Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What Is Characteristic Curve
What Is Characteristic Curve
A graph showing the relationship between two variable but interdependent quantities These are
curves which are characteristic of a particular turbine which help us in studying the performance
of the turbine under various conditions. These curves pertaining to any turbine are supplied by its
manufacturers, based on actual tests.
The data that must be obtained in testing a turbine are the following:
But in addition variation of efficiency, power, NPSH required etc., as the flow is changed, can
also be represented on the pump performance curves by the manufacturer. Typically a pump
performance curve will carry information about the following points.
1. Variation of differential head with volumetric flow for Maximum Impeller Diameter is
plotted for the impeller with the maximum diameter that can be accommodated within the pump.
This impeller can be used in case flow through the pump is increased or if more differential head
is required in the future, with the same pump.
2. Variation of differential head with volumetric flow for Minimum Impeller Diameter is
plotted for the impeller with minimum possible diameter. If the flow or differential head
requirement is reduced in future, this impeller can be used with lower power consumption.
Surge point
Surge points are the peak points on the characteristic curves (as in Figure 5.) left of which the
pressure generated by the compressor is less than the pipe pressure and these points initiates the
surge cycle. These points on the curves are shown in the fig. by point S.
Surge line
Surge line is the line which connects the surge points (S) on each characteristic curve
corresponding to different constant speeds. The stable range of operation for the compressor is
on the right hand side of the surge line.
The pump curve illustrates the available total head at a given flow rate of the pump. Generally,
more head is available in the pump as flow rate decreases.
Pumps in Serial - Head Added
When two (or more) pumps are arranged in serial their resulting pump performance curve is
obtained by adding their heads at the same flow rate as indicated in the figure below.
Centrifugal pumps in series are used to overcome larger system head loss than one pump can
handle alone. for two identical pumps in series the head will be twice the head of a single pump
at the same flow rate as indicated with point 2. With a constant flowrate the combined head
moves from 1 to 2 - BUT in practice the combined head and flow rate moves along the system
curve to point 3. point 3 is where the system operates with both pumps running .point 1 is
where the system operates with one pump running
Pump performance curve (dark blue) for three dissimilar pumps in series.
At low values of volume flow rate, the combined net head is equal to the sum of the net head of
each pump by itself. However, to avoid pump damage and loss of combined net head, any
individual pump should be shut off and bypassed at flow rates larger than that pump’s free
delivery, as indicated by the vertical dashed red lines. If the three pumps were identical, it would
not be necessary to turn off any of the pumps, since the free delivery of each pump would occur
at the same volume flow rate.
Pumps in Parallel - Flow Rate Added : When two or more pumps are arranged in
parallel their resulting performance curve is obtained by adding the pumps flow rates at the
same head as indicated in the figure below.
Centrifugal pumps in parallel are used to overcome larger volume flows than one pump can
handle alone. for two identical pumps in parallel and the head kept constant - the flow rate
doubles compared to a single pump as indicated with point 2
At a low value of net head, the combined capacity is equal to the sum of the capacity of each
pump by itself. However, to avoid pump damage and loss of combined capacity, any individual
pump should be shut off at net heads larger than that pump’s shutoff head, as indicated by the
horizontal dashed gray lines. That pump’s branch should also be blocked with a valve to avoid
reverse flow. If the three pumps were identical, it would not be necessary to turn off any of the
pumps, since the shutoff head of each pump would occur at the same net head.
Numerical
Solution