PUMP-PIPE SYSTEMS

DESIGN
Engineer T. Hove
 PUMPS AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
• Pumps are indispensable food and beverage processing), agricultural
services, water/waste water services.
• It is estimated that pumps consume 20% of global energy demand
• About 90% of the pumps in service are not efficiently sized and have
some scope for improvement
• About 50 TWh (1 TWh =1 000 000 MWh) a year can be saved by
proper sizing of pump-pipe systems
TYPES OF PUMPS
• There is a large variety of pump designs, but most types can be
classified into either centrifugal pumps or positive displacement
pumps.
• Centrifugal pumps use an impeller, which has curved blades that
accelerate fluids towards their edge when rotating. The impeller is
normally driven by an electric motor or combustion engine, and its
movement produces suction at the pump inlet, drawing water inside.
• Positive displacement pumps move a fixed amount of fluid at regular
intervals. They are built with internal cavities that fill up at the suction
side, to be discharged with higher pressure at the outlet.
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
• Based on the flow they produce, centrifugal pumps can be classified
into three subtypes. The flow pattern is determined by both the
impeller shape and the pump’s construction. A number called the
specific speed is also used to classify between them. These types are
Radial Flow, Axial Flow and Mixed Flow
Specific speed
SUBTYPE DESCRIPTION PERFORMANCE Nd (dimensionless)

Produces flow along the same direction as the impeller shaft, and is also High flow rate
Axial Flow 0.3 to 1.0
known as propeller pump. Low pressure

Low flow rate

Radial Flow Produces flow perpendicular to shaft (90° angle). >5.4
High pressure

Combines radial and axial flow, producing a conical flow pattern around Medium flow rate
Mixed Flow 1.0 to 5.4
the impeller shaft. Medium pressure
 POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
Based on how the fluid is displaced, positive displacement pumps can be reciprocating or rotary.

SUBTYPE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES

Bladder
Flow is established by a cavity that expands and contracts, such as a piston. Water
Diaphragm
Reciprocating moves into the cavity during expansion, and is forced out during contraction,
Peristaltic
while flow direction is controlled with check valves.
Piston / plunger

Uses a rotor that traps water in cavities, releasing it at the pump outlet. These
Gear
cavities can be the spaces between gear teeth or screw threads, among other
Screw
configurations.
Rotary Progressing cavity
Some designs use more than one shaft, but the principle is the same: the rotor
Rotary lobe
shape is designed to capture “pockets” of water and displace them in the intended
Rotary vane
direction.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP
PHYSICAL FUNDAMENTALS
• 
•Fluids: - include liquids, gases and mixtures of liquids, solids and gases. All these fluids have specific characteristics that will be explained below
•Density (ρ = Rho) - formerly specific weight - of a fluid is its weight per unit volume, usually expressed in units of grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3).
Example: If weight is 80 g in a cube of one cubic centimeter, the density of the medium is 80 g/cm3. The density of a fluid changes with the temperature.
•Temperature (t) is usually expressed in units of degrees centigrade (°C) or Kelvin (K). The temperature of a fluid at the pump inlet is of great importance, because it has a
strong effect on the suction characteristic of a pump.
•The vapour pressure (pD) of a liquid is the absolute pressure at a given temperature at which the liquid will change to vapour. Each liquid has its own specific point where it
starts to evaporate. Vapour pressure is expressed in bar (absolute)
•Viscosity of a medium is a measure of its tendency to resist shearing force. Media of high viscosity require a greater force to shear at a given rate than fluids of low viscositiy.
•Dynamic and Kinematic Visicosity: One has to distinguish between kinematic viscosity (ν = Ny) and dynamic viscosity (η = Eta). Centipoise (cP) is the traditional unit for
expressing dynamic viscosity.
Centistokes (cSt) or Millipascal (mPa) express the kinematic viscosity.

•Ratio: kinematic viscosity =

Viscosity is not constant and thus depending on external factors. The viscous behaviour of media is more clearly expresed in effective viscosity or shearing force. The
behaviour of viscous fluids varies.

One distinguishes between Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids.

NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD, NPSH
• NPSH (Net Positive Suction Head) is the international dimension for the calculation of
the pump suction conditions.
• For pumps the static pressure in the suction socket must be above the vapour pressure
of the medium to be pumped.
• The NPSH of the pump is determined by measurements carried outon the suction and
delivery side of the pump.
• This value is to be read from the pump characteristic curve and is indicated in meter
(m).
• The NPSH is in the end a dimension of the evaporation hazard in the pump inlet socket
and is influenced by the vapour pressure and the pumped liquid.
• The NPSH of the pump is called NPSH required, and that of the system is called
NPSH av(ai)lable.
• The NPSHavl should be greater than the NPSHreq in order to avoid
cavitation.
TECHNICAL FUNDAMENTALS
NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD
Net Positive Suction Head
The Net Positive Suction Head - NPSH - can be defined as:
The difference between the Suction Head, and the Liquid Vapor Head
and can be expressed as:

NPSH = hs - hv
Where: hs is the head just before the pump impeller and
hv is the vapour pressure of the fluid (which is dependent on fluid
temperature)
The head available before the impeller can be expressed as:
ps / γ + vs2 / 2 g = patm / γ - he - hl

or in terms of available NPSHaas:

NPSHa = patm / γ - he - hl - pv / γ
Where: NPSHa = Available Net Positive Suction Head (m, in)
Available NPSHa
Available NPSHa - the Pump is above the Tank
• If the pump is positioned above the tank, the elevation - he - is positive and the NPSHa
decreases when the elevation of the pump increases (lifting the pump).

• At some level the NPSHa will be reduced to zero and the fluid will start to evaporate, causing
cavitation of inefficient pump operation.

Available NPSHa - the Pump is below the Tank

• If the pump is positioned below the tank, the elevation - he - is negative and the NPSHa
increases when the elevation of the pump decreases (lowering the pump).

• It's always possible to increase the NPSHa by lowering the pump (as long as the major and
minor head loss due to a longer pipe don't increase it more). Note! It is important - and
common - to lower a pump when pumping a fluid close to evaporation temperature.
Required NPSH - NPSHr
The NPSHr, called as the Net Suction Head as required by the pump in order to prevent cavitation for safe and reliable operation of the pump.
The required NPSHr for a particular pump is in general determined experimentally by the pump manufacturer and a part of the documentation of the pump.

The available NPSHa of the system should always exceeded the required NPSHr of the pump to avoid vaporization and cavitation of the impellers eye. The
available NPSHa should in general be significant higher than the required NPSHr to avoid that head loss in the suction pipe and in the pump casing, local
velocity accelerations and pressure decreases, start boiling the fluid on the impellers surface.

Note that required NPSHr increases with the square of capacity.

Pumps with double-suction impellers has lower NPSHr than pumps with single-suction impellers. A pump with a double-suction impeller is considered
hydraulically balanced but is susceptible to an uneven flow on both sides with improper pipe-work.
Suction Head and Reduction in Suction Lift for Water and Temperature

Suction head for water - or max. elevation of a pump above a water

surface - is affected by the temperature of the water - as indicated
below: Temperature
abs Vapor
Pressure
Reduction in
Suction Lift Suction Head 

(oC) (kN/m2, kPa) (m) (m)

0 0.6 0 10.3
5 0.9 0 10.2
10 1.2 0 10.2
15 1.7 0 10.2
20 2.3 0.1 10.1
25 3.2 0.2 10.0
30 4.3 0.3 9.9
35 5.6 0.4 9.8
40 7.7 0.7 9.5
45 9.6 0.8 9.4
50 12.5 1.1 9.1
55 15.7 1.5 8.7
60 20 1.9 8.3
 Atmospheric Pressure versus Altitude

Altitude [m.a.sl Atmospheric pressure [kPa]

