We are at one pumping station of 1300 km long LPG pipeline system.

We
have 3 cenrifugal pumps in parallal.
Pumps are speed controlled by VFD. Operation of the pumps are
1) We set the speed in PLC, say 2000 rpm
2) Suction shall be in open & Discharge in CLOSE position
3) Give START cmd in PLC, pump speed start inclreasing and reaches the set
point (2000)
4) then discharge valve will start opening.
We have NRV upstream of discharge MOV.

My doubt is why shall we keep the discharge MOV in close position during
starting....? It can be kept in OPEN.

My LPG suction pressure is 18 kg/cm2, NPSHa is enough, i suppose.

Also help me read the performance curve of the pump. I have the curve, but
dont know the implications of it.
Refer me any book/papers or links.

At first you must check vendor instruction.

second in performance curve if power curve in down ward the discharge
valve must be opened and power curve is upward the discharge valve must
be closed.
if pump is multi stage other measures must be taken for pump start up .
thanks

1. The purpose of closing the discharge valve at pump start is to avoid over
current due to extra torque required. The current requited at pump shut off is
very much less than that at valve fully open.
2. If the pump motor is designed to absorbed the extra current with valve
fully open, then you can start the pump with discharge valve open.

3. Please be more specific the part that is not understood with regard to
pump characteristics. It represents the relationship between pump head,
NPSHr and efficiency/power with flowrate at operating conditions. Sometimes
we may get also the rpm or the impeller size as parameters.