Example 2.

1: TH Calculation/Pump

Selection PROBLEM
The piping for the system shown in Figure 2.9 must be sized,
the pump TH must be computed, and a centrifugal pump
selected.

GIVEN
Capacity = 2000 gpm
Liquid = Water at 60°F (SG = 1.0)
Pipes = Schedule 40 steel pipe, all values and fittings are
flanged Atm. press. = 14.7 psia = 29.9 in Hg
Pump configuration = end suction
Speeds to consider = 1750 rpm (refer to Section XIII of this
chapter and also Chapter 6, Section II, for a discussion of
speeds to consider for a given application)

100 psig

100 ft 1000 ft SCH

40
Steel pipe

15 in Hg

200 ft SCH 40
Steel pipe

FIGURE 2.9
System for example problem illustrating selection of line sizes, pump TH, and pump size
(Example 2.1); and NPSHa calculation (Example 2.5).
SOLUTION
Using Table 2.1, preliminary sizes of the suction and discharge
piping are chosen, based on a design velocity of 4 to 6 ft/s for
the suction piping and 7 to 10 ft/s for the discharge piping.
Suction piping size is chosen as 14 in (velocity = 4.74 ft/s per
Table 2.1) and discharge piping size is chosen as 10 in (velocity
= 8.14 ft/s per Table 2.1).
Note that pressure and static head requirements are given at
the liquid surfaces in the suction and delivery vessels. These are
the usual refer- ence points for pump TH calculation.

STATIC HEAD
The pump in Figure 2.9 is operating with a suction head. Static
head, the total change in elevation from suction vessel surface to
delivery vessel surface, equals 100 ft.

FRICTION HEAD
Using the selected line sizes, the line lengths shown on Figure
2.9, and data from Table 2.1 and Figure 2.6, the pipe friction head
is computed as follows:

Suction:
Line loss
hf  0.248 for 16 in pipe (Table
2.1) Hf  hf  L/100, from
Equation 2.4 Hf  0.248 
200/100
 0.496 ft
Valve loss
Quantity: 8  10 in flanged gate valves
K  0.11 (Figure 2.6)
V2/2g  0.349 (Table 2.1)
Hf  K  V2/2g (Equation 2.5) 
quantity Hf  0.11  0.349  8
 0.30712 ft
Inlet (tank outlet) loss
K  0.5 (Figure 2.6, using square edged inlet)

V2/2g  0.248 (Table 2.1)

Hf  K  V2/2g (Equation
2.5) Hf  0.5  0.248
  0.124 ft

Suction friction head = 0.496 + 0.30712 + 0.124

= 0.92712 ft
 Pump Characteristics and Applications

Discharge:
Line loss
hf  1.86 for 10 in pipe (Table
2.1) Hf  hf  L/100, from
Equation 2.4 Hf  1.86 
1000/100  18.6 ft

Valve loss

Quantity: 4  10 in flanged gate

valves
K  0.12 (Figure 2.6)
V2/2g  1.03 (Table 2.1)
Hf  K  V2/2g (Equation 2.5) 
quantity Hf  0.12  1.03  4
 0.49440 ft
Valve loss

Quantity: 1  6 in flanged check

valve K  2.00 (Figure 2.6)
V2/2g  1.03 (Table 2.1)
Hf  K  V2/2g (Equation 2.5) 
quantity Hf  2.00  1.03  1
 2.06 ft
Fitting loss

Quantity: 3  Regular Flanged 90°

Elbows K  0.28 (Figure 2.6)
V2/2g  1.03 (Table 2.1)
Hf  K  V2/2g (Equation 2.5) 
quantity Hf  0.28  1.03  3
 0.8652 ft

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Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves

Sudden enlargement loss (at delivery tank)

h  V2/2g (from Figure 2.6 for sudden

1
enlargement) h  1.03 ft (Table 2.1)