0 101.33

500 99.49

1000 97.63

1500 95.91

2000 94.19
Example
Determine the maximum possible suction lift for an application
pumping water at an altitude of 2000 m.
The temperature of the water is 60oC and the friction losses in the
suction pipework is 1.2 m.
The pump has a NPSHr of 4 m at its operating point.
Solution
At 2000 m, pA = 94.19 kPa (=9.419 m head of water)
Vapour pressure of water at 60oC is 20 kPa (= 2 m water head)
Velocity head loss = 1.2 m
Available NPSHa = 9.419 m- 2 m-1.2 m- he = 6.219 –he
This must be greater or equal to NPSHr
i.e. 6.219 – he = 4 or maximum suction lift he = 2.219 m
Cavitation
• Cavitation produces a crackling sound in the pump.
• Generally speaking, cavitation is the formation and collapse of vapour bubbles in the liquid. Cavitation
may occur in pipes, valves and in pumps.
• First the static pressure in the pump falls below the vapour pressure associated to the
temperature of a fluid at the impeller intake vane channel.
• The reason is in most of the cases a too low static suction head.
• Vapour bubbles form at the intake vane channel.
• The pressure eventually increases in the impeller channel and causes an implosion of the vapour bubbles.
• The result is pitting corrosion at the impeller, pressure drops and unsteady running of the pump.
• Finally cavitation causes damage to the pumped product.
Cavitation can be prevented by :
1. Reducing the pressure drop in the suction pipe by a larger suction pipe diameter, shorter
suction pipe length and less valves or bends
2. Increasing the static suction head and/or supply pressure, e.g. by an upstream impeller
(Inducer)
3. Lowering the temperature of the pumped liquid
 H-Q characteristic diagram
• Before designing a pump, it is important to ascertain the characteristic curve of the plant that
allows you to select the right pump by help of the pump characteristic curve
• The operating performance of centrifugal pumps is rarely represented in the form of tables,
but mainly in the form of characteristic curves (Fig. 15).
• These pump characteristic curves are measured at line machines at constant speed and show
the flow rate (Q in m3/h) and the flow head (liquid column in m) of the pump.
• The flow head H of a pump is the effective mechanical energy transferred by the pump to the
pumped liquid, as a function of the weight force of the pumped liquid (in m liquid column).
• It is independent of the density (ρ) of the pumped liquid; that means a centrifugal pump
transfers liquids regardless of the density up to the same flow head.
• However, the density must be taken into account for the determination of the power
consumption P of a pump.
• The actual flow head HA of the pump is determined by the flow rate of the plant, which
consists of the following components:
 The Flow Head

Hgeo - geodetic flow head = the difference in height to overcome between the liquid level of the suction and the
delivery side
Flow Rate and Flow Head
Flow rate: The flow rate (Q) accrues from the requirements of the
process plant and is expressed in m3/h or GPM (Gallons per minute).
Flow head: A decisive factor in designing a pump is the flow head (H),
that depends on:
• the required flow head (for instance of a spray ball of 10 to 15 m;
equal to 1.0 to 1.5 bar),
• difference in the pressure height of a liquid level on the delivery side
and
suction side,
• the sum of pressure drops caused by pipe resistance, resistance in
components, fittings in the suction and delivery pipe.
Plant characteristic curve

• The graphical representation dependence of the flow head

of a plant (HA) with the flow rate (Q) is the characteristic
curve of a pipe or plant.
• It consists of a static portion that is is independent of the
flow rate and a dynamic portion in square with rising flow
rate.
• The operating point of a pump is the intersection of a pump
characteristic curve with the plant characteristic curve (the
system curve)
H-Q characteristic curve
Pressure drop

