FLOW-HEAD CURVE

EI 376
 Objectives
• To explain Pumps characteristics curves

• To describe the cavitation phenomena

• To describe the appropriate ways to

prevent pumps cavitation

• To differentiate between NPSH available and

NPSH required
 Introduction
It often comes as surprise that pump flow
and pump pressure can be related.
However, each pump has its own
characteristic and the relation is different
for different pumps.
 Introduction

The corresponding points can be joined to display

a continuous Curves
 Pump Characteristics Curve
• This is known as
the pump
characteristic
curve, the pump
performance
curve, or mostly,
'the Curve.
 Pump Characteristics Curve
• This is basically, what manufacturers do on
their test bed, in order to determine the
pump performance curve.
 Pump Head and Pressure
• Pump engineers often interchange the
words pressure and head when discussing
pump performance.

• Pump head is a constant property, while

pump pressure depends upon the liquid
specific gravity.
Pump Head and Pressure
 Flow-Power Curve
• If the power absorbed by the pump is
measured or inferred in some way at each
test point, and then plotted on the same
graph, we get the pump's power curve.

• With the most commonly used pumps, this

curve usually rises as flow increases.

• More flow needs more power.

Flow-Power Curve
 Flow-Power Curve
• However, pumps of high flow and low head
have power curves that fall steadily.

• This completely different behaviours

requires a different approach which it comes
to start-up and shut down.
Flow-Power Curve
 Flow-Efficiency Curve
• Designers and owners want to know if the
pump output is giving good value for the
amount of power being put in.

• Manufacturers do this by drawing an

efficiency curve.

• Pumps give the best value for the power

used at only one flow pressure point.
Flow-Efficiency Curve
 Flow-Efficiency Curve
• Pumps give the best value for the power
used at only one flow pressure point.

• Owners want their pump to operate close to

this point in order to get lowest power for the
job in hand.

• Efficiency cannot normally be measured

directly. It is a derived function relating
power input to power output.
Characteristics Curve
 Flow-Cavitation
• As liquid is displaced
out into the casing,
more liquid is
pushed into replace
it.
• This process takes
place continuously to
create a pumping
action.
 Flow-Cavitation
• The amount of fluid
pushed in depends
on the suction
pressure.

• Sometimes more
liquid is displaced
than can be pushed
in.
 Flow-Cavitation
• It is well known that
water can be made to
boil just by raising its
temperature.
• What is
Cavitation?
• Less obvious is that
fact that reducing the
pressure acting upon
it also reduces its
boiling point.
 Flow-Cavitation
• In certain
circumstances,
centrifugal pumps
contain sites where the
• What is 'local' pressure can get
Cavitation? low enough to allow
boiling.
• The most likely area is
in the inlet eye
 Flow-Cavitation
• The presence of vapour
bubbles in small
quantities is not too
important, but in large
• What is quantities, they can
Cavitation? block off the passage
flow and 'choke' the
pump.
 Flow-Cavitation
• Cavitation is the
• What is creation of vapour
Cavitation? bubbles in areas where
the pressure locally
drops to the fluid
vapour pressure.

• Cavitation generally
lowers the head and
causes noise and
vibration
 Flow-Cavitation
• The minimum suction
pressure needed to
prevent cavitation is
related to pump flow.

• Cavitation first occurs

at the point in the
pump where the
pressure is lowest.
 Cavitation
• Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) is the
head required at the pump inlet to keep the
liquid from cavitating or boiling.

• Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) is also

defined as a measure of the energy
available on the suction side of the pump
 Cavitation
• Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) is the
commercial term used by a pump
manufacturers and indicates the suction
head which the pump impeller can produce

• In other words, it is the height of the pump

axis from water reservoir which can be
permitted for installation
 Cavitation
• NPSH is a term describing conditions
related to cavitation, which is undesired
and harmful

• Distinction is made between two different

NPSH values: NPSHR and NPSHA.

• NPSHA stands for NPSH Available and is an

expression of how close the fluid in the
suction pipe is to vapourisation.
 Cavitation
• NPSHR stands for NPSH Required and is
an expression of the lowest NPSH value
required for acceptable operating
conditions.

• To determine if a pump can safely be

installed in the system, NPSHA and NPSHR
should be found for the largest flow and
temperature within the operating range
 Method of preventing Cavitation
• The pressure of the flowing liquid in any
part of the hydraulic system should not be
allowed to fall below its vapour pressure

• Special materials or coatings such as

aluminium, bronze and stainless steel which
are cavitation resistant material should be
used
SEE YOU TOMORROW