PUMPS

1. Head

Head and pressure are equivalent but expressed in different units.

Suppose we have a liquid in a vertical pipe.
The head is the height of the liquid in the pipe “h”.
The pressure exerted by the liquid is the force by unit area or:

P = Force = Weight of Liquid

Area Area
= Area x Height x Density
Area
= A x h x 
A
= h
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1. Head (Cont’d)

If the units of the density and head are lb/ft3 and ft respectively, then
the units of pressure should be lb/ft2. But the pressure is normally
expressed in psi units, therefore:

Pressure (psi) =  (lb/ft3) x h (ft)

144
= Specific Gravity x h
2.31

= 0.433 h
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2. Total Dynamic Heat (TDH)

The total dynamic head of a pump is the difference between its

discharge and suction heads.

P (Pump) = Pd - Ps
TDH = Hd - H s

3. Suction Head

The suction head of a pump is the liquid head at the pump suction
(impeller eye or suction valve).

4. Discharge Head

The discharge head of a pump is the head equivalent to its discharge

pressure.
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5. Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH)

The total suction head in feet of liquid (at the pump centreline or
impeller eye) less the vapour pressure of the liquid being pumped.

NPSHR (Required) = The NPSH required to move the liquid

from the pump suction into the pump
itself (head loss from the suction flange
to the impeller eye or suction valve).

NPSHA (Available) = The amount of NPSH available at the

pump suction.

In order to avoid cavitation, possible vapour lock and damage to the

pump:
NPSHA > NPSHR
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5. Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) (Cont’d)

Calculation of NPSHA

NPSHA = (Psv + Pa - Pv - Pf) 2.31 + (Hsv - Hp)

S. G.
Where:
Psv = suction vessel pressure, psig
Pa = atmospheric pressure, psig
Pv = true vapor pressure of liquid at pumping temp., psia
Pf = friction loss in pipe and fittings
S.G. = specific gravity of liquid
Hsv = elevation of liquid level in suction vessel
Hp = elevation of centerline of pump suction flange
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6. Horsepower Calculations

a. Liquid Horsepower

LHP = Q x h x S. G.
3960
= Q x h x density (lb/gal)
33000
b. Brake Horsepower

BHP = Q x h x S. G.
3960 x e
= Q x h x density 9lb/gal)
33000 x e
Where:
Q = capacity in GPM
h = total head in feet
e = pump efficiency in decimal
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6. Horsepower Calculations (Cont’d)

c. Electrical Horsepower

EHP = BHP .
Eff. Of motor

7. Pump Types

A. Kinetic Pumps
B. Positive Displacement Pumps
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PUMPS