Essential for the design of a pump are not only the NPSH, flow head and flow
rate, but also pressure drops.
• Pressure drops of a plant may be caused by pressure drops in:
• the pipe system,
• installed components (valves, bends, inline measurement instruments),
• installed process units (heat exchangers, spray balls).
• Pressure drops Hv of the plant can be determined by help of tables and diagrams.
• Basis are the equations for pressure drops in pipes used for fluid mechanics that
will not be handled any further.
• In view of extensive and time-consuming calculation work, it is recommended to
proceed on the example shown below.
• The data is based on a medium with a viscosity ν = 1 mm2/s (equal to water).
Theoretical calculation example
• Various parameters of the pipe system determine the
pump design.
• Essential for the design of the pump is the required
flow head.
• In the following, the three simplified theoretical
calculation examples shall illustrate the complexity of
this subject before a practical design of a pump is
handled
Definition of variables
Hv = Pressure drop
Hv,s = Total pressure drop - suction pipe
Hv,d = Total pressure drop - delivery pipe
Hs,geo = Geodetic head - suction pipe
Hz,geo = Geodetic head - supply pipe
Hd,geo = Geodetic head - delivery pipe
Hv,s = Pressure drop - suction pipe
Hv,d = Pressure drop - delivery pipe
p= Static pressure in the tank
Attention:
Pressure in the tank or supplies in the suction pipe are negative
because they must be deducted from the pressure drop. They intensify
the flow.
Negative Supply
Supply under atmospheric pressure
Supply from pressure tank
Design of centrifugal pumps
By help of the example below and the annexed summarised
diagrams and tables all the centrifugal pumps can be
designed.
The tables contain specific valves and pipe fittings.
For the calculation of pressure drops in a plant, the conversion
principle of the measured friction factor (f) of valves and
fittings equivalent pipe length in meter is applied.
Practical Example
Calculation
Explanations
The flow rate is 24 m3/h. Components and process units are installed in the pipe between Tank A to
be emptied and Tank B to be filled. As already mentioned before, it is essential to install the pump
as close as possible to the tank to be emptied.
Between Tank A and the pump are located a butterfly valve and two double seat valves as well as
one reducer and 5 bends and finally 10 m pipe in DN 65.
In the pipe from the pump up to Tank B (20 m in DN 50) are installed a double seat valve, a single
seat valve, one heat exchanger and one spray ball. The difference in elevation of the liquid level in
Tank A to Tank B is 6 m. Now the metre equivalent pipe length must be determined for each
component installed. For this purpose see the standard tables for pressure drops appended. The
outcome is in total 40.18 m on the suction side. This value is converted into the corresponding
pressure drop (H) of the pipe, cross section DN 65.
According to the table, the pressure drop is 6.5 m per 100 m at a flow rate of 24 m3/h and with a
pipe DN 65. Based on 40.18 m, the pressure drop (Hv,s) is 2.61 m. Downstream the pump, the liquid
must be conveyed in length equivalent pipe of 37.2 m in total. The pressure drop of a pipe in DN 50
is according to the table 25 m per 100 m. Based on 37.2 m, the pressure drop is 7.4 m. In addition,
on the delivery side there is a heat exchanger with a pressure drop of 12 m (at 24 m3) as well as a
spray ball at the end of the pipe with a pressure drop of 5 m.
In total the pressure drop on the delivery side (Hv,d) is 24.4 m.
The sum of pressure drops on the suction side (Hv,s), on the delivery side (Hv,d) and the geodetic
flow head (Hgeo), result in a total pressure drop (HA) of 33.0 m that must be compensated by the
Calculation of the NPSH
The next step is the calculation of the NPSH of the plant that finally
complete the parameters needed for the design of your pump.
The calculation of the NPSH takes only the suction pipe into
consideration.

NPSH avl = 9.4 m must be above the NPSH pump

The calculated NPSH of the plant is 9.4 m and must be above that of the pump.
Using this data now available, the plant characteristic curve can be ascertained.
Interpretation of the Pump Characteristic
Curve
The flow rate, flow head, the required motor power, the NPSH and efficiency of
the pump are indicated in the pump characteristic.
On the example shown below it is explained how a pump characteristic is to be
interpreted.
Values ascertained so far are shown below:
Flow rate = 24.0 m3/h
Req. flow head = 33.0 m
NPSHavl = 9.4 m

These are the relevant values for finding out the optimal pump by use of diagrams
Designing the Pump
Step 1
The first diagram to be used is the Q/H Diagram (Fig. 20 - the diagram of a TP
2030 pump). First the intersection point of the flow rate (24 m3/h) with flow
head (33 m) should be made out.
The intersection point is located in the area of the impeller of 160 mm in
diameter.

Step 2
The pump efficiency (η) is read in Fig. 20 and amounts to approximately 57 %
Pump operating point, 2900 rpm, 50 Hz
Step 3
Step 4
• The
  impeller diameter of 160 mm is required in order to read out the required
motor power in the Q/P Diagram (Fig. 22).
• Accordingly, at a flow rate of 24 m3/h the motor power is 3.7 kW.
• Fluctuations in volume and pressure must be expected in the plant and
consequently fluctuations of the operating point, that causes variation of the
power consumption P of the pump.
• This is the reason why in principle an increased factor of 5% is fixed.
• The result is that the motor size should be at least to 4 kW (the required 3.7 kW
plus increased safety).
• The next larger sized standard motor has 4 kW and should therefore be selected.
• The motor power can also be calculated using the formula:
•
Example: pump-pipe system
Water is being pumped between two reservoirs in a pipeline with the following characteristics:
Pipe diameter, D = 300 mm
Pipe length, L = 70 m
Friction factor, f = 0.025
Overall abrupt loss coefficient, K = 2.5

