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 - Maximu
DEAD HEAD Flow
No Flow - Maximum Head
DESIGN FLOW
80.82%: Eff
19.1ft: NPSHr
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
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
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
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
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...
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
78%
D 100 70%
75% 7.5HP
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
FLOW (GPM)
16
Efficiency And Horsepower
70 X 150 X 1.0
Example: BHP =
3960 X 0.65
BHP = 4.08 HP
Selecting A Pump
• Liquid characteristics
• Pumping system design
• TDH
• Capacity
• NPSHA
Interrogation may be
required!!
Mental Note
80 6” 67%
62%
70
72%
60
50
40 30 NPSHR
30 20 IN
20 10 FEET