PUMP PERFORMANCE

ASSESSMENT
Presented by:

Insert photo here to line.

Align with page edges GARY CAMPBELL
and colour strip at top Irrigation Consultancy, Design & Projects
Certified Irrigation Designer (C.I.D.)
Certified Irrigation Agronomist (C.I.Ag)
PGradCertBus-Project Management

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 1. Obtain background information
• Who is asking for the assessment?
– Owner?
– Employee?
– Are they authorised?
– Able to provide requested information?
– Location (where is the pump)?
• What is the pump being used for?
– Irrigation / water transfer / etc?
• Why is the pump being assessed?
– Capability needs to be established
– Not delivering as expected
– High operating cost
– Re-occurring damage (i.e. often replacing impellers)
– Irrigation system expansion contemplated

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 2a. Obtain technical data (before site visit)
• Water source
– River / dam / channel (canal) / borehole / storage (tank) ?
• Pump type
– End suction centrifugal / Mixed Flow (China pump) / Etc
– Obtain any pump identifying details (ID tag / plate)
• Pump Unit Drive
– Type & size: Electric motor / engine (diesel, petrol, etc)
– Coupling type (i.e. direct drive or pulley)
– If electric, what are the power charges and is there an electricity meter
• Water quality
– Unlikely to be the issue unless the pump is a bore pump or handling effluent
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 2a. Examples

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 2b. Obtain technical data (before site visit)
• Description of pumping layout
– What does the suction pipe work, pump unit and discharge pipe work arrangement look
like? What fittings (footvalve, bends, valves, water meter, etc)
– What pipe material (steel, poly, etc)?
– Photos or site visit before assessment can be very helpful?
• Overview of the system (description of delivery layout)
– What equipment is between the pump and final discharge – i.e. buried or above-
ground pipeline, hose, etc?
– Are there system drawings, or can an aerial (satellite) photo be obtained?
– Get a broad understanding of site conditions. Helpful to get an idea of distances and
elevations

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 3. Pump Assessment Equipment
• Equipment required is determined by what needs to be measured!
– FLOW
• Flow meter (i.e. portable ultrasonic [NOTE: with wall thickness gauge])
– PRESSURE
• Gauges – Discharge Pressure (critical), Suction Pressure (less critical – can be
calculated)
– POWER (can be difficult to determine on site and data for desk top calculations may be
needed)
• Tachometer (Rev Counter) for speed of pump
• Main Electric meter for kWh used by motor
LIST

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 4. Assessment Procedure
• Procedure • Diagram
 Data Record Sheet
• Electric Centrifugal • Engine Driven Centrifugal

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QUESTIONS?

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 Pump Pipework Arrangement

RETURN

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 System Layout

RETURN

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