The radial-flow pump used has characteristic curve approximated by the formula:
H_P=22.9+10.7Q-111Q^2 , where HP is in meters and Q is in m3/s.
(a) Determine the discharge QD and pump head HD for the following situations:
(1) Static head = 15m and one pump is being operated
(2) Static head = 15 m and two identical pumps are operated in parallel
(3) The static head is 25 m

(b) Plot the pump-pipe operating conditions of (i), (ii) and (iii), i.e. plot the pump characteristic and system
curves thereby showing the the operating points for each case.
Summary
• The required flow rate of 24 m3/h and the specified flow head of 33
m require the use of the pump TP 2030 with an impeller diameter 160
mm and 4 kW motor capacity at n = 2,900 rpm and 50 Hz.
• The efficiency of this pump is about 57 % and the NPSH of the pump
(1.9 m) does not exceed the NPSH of the plant (9.4 m > 1.9 + 0.5 m),
so that cavitation does not occur.
• Accordingly, the pump is suitable for the application in question
Modifications
• In the previous example the pump design took place in four steps.
• In practice, however, pumps are used at different operating points.
• These may be, for example, pumping of viscous media, temperature
changes or systems with integration of pressurized tanks.
• Therefore it is necessary to find some means of changing the
operating points of the pump
• Some of the methods used include throttling and changing pump
speed
Throttling
• Changes in the flow head of a system HA (throttling) are
realized in practice by increasing or reducing the resistance
on the delivery side of the pump, e.g. by installing a
throttling valve.
• The operating point is always located on the intersection of
the plant characteristic curve with the pump characteristic
curve.
• This a traditional method for modifying the pump operation
point, but may not be very efficient
Changing pump speed
• Changing the speed (n) causes a change of the operating point and
thus of the flow rate (Q) and the flow head (H).
• For this purpose a frequency converter or a pole changing motor is
needed.
• In spite of the high purchase costs for a frequency converter, its use is
in view of the operating costs the clearly more favourable alternative
to the throttling process with a throttling valve.
• Speed control is used, if different operating points shall be achieved,
e.g. for product and cleaning liquid.
Effect of changing speed on Flow, Head and Power
Reducing or trimming the impeller size
• May manufacturers offer for each pump different impeller
sizes.
• It may happen that the best efficiency point of the impeller is
located between two characteristic curves.
• The impeller will then be reduced to an appropriate size in
order to obtain the required efficiency characteristics.
• This is both the most simple and favourable method.
Effect of trimming impeller diameter on head
and flow
Operating pumps in parallel
• Two pumps can be operated in parallel, if the desired operating point
cannot be reached with only one pump.
• In such a case the flow of the two pumps are added while the flow
head remains unchanged.
• The flow from the two pumps operating in parallel is not necessarily
twice that of one pump operating alone
• This is only the case if the system does not have any losses
Schematic of pumps operating in parallel
Flow chart of 2 identical pumps operating in
parallel
25

20

15
Head [m]

1 pump
10 Hsys
2 pumps parallel

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Flow rate [m3/s]
Operating pumps in series
• If the required flow head cannot be met by one pump, two
pumps can be arranged in series.
• The head is therefore doubled at constant flow rate
• However it not possible to keep the flow constant (unless the
system resistance is almost vertical)
Operation of 2 identical pumps in series
50
45
40
35
30
1 pump
25 Hsyst 2 pumps in series
20 2 pumps in series

