Centrifugal pump curve explained. Select the right pump.
Centrifugal pump curve explained. flow on a pump curve? A: Head and flow have an inverse relationship on a centrifugal pump curve. This Tech Brief examines how pump curves can provide data about a pump’s abili ty to produce flow against certain head, shows how to read a typical centrifugal pump curve, and provides information about pump efficiency and brake horsepower. Sep 9, 2025 · To truly understand how these curves apply, it’s essential to first grasp the fundamental Centrifugal Pump Parts & Functions that make this performance possible. Although most published curves do not show the increased NPSHR at low flows, all centrifugal pumps exhibit such a characteristic. Performance Curve At some point in the pump selection process, the impeller diameter is selected. As the name suggests, how a pump will perform in terms of head and flow and it helps the engineer to select the proper pump for the particular system. It should be noted that example curves used herein are illustrative only and manufacturers’ data should be consulted for specific information. Mar 11, 2025 · What is a Pump Curve? A centrifugal pump curve is a graphical representation of a pump’s performance characteristics. Select the right pump. This Tech Brief examines how pump curves can provide data about a pump’s abili-ty to produce flow against certain head, shows how to read a typical centrifugal pump curve, and provides information about pump efficiency and brake horsepower. Head Vs. Oct 17, 2014 · Utilize the system curve and the pump performance curve to select the proper pump for a particular application. Feb 19, 2018 · Identifying the best pump for your application starts with examining the pump curve, which indicates how a pump will perform against specific rates of pressure head and flow. Assuming 10 feet of 1 1/2 inch line and one elbow in the suction line, 8 feet of height of liquid above the pump center line and pumping 180°F water from an open tank, we can compute the NPSH available. May 26, 2024 · HOW TO READ A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PERFORMANCE CURVE? Curves typically include performance metrics based on pressure, flow, horsepower, impeller trim, and Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHr). . This article explains centrifugal pump curves and discusses how to read and use them. Unlock the secrets of centrifugal pump performance curves in this comprehensive video! 🚀 In this video, you’ll learn: How head varies with capacity Efficiency vs. this section depicts curves for pump total head, efficiency, input power, and net positive suction head required (NPSHR) as a function of flow rate. Other sections provide additional information on the selection and application of centrifugal pumps. Need help ? +32 2 657 23 53. For an existing pump, the diameter of the impeller is known. Being able to read a pump curve enables you to… ABOUT PUMP CURVES The performance of a centrifugal pump is shown by a set of performance curves. Pump curve? This section of the B&G Engineering Design Manual covers centrifugal pump performance curve and system curve data. I’ve annotated a typical curve below to guide us. If you want a thorough understanding of centrifugal pump curves, please read this article. It allows users to evaluate how a pump will perform under different conditions of flow and pressure. flow rate Power consumption Hello Engineers! In this video we are going to discuss about the Pump Curve vs System Curve Explained with Example, Pump Performance Curve, System Curve of P Everything you need to know to read Centrifugal Pump curves effectively. Learn about five types of Centrifugal Pump curves. May 10, 2025 · The aim of this practical guide is to provide a clear, step-by-step explanation of the different types of pump curves - whether centrifugal or positive displacement - and to show how to interpret them to ensure reliable, economical operation. Head, power consumption, eficiency and NPSH are shown as a func-tion of the flow. This article is part of Pumps 101, an eleven-part series of articles designed as an introduction to the fundamentals of centrifugal pump design, selection, and application. The numbers Summary Reading and understanding centrifugal pump curves is key to proper pump selection, and to their reliable and efficient operation. From the actual pump curve or from the example in “Selecting a Fristam Pump,” we see that the NPSH required is 3 feet. Aug 7, 2025 · Pump curve not only serve as a guide for engineers when designing fluid transport solutions, but also provide information for users to perform preventive maintenance on pumps. For example, if the pump shown above was fitted with a 6 inch impeller and encountered 100 feet of resistance in the pipeline, then it would operate at a flow of approximately 240 gallons per minute and 100 feet of Dec 17, 2011 · Figure 1. To optimize pump performance, understanding the centrifugal pump performance curve is essential. All of the curves in this article were generated by Pump-Flo’s web-based pump selection software. Apr 25, 2020 · Mechanical pumps Pump Chart Basics Explained Learn about pump curves, how to read them and what the different lines mean. Sep 9, 2025 · It is the ideal operating point for any pump. These curves help identify and select the right centrifugal pump by visually representing the pump’s ability and efficiency to move water and the energy required to do so. Impellers are manufactured to Figure 4-3 Typical pump performance curve. Apr 19, 2023 · Learn how to read and interpret centrifugal pump performance curves to optimize efficiency, reliability, and system performance. Flow Curve, Efficiency Curve, Power Curve, NPSHR curve & Pump Family Curve. Summary Reading and understanding centrifugal pump curves is key to proper pump selection, and to their reliable and efficient operation. , feet) that the pump must overcome. Feb 4, 2025 · Centrifugal Pump curves are also called centrifugal pump performance curves or sometimes simply as performance curves are important tools. Jun 27, 2016 · A centrifugal pump is a simple machine and will operate on its performance curve at the intersection of the system resistance curve, if it is possible for the pump to operate at that junction. Let's go through some basic features of a pump curve. The pump performance curves for centrifugal pumps include: Head and Flow Curve Efficiency Curve Power (Brake Horsepower Centrifugal Pump Performance Curve Explained | Master the Pump Curve for Optimal Results | Core EngineeringIn this video we are going to discuss about the ;M Learn how to read a centrifugal pump performance curve, including key details on flow, head, efficiency, and power requirements. Nov 4, 2024 · Knowing how to read a centrifugal pump curve can help you correctly size a pump and troubleshoot any problems that arise. Now lets us start with the Centrifugal Pump Characteristic Curve For an Operations Engineer who is working in a Chemical Process industry or a Process engineer who is involved in Hydraulic calculations understanding the Centrifugal Pump Performance Curve is an important aspect. “Flow” is the volume of liquid moved per unit of time (e. , GPM). Aug 30, 2019 · Centrifugal Pump Curve Centrifugal pumps account for 70% o f pumping applications, and their curves are generally shaped with a half moon shape with the highest point on the left showing highest pressure but lowest flow, and the far right end of curve showing highest flow but lowest amount of pressure. Q: What is head vs. 1. A centrifugal pump always operates at the point on it’s performance curve where its head matches the resistance in the pipeline. Generally, the pump performance curve is provided by the manufacturer. Pump curves are essential during the decision making process, as they provide the information you need in order to see whether the pump will perform how you need it to! In their most basic form, performance curves contain flow rate and pressure data. The duty point is is marked typically with the efficiency indicated in percent. Let’s break down a standard curve into its core elements. The centrifugal pump family of characteristic curves Note that the NPSH curve is roughly a lazy "U," reaching a minimum value at a capacity Q about 40 percent of the best‑efficiency capacity. Pump Curves Tutorial A pump performance curveis a graphical representation of the head generated by a specific pump model at rates of flow from zero to maximum at a given operating speed. g. The performance curves for a centrifugal pump are shown in figure 1. The NPSHR always rises as the pump capacity approaches shut Explore centrifugal pumps, learn how they work, where they're used, and how to read a pump performance curve for optimal selection. “Head” is the energy per unit weight expressed as a height of liquid (e. the largest size for a given pump casing and machined or "trimmed" to the required diameter when the pump is sold. dkktiipanpxrxh19i9bmr2hk8c0fo7ummjhe5u3