttling may be affected by manually operated
static head. If the pump is properly selected, there valves, for example).
will be only one resistance curve intersection with the
pump curve and definite, unchanging flow will be With both pumps running, no benefit would be
established, as shown in Fig. 4. obtained from Pump 1 with the system resistance set
to go through A or at any point between 0 and 100
Pumps Operating In Parallel GPM for that matter. In fact within that range, fluid
It is sometimes heard that for multiple pumping the from Pump 2 would flow backward through Pump 1
individual pumps used must have stable in spite of its running, beeee~se ~1"@661.11"@ eJ':'eJileTble
performance curves. Correctly designed installations 1'Fel"': Pe~t •113 2 wee~lel ~19\o eeslt'ii'eJFel tlo\Fee~~FI Ptti"Rf!'"1
will give trouble-free service with either type of curve, ififspile of i~ FeJRRi~ because pressure available
however. from Pump 2 is greater than that developed by
Pump 1. In other words, Pump 2 overpowers Pump 1.
The important thing to remember is that additional For this reason, with Pump 2 running alone, Pump 1
pumps can be started up only when their shutoff should not be started unless Pump 2 operates to the
heads are higher than the head developed by the right of the point where the curve of Pump 2 and the
pumps already running. curve of Pumps 1 and 2 diverge (100 GPM) in Fig. 6.
If a system with fixed resistance (no throttling devices Parallel pumping is often an excellent way to obtain
such as modulating valves) is designed so that its optimum operating conditions and to save energy.
head, with all pumps operating (maximum flow) is To be successfuL however, systems and operating
less than the shutoff head of any individual pump, conditions must be understood. This applies to both
the different pumps may be operated singly or in any stable and unstable pump curves.
combination, and any starting sequence will work.
Fig. 5 shows an example consisting of two dissimilar
unstable pumps operating on an open system with
static hea9.

