Development of system head curves is a
relatively straightforward process for pumping
systems that have a tank on both the
suction and discharge side of the pump.
However, because the current hydraulic
models work on the basic premise that
demands are fixed, such methods for creating
system head curves do not produce accurate
results for complex, closed systems with
no discharge-side tank. In this article, the
authors introduce a method developed to
rectify this shortcoming.
The model described in this article works by
accurately capturing the relationship of pressure
versus demand at water consumers' taps. Engineers
and operators can use this model in selecting
new pumps and identifying inefficiencies in
existing pump operations. Comparisons of head
curves for systems with and without discharge-side
tanks indicated that head curves were
steeper and exhibited wider variation for systems
with no discharge-side tank, a factor that should
be taken into consideration in both pump selection
and setup of operational controls.Includes 9 references, figures.