WILO SE

9F Unit 905, Pearl Bank Centre

146 Valero Street, Salcedo Village,
Makati City Philippines
T : 02- 533 - 4016 (www.wilo.com)

Centrifugal Pump Curves

Darwin S. Ibanez
darwin.ibanez@wilo-philippines.com
0917 865 3046
 Centrifugal Pump Curves
HEAD

H-Q

CAPACITY
• The performance of a centrifugal pump is graphically represented on a
head-capacity curve
• The pump design determines the shape of the curve
• The pump will always run along its curve either producing more
pressure (head) or more flow (capacity)
 81.2: BEP

DESIGN HEAD
12.32”: Impeller dia

END OF CURVE
Minimum Head -
DEAD HEAD Maximum Flow
No Flow - Maximum
Head

118 HP: Brake HP

DESIGN FLOW
80.82%: Eff

19.1ft: NPSHr
Centrifugal Pump Curves

The H-Q curve for a particular pump is a function of:

• The impeller diameter Look at the size

of that thing!
• And the speed of
operation
Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD 8”

1800 rpm

6”

CAPACITY
• Holding speed constant, the H-Q curve for any given pump can
be shifted by varying the impeller diameter
• Smaller diameter impellers produce less head and capacity
Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD 3450 rpm

8” Diameter

2400 rpm

CAPACITY
• Holding impeller diameter constant, the H-Q curve for any given
pump can be shifted by varying the pump speed
• Slower motor/shaft speeds produce less head and capacity
• This is the property used by variable speed drives like the Wilo VFD
Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD

5 bhp

3 bhp

CAPACITY
• Pump curves typically show the brake horsepower required
to operate the pump at various points along it’s Head-
Capacity curve.
 Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD

5 bhp

3 bhp

CAPACITY
• The brake horsepower shown on the curve is based on pumping water (S.G. = 1.0)
• The actual brake horsepower must be corrected for specific gravity
Brake Horsepower Correction

• Simply multiply the brake horsepower shown on the curve

by the specific gravity of the liquid being pumped

• For example, if it takes 5 bhp to pump water it will take

5 x .72 = 3.6 bhp

to pump the same amount of gasoline at the given head

since the specific gravity of gasoline is 0.72.
Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD 8” 52%
56%

62%

65%
6”

56%

CAPACITY
Centrifugal pump curves typically show hydraulic efficiency points
The best efficiency point (BEP) is the highest efficiency point on the
curve
Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD

H-Q

30 NPSHR
20 IN

10 FEET

CAPACITY
• Pump curves typically show the Net Positive Suction Head Required to
operate the pump at each point along it’s Head-Capacity curve.
 NPSHR increases with capacity
 The NPSHR value for a particular application is determined at the designed flow rate
NPSH Requirements

• The NPSH required by the pump must always be lower than

the NPSH available in your hydraulic system. In general, a
safety margin of two feet is preferred.

• Elevation and temperature must be carefully considered when

calculating NPSH available.

• Pumps which require more NPSH than is available will self

destruct

12
Centrifugal Pump Curves

8” 1800 rpm Priming

HEAD
lift
8” 25’
7” 22’

6” 6” 19’

CAPACITY
• Self-priming pump curves typically provide information
on the suction lift capability of the particular pump
 System Curve
Flow Range
0-120 GPM

250

200 Static +
150 FT
Friction
H
E 150
A Static
70
Head
D 100 GPM
(FT)
50

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
FLOW (GPM)
The system curve represents the effect of the hydraulic system on head
and flow and accounts for both static head and friction loss
14
 And The Two Shall Become One...

HEAD System Curve

Operating Point

H-Q Curve

CAPACITY
• A centrifugal pump will operate at the point of intersection between
the pump’s H-Q curve and the System curve

15
 Pump Curve With System Curve

250

6.0”
200
5.0”
H 4.0”
E 150
A
D 100 70%
75%
78%
7.5HP
(FT) 70 GPM @ 150 FT 5HP
Efficiency 3HP
50

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
FLOW (GPM)

16
 Efficiency And Horsepower

• Pump Efficiency Is A Function Of Pump Design For Service Intended

• A Measure Of Hydraulic Losses Through The Pump At Various Flows
• Horsepower Is The Work Performed By The Pump To Meet Conditions Considering Total
Head, Desired Flow, Liquid Weight (SG), And Pump Efficiency

Flow (GPM) X Head (FT) X SG

Brake Horsepower (BHP) =
3960 X Efficiency

70 X 150 X 1.0
Example: BHP =
3960 X 0.65

BHP = 4.08 HP
Selecting A Pump

In order to properly select a pump you need to

know the facts:

• Liquid characteristics
• Pumping system design
• TDH
• Capacity
• NPSHA

Interrogation may be
required!!
Mental Note

The first rule of

centrifugal pump
selection:

HEAD DETERMINES CAPACITY

Selecting A Pump

HEAD 100
8”
90
80 6”
70
60
50
40
30 NPSHR
30
20 IN
20
10 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 CAPACITY

Condition Of Service = 130 gpm @ 70’ TDH, NPSHA is

20’
Selecting A Pump

HEAD 100
8”
90
80 6”
70
60
50
40
30 NPSHR
30
20 IN
20
10 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 CAPACITY

COS = 130 gpm @ 70’ TDH, NPSHA is 20’

Selecting A Pump

HEAD 100 58% 62%

8”
90 67%
80 6” 67%
62%
70
72%
60
50
40
30 NPSHR
30
20 IN
20
10 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 CAPACITY

COS = 130 gpm @ 70’ TDH, NPSHA is 20’

Selecting A Pump

HEAD 100
8”
90
80 6”
70
60
50
5 bhp
40
30 NPSHR
30 3 bhp
20 IN
20
10 FEET

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 CAPACITY

COS = 130 gpm @ 70’ TDH, NPSHA is 20’

Applications - Rules of Thumb

• Size motors for End of Curve

horsepower
• Select pumps such that the COS are
to the left of BEP
• Always recommend suction piping be
as short, straight and large as
possible

Learn as much as you can about the

system and you will always select the
right pump.
THANK YOU!