.
200

150

,.,. p
/ System resistance
~
· - - r--
.
200

150
- ......... i"""- ~;::.1 and 2

....
1

(f;xed)
~
Syst em r!sista~ce
.
20 0

r--
150 ~
~
System resistance

A
,....
throtTled
I
Pumps I and 2

~ ...... """
I I
I
!
(='
•
-
~

-
~ 1'\. ....... 0 System
•
0
r-,.... • ....... ~ V resistance
~

'
........
~ ~ 0

.
100
...... 1
100 -= 100
'\ ""' '\ at no_

' ""
throttling
-u \ I -u
0
z )c. v
:X:
50
" s
I

l
I.
~~~;-
I
50 -
0.
E
EN
8la.
I'
..,.. E

f ~Ia: 1-1~ ~I
0
E
a...-..2
0> -
<
X
5.
0>
stot1~-
I.
t~od

I
:X:
50
L
I

Pimp~~ -r-e
\
....... ~ Pump 2
0>
0

50 100 150 200 250 0

100 2 00 300 400 500 0
lL.J.-100!--""' 200 300 400 500
Flow, gpm Flow, gpm Flow, gpm

Fig. 3-4 Fig. 3-5 Fig. 3-6

•
6
 PART IV- Non-Overloading When evaluating what really has to happen for a
pump to overload the motor, the system curve will
Pump Curve - What Does give simple and complete answers.

•
H Really Mean?
As we all know, performance of a pump is defined by
the feet of head developed at a certain GPM flow.
The flow is usually determined first. and is based on
such considerations as heat loss, heat gain, etc. Next.
the head has to be determined. l'ypically, it consists
of a static head plus a friction head. The static head
is usually very accurately known; however,
considerable uncertainty is associated with the
friction head, due to calculations that involve safety
factors and data based on old (rougher) pipe. The
result is that friction head is almost always less than
the calculated value.
. of 73.2 ft. at 560 GPM (see point (B)). ( 60% of 122 ft. =
We often see specifications that call for motors to be
non-overloading over the total range of the curve.
Most times, this requires a motor horsepower to be
furnished that will never be needed. This not only
adds motor, wiring and controls costs, but also affects
the total power factor load of the building, which will
affect the rate the owner pays for his electricity
forever.
The following two examples will demonstrate that
even a large miscalculation of friction head wtll not
dramatically increase the horsepower required.
Example 1:
This example pertains to a closed loop system where
the static head is zero (see Fig. 1). Point (A)
represents the design condition; 560 GPM at 122 feet.
The curve drawn from the origin through the design
point represents the system curve for that set of
conditions. The power required to operate at that
.point is 21.7 HP. If the system resistance is overstated
by 40%, what is the result? We must first construct a
new system curve through the new operating point
73.2 ft.). The pump will now operate at point (C) (704
GPM at 116 feet), where the system resistance curve
intersects the 11.0 inch impeller diameter and not at
point (D) (see note). The power required to operate
at point (C) is 24.9 HP. This shows that a 25 HP motor
is sufficient and that a 40 HP motor (which would be
the so-called non-overloading selection) is not
needed.

10 20 30 40 50 60 7 80 90L/SEC 100
150

•
10 20 30 40 NPSH I 45
I I I I
FEET
11.30" I I I
I I
11.00" I I 40
I
125
35
to.oo"
......
w
w 100 30
1.1... if)
a::
z 9.00" w
I-
25 ~
Q
<{ 75 z
-
w 0
::r: 20 <(
w~
I

50 15
/s
<9...y;<)
10

25
SYST M CUR VES ··s .

• 00 200 400 600

FLOW IN GALLONS PER MINUTE
800

Fig. 4-1
1000 1200 1400 1600

7
 Example2: Note:
This example pertains to the same design conditions A common misconception is that the pump will
as Example #1 except it represents an open system operate at the point where the "miscalculated
with a static head of 75 feet (see Fig. 2). The curve system head" intersects the design diameter. This is

•
drawn from 0 flow at 75 feet up through point (A) not the case; the pump will operate at the point
represents the system curve. If the system resistance is where the "new system curve" intersects the design
again miscalculated by 40% as in Example #1, what diameter.
is the result? We again must first draw the new system
curve which extends from the point 0 flow at 75 feet
up through point (B); 560 GPM@ 103.2 feet (103.2
being 60% of the friction head plus the static head).
The pump will now operate at point (C) ( 683 GPM @
117 feet) where the system resistance curve intersects
the 11.0 inch impeller diameter (it will not operate at
point (D) see note). The power required at point (C)
is 24.5 HP.
This shows that a 25 HP motor is sufficient and that a
40 HP motor (which would be the so-called non-
overloading selection) is not needed.

f. 10

•
20 30 40 80 90L!SEC 100
,;: 150
'f NPSH I FEET
45

11.30" I
11.00" I
40
I
125
•·
35
10.oo"
r-
w
w 100 30
lL.
(f)
a:
z 9.00" w
1-
25 ~
0
<t 75 z
-
w 0
I 20 <(
w
I

50 15

10

25r------r----~f------~-----4------~------~~---+----~

•
5

0
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Fig. 4-2 FLOW,: IN GALLONS PER MINUTE

8
.··•·
.,;;.;..... .o>.:~ ·.•..• '"
 PART V - NPSH and Pump always be greater than the NPSH required by the
pump in that system or noise and cavitation will
cavitation result. The available NPSH can be altered to satisfy
the NPSH required by the pump, if changes in the

•
The net positive suction head (NPSH) is an expression
of the minimum suction conditions required to
prevent cavitation in a pump. NPSH can be thought
of as the head corresponding to the difference
between the actual absolute pressure at the inlet to
the pump impeller and the fluid vapor pressure. An
incorrect determination of NPSH can lead to
reduced pump capacity and efficiency, severe
operating problems and cavitation damage.
It is helpful to define separately two basic NPSH
considerations; required NPSH (NPSHR) and available
(NPSHA). . and suction reference point.
The required or minimum NPSH is dependent on the
design of a particular pump and is determined by
the manufacturer's testing of each pump model. The
pump manufacturer can plot this required NPSH for a
given pump model on a performance curve and this
value, expressed as feet of the liquid handled, is the
pressure required to force a given flow through the
suction piping into the impeller eye of the pump.
Required NPSH can also be defined as the amount
of pressure in excess of the vapor pressure required by
a particular pump model to prevent the formation of
vapor pockets or cavitation. Required NPSH, then,
varies from one pump manufacturer to the next and
from one manufacturer's model to another. The
piping, liquid supply leveL etc., can be made.
Increasing the available NPSH provides a safety
margin against the potential for cavitation. The
available NPSH is calculated by using the formula:
NPSHA =ha ± hs - hvpa - hf where ha =
atmospheric pressure in feet absolute
hs "+'' =suction head or positive pressure in a
closed system, expressed in feet gauge
hs "-" =suction lift or negative pressure in a closed
system, expressed in feet gauge
hvpa =vapor pressure of the fluid in feet absolute
hf =pipe friction in feet between pump suction
Cavitation can be defined as the formation and
subsequent collapse of vapor pockets in a liquid.
Cavitation in a centrifugal pump begins to occur
when the suction head is insufficient to maintain
pressures above the vapor pressure. As the inlet
pressure approaches the flash point vapor pockets
form bubbles on the underside of the impeller vane
which collapse as they move into the high-pressure
area along the outer edge of the impeller. Severe
cavitatiol') can cause pitting of the impeller surface
and noise levels audible outside the pump.
The TACO pump performance curve below (Fig. 5)
includes a plot of the required NPSH for a TACO

•
required NPSH for a particular pump model varies
with capacity and rapidly increases at high
capacities.
The available NPSH, on the other hand, is dependent
on the piping system design as well as the actual
location of the pump in that system. The NPSH
available as a function of system piping design must
Model 3006. If a pump capacity of 210 GPM is used
as an example capacity requirement reading
vertically from that GPM rate shows a required NPSH
of 10 feet. An available system NPSH greater than 10
feet would, therefore, be necessary to ensure
satisfactory pump performance and operation.

Model3006 1750 RPM Curve No. 421

Min. Imp. Dia. 3.5
A Frame Size
Size 3 x 6

50
2 4 6 e 10 12 14LISEC

14 6 8 I I
4
I I I

40 0 2
0

' to.
~ ;I 0 1.,, 10

r-30
w
w -o
U)
LL ' 0
a:
r--. w
....
~20 .. w
::li
·•
r- ~
:;;
0
<t 0
w
I
I' 1-- :.0~· 4 w "'
I
!'....
10
r""' -2

• 0

0
w

Fig. 5-1
25 50 75 100
FLOW IN GALLONS PER MINUTE
125 150 175 200 225 250
'-'