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Best E!ciency Point &

Performance Curves

How to ensure your

centrifugal pump is operating
e!ciently.
by Amin Almasi (Rotating Equipment
Consultant)
08/09/2021

The best e!ciency point (BEP) is the

point along a pump performance curve
where e!ciency is the highest. In other
words, BEP is the point at which the
pump e!ciency peaks. In any pumping
system, operating at or around BEP of
the pump is desired. However, there are
many things to consider and issues to
avoid in order to achieve this ideal
operation.

BEP & Performance Curve

The performance curve shows how
deviation from BEP, working to the left
side or right side of the BEP, would
a#ect the operation and performance of
the pump. The pump characteristic
curve is the head (discharge pressure)
versus flow rate (capacity) curve. The
preferred operating range is typically
defined as 70% (or 75%) to 110% (or 115%)
of flow at BEP for most centrifugal
pumps. However, this is just an
indication, and the actual pump curve
and its behavior in the system should
be carefully considered.

There have been various types of

curves for di#erent centrifugal pumps.
However, there are typically four
di#erent curve profiles:

So-called normal curves, where

the head decreases as the flow
rate increases. A typical (normal)
performance curve head
decreases relatively rapidly as
flow rate increases.
Steep curves, where the head
decreases rapidly as flow rate
increases.
Flat curves, where the head
decreases slowly as the flow
rate increases. These curves are
actually relatively flat.
Drooping curves, similar to the
normal profile except at the low
flow end, the head rises then
drops as it gets to the shut-o#
head point.

A normal curve has an angle, say 25 or

35 degrees on average; therefore, it is
more or less inclined. A steep curve has
a steep angle (just as indicated), say
above 40 or 50 degrees on average. A
relatively steep curve can be desirable
from the control point of view for some
pump applications since a small
reduction in the flow will result in a
large pressure rise. Therefore, it can
help to recover the lost flow. For
example, if there is a flow restriction by
partial plugging in the downstream, this
large pressure rise can help to
overcome the problem (partial plugging
in this case) and restore the desired
situation. The steepness of the curve
depends on many details of the pump,
such as the number of vanes and the
specific speed. However, a steep curve
is not suitable for every application.

A relatively flat curve is sometimes

desirable, such as when a change in
flow should only result in a small
change in head. In some applications,
as more liquid consumers are turned
on, added or connected in the
discharge side, the head will tend to
just slightly decrease. In other words,
because the pump’s curve is relatively
flat, in the event of a larger flow rate
than expected, the head will decrease
only a small amount, which means that
the pressure at the consumers will drop
only a small amount. Therefore, for such
applications where many di#erent
consumers can come on and o#, a
relatively flat curve works better. A
good example of such an application is
the fire water pump.

A drooping curve shape should usually

be avoided because it is possible for
the pump to hunt between two
operating points that both satisfy the
head requirement of the system. This is
known to happen when two pumps are
operated in parallel. When the second
pump is started, it may fail to get to the
operating point or hunt between two
points that are at equal head.

Theory vs. Practice

The BEP data and the pump
performance curve are usually only
theoretical values until the shop or site
performance test. The actual BEP data
and performance curve are determined
by the pump test. They may be slightly
di#erent than the theoretical BEP and
curve.

There have been many sources for such

deviations or di#erences. For instance,
actual dimensions and details of the
impeller and casing might be di#erent
from theoretical ones, or the simulation
of the liquid flow inside the pump was
not accurate. The impeller details play a
major role in the BEP and curve. Any
change or modification of the impeller
will change the BEP and curve of the
pump. The casing usually has less of an
e#ect.

Trimming of the impeller, or slightly

changing the impeller (slight
modifications on vanes, etc.), can be
used to make some changes on the
performance curve and BEP. However,
these changes need to be made with
great care.

Control Valves in Pumping

Systems
The flow rate through a pump is usually
determined by the pressure (head) in
the downstream (discharge) of the
pump. A control valve in the pump
discharge piping is most often used to
control the flow rate and overall
operation. If the system is set up
properly, the control valve might help to
keep the pump operating near BEP.
However, there are some important
factors that should be considered. The
control valve has a pressure drop
across it, which represents a waste of
energy. Operational conditions
regulated by the control valve may
push the pump to operate sometimes
far from its BEP if the system is not
designed and operated properly. This
can directly a#ect the reliability,
performance and e!ciency of the
pump.

BEP, Vibration, Heat & Noise

Vibration of a centrifugal pump almost
always varies with flow and operating
point. Usually, the vibration is the
minimum in the vicinity of BEP and
increasing as flow is increased or
decreased. The rise of vibration as the
operating point is moved from BEP to
another point depends on many factors
such as the pump’s energy density, its
specific speed (Ns) and its suction
specific speed (Nss). Higher energy
consumption per unit of capacity is one
of the key e#ects of ine!ciently
operating far from BEP. The wasted
energy shows itself as heat, unwanted
vibration, noises,
damaging forces inside the pump and
other adverse e#ects.

Pumps should be selected and

operated to work as close to BEP as
possible. However, there are many
practical considerations and challenges
to overcome in order to achieve this
goal. When a pump operates at BEP, it
is at its most e!cient. This means it
uses the driver power as e!ciently as
possible and reduces energy costs,
energy waste and potentially damaging
e#ects. When a pump operates at BEP,
it usually produces the lowest vibration
readings and lowest temperature
readings. Therefore, pump
reliability/availability is increased and
maintenance costs are decreased.

Amin Almasi is a principal

machinery/mechanical consultant in
Australia. He is a chartered professional
engineer of Engineers Australia
(MIEAust CPEng–Mechanical) and
IMechE (CEng MIMechE). He has a
Bachelor of Science and Master of
Science in mechanical engineering and
is a RPEQ (Registered Professional
Engineer in Queensland). He has
authored more than 200 papers and
articles dealing with pumps, rotating
equipment, mechanical equipment,
condition monitoring and reliability.

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