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-philippi
nes.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 Maximum Flow

DEAD HEAD

DESIGN FLOW

No Flow - Maximum
Head

118 HP: Brake HP

80.82%: Eff
19.1ft: NPSHr

Centrifugal Pump Curves

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

The impeller diameter
And the speed of
operation

Look at the size

of that thing!

Centrifugal Pump Curves

HEAD

1800 rpm

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 its HeadCapacity 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

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 its 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

HEAD

1800 rpm

Priming
lift

25

22

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

Static +
Friction

150 FT

70
GPM

Static
Head

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 pumps H-Q curve and the System curve

15

Pump Curve With System Curve

6.0
5.0
4.0

70% 75%

78%

Efficiency

7.5HP
5HP

70 GPM @ 150 FT

3HP

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

Brake Horsepower (BHP)

Example:

BHP =
BHP =

Flow (GPM) X Head (FT) X SG

3960 X Efficiency

70 X 150 X 1.0
3960 X 0.65
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
90
80

8
6

70
60
50
40
30
20

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

30

NPSHR

20

IN

10

FEET

CAPACITY

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

20

Selecting A Pump
HEAD

100
90
80

8
6

70
60
50
40
30
20

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

30

NPSHR

20

IN

10

FEET

CAPACITY

COS = 130 gpm @ 70 TDH, NPSHA is 20

Selecting A Pump
HEAD

100
90
80
70
60

58% 62%

67%
67%

62%

72%

50
40
30
20

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

30

NPSHR

20

IN

10

FEET

CAPACITY

COS = 130 gpm @ 70 TDH, NPSHA is 20

Selecting A Pump
HEAD

100
90
80

8
6

70
60
50

5 bhp

40
30

3 bhp

20

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

30

NPSHR

20

IN

10

FEET

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!