15
10
5
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
PUMPING USING SOLAR ENERGY
• With the advent of solar energy technology, it is now more favourable or
even more economical to use solar energy for pumping applications
• This is because the energy (fuel) used for pumping is this case free.
• They are also applicable in remote areas, where grid extension is not
feasible and transporting fuel is problematic.
• However, because if the diurnal variability of the sun’s energy, they are
difficult to design.
• They will need expensive storage battery storage to smoothen power supply.
• This can be avoided by the use of water storage systems to store energy as
water.
Modern Solar Pumping Systems
• Modern solar systems are designed to always supply the required
daily water demand, even if the water flow rate is not constant over
the day.
• They achieve this by use of Variable Frequency Drive motors, which
are controlled by special solar pump controllers.
• In the morning the sun’s energy is less powerful and the pump speed
is selected accordingly low thus a smaller flow rate is achieved.
• As the sun rises up further, a higher pump speed is selected and a
higher flow rate is obtained
• The pump and its accessories are sized large enough, such that it can
deliver the required daily demand
Schematic of Solar Pumping System
Components of a Solar pumping system
A solar pumping system consists of the following components:
• A submersible or surface centrifugal pump. This pump may be similar to conventional
pumps used with grid electricity or diesel systems.
• A Variable Frequency Drive electric motor, which drives the pump, and whose speed is
adjusted accordingly (by the controller) in step with the available solar radiation.
• A controller or solar pump inverter which performs several functions including
converting DC power from the photovoltaic (PV) panel to AC power used by the pump,
performing maximum point power tracking (MPPT) to ensure that the PV energy output
is optimized and to control the speed of the motor in step with the available solar
radiation.
• A PV module or array of modules that converts solar radiation to DC electricity via the
photovoltaic effect, in step with the available solar radiation.
• A water storage tank to store water when the sun is shining and the pump flow rate is
more than the water abstraction, and to release water in times of less or no solar power
Sizing of the solar pumping system
• The selection of a suitable solar pump depends on the available solar
radiation at the plant site as well as the daily water demand.
• The daily water demand is determined by a water demand survey
• The daily solar radiation from place to place and from month to month.
• For Zimbabwe, Hove et al (2014) have mapped the solar radiation for each
month of the year all over the whole country
• From their map, the daily global radiation at each location (defined by
latitude and longitude) and for each month (defined by average day of the
month) can be obtained.
• Solar resource data for Binga, Zimbabwe is shown on the next slide
Solar Resource Data for Binga, Zimbabwe

Tilt Factor
Global Diffuse
Min. Max. Horizontal Horizontal Tilted plane
 Month Temperature Temperature irradiation
(°C) (°C) Irradiation Irradiation
(Wh/m2/day) (Wh/m2/day)
(at 23o tilt)
[Wh/m2/day]
January 20.6 30.6 6514 2495 0.9 5863
February 20.2 30.1 6517 2441 0.95 6191
March 19.6 31.5 6526 1977 1.01 6591
April 17.9 31.6 6284 1434 1.12 7038
May 14.2 30.7 5798 1015 1.24 7190
June 11.6 28.6 5162 1010 1.27 6556
July 11.4 28.9 5583 997 1.28 7146
August 14 31.1 6215 1123 1.17 7272
September 18.2 34.4 6710 1597 1.05 7046
October 21.6 36.5 7131 1944 0.96 6846
November 21.6 33.9 6976 2291 0.91 6348
December 20.9 31.3 6797 2437 0.89 6049
Design Month
• The month with the lowest tilted-plane solar irradiation is chosen as the
design month
• The design month is in this case January with monthly average tilted plane
irradiation of 5.863 kWh/m2/day
• This figure is numerically equal to the number of Peak Sunshine Hours per
day
• The corresponding minimum and maximum ambient temperature (which
are essential for solar pump design) are 20.6 and 30.6oC, respectively
• The daily water demand for this application is 250 m3/day
• The static head at the site is 40 m and the pumping distance is 2000 m
Required Pump Flow Rate
• The
  required pump flow rate to pump 250 m3 over 5.863 peak sunshine hours
per day is:
• To estimate the flow head, it is necessary to know the required pipe diameter
• Assuming a flow velocity of 1 m/s (which is permissible for pumping main
velocity), the required pipe diameter:
• The dynamic head loss for this pipe diameter over 2000 m length is 23.6 m.
• The total flow head is 40 + 23.6 = 63.6 m
• Using a flow rate of 42.6 m3/hr and a flow head of 63.6 m, the required pump
can be selected from the Lorentz pump chart shown on the next slide
• A Psk2-21 Lorentz pump is found to be capable of this duty and selected
General Pump Selection
Pump characteristic curves for a Lorentz
Psk2-21 pump
PV array size
• The pump characteristic curves for the Lorentz Psk2-21 can be extracted
• From this pump chart, it can be read that in order to pump 42.6 m3/hr
at 63 m, a PV array power of about 12 kW is required
• Further details of the pump show the required minim voltage is about
550 V
• This value of voltage informs about how many solar modules of a
certain type and size should be arranged in series
• Further analysis as done in Hove and Mungofa 2018 can be used to fine
tune the size of the PV array and to analyze the diurnal flow rate of the
pumping system
Diurnal pump performance for the designed
pumping system
Summary
• Design Flow rate = 42.6 m3/hr
• Design Flow head = 63 m
• Selected pump - Lorentz Psk2-21
• PV array rated power = 12 kW
• Pumping main diameter = 125 mm