Discharge friction head  18.6  0.49440  2.06  0.8652 

1.03

Discharge friction head  23.05 ft

Total friction head  0.92712 ft  23.05 ft  23.98 ft

PRESSURE HEAD

Supply vessel pressure  15 in Hg

Vac. (ft)  in Hg  1.133/SG, from Equation
2.8 Vac. (ft)  15  1.133 / 1.0  16.995 ft

Delivery vessel pressure  100 psig

Head (ft)  psi  2.31/SG, from
Equation 2.7 Head (ft)  100  2.31/1.0
 231 ft

Total pressure head = 231 + 16.995 = 247.995 ft

Alternately, expressing both pressures in absolute

terms,
using the given barometric pressure of 29.9 in Hg, the
same result is achieved.

Supply vessel  [(29.9  15)  1.133]/ 1 

16.8817 ft Delivery vessel  64.7 psia  (64.7 
2.31)/ 1  149.457
Total pressure head  149.457  16.8817 
132.6 ft

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 Pump Characteristics and Applications

VELOCITY HEAD
Because the pressure and static head requirements are
refer- enced to the liquid surface in the suction and
delivery vessels, the velocity head at the liquid surfaces
is zero.

TOTAL HEAD

TH  static  friction  pressure 

velocity TH  10 + 23.98  132.6  0.0
 256.58 ft

Using Figure 2.8, the preliminary pump

selections are

1750 rpm: 6  8  17
4  6  17

The individual curves for the preliminary selections should then be exam-
ined to evaluate each of the possible choices with regard to horsepower,
effi- ciency, and NPSHr. See discussions on these subjects in Sections V, VI
and XIII to follow. Further analysis should then be done of first cost, power
costs to operate, and expected maintenance costs of the alternatives before a
final selection is made. Refer to Chapter 6 for an example of this further
analysis.
Also, refer to the discussion in Chapter 3, Section III to learn how
computer software can be used to solve the above example problem.

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Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves

REPORT ON PUMP CAPACITY

(TOTAL HEAD CALCULATION AND PUMP SELECTION)

INDUSTRIAL PLANT ENGINEERING

ME 423a
College of Engineering, University
of Southern Mindanao – Kidapawan City Campus,
Sudapin, Kidapawan City,

TECHNICAL
REPORT

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. REYNALD VILLAGOMEZA

SUBMITTED BY:
MHECA JOY G. IMPUERTO
CRISTINE EYL S. DAPAN
BSME 4

MARCH 2024

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 Pump Characteristics and Applications

INTRODUCTION
Pump capacity refers to the volumetric flow rate of fluid that a pump
can provide during a specific time frame. It denotes the rate at which the
pump can transport fluid through a system and is an important factor in
pump selection and design.
A pump's capacity is governed by a variety of parameters, including
design, size, speed, and operating circumstances. To guarantee optimal
functioning, the pump's capacity must be appropriate for the system it serves.
Pump capacity must fulfill the system's needs, which include peak flow rates,
demand fluctuations, and any safety or regulatory requirements.
Accurate pump capacity estimation is crucial to ensuring that the
pump can produce the needed flow rate while not exceeding its capabilities or
operating outside its efficiency range. Oversized pumps can cause excessive
energy consumption and extra expenditures, whereas undersized pumps may
result in inadequate system performance and potential failures.
To properly design a pump, it is necessary to determine two key
parameters: total head and capacity. In general, capacity is measured in liters
per second (L/s), cubic meters per second (m³/s), or cubic meters per hour (m³/h)
using SI units; for bigger pumps, capacity is measured in cubic feet per second
(cfs) using USCS units. Total head is frequently just called "head," and it can be
expressed in feet (USCS units) or meters (SI units). It is sometimes abbreviated
TH or H.

Total Head
A centrifugal pump generates head by increasing the velocity of the
liquid in the impeller and transferring some of that velocity into pressure in
the volute or diffuser casing through a diffusion process. The quantity of head
generated in the impeller is approximately:
2
V
H= …………………………….…… (2.1)
2g
where: v = velocity at the tip of the impeller (ft/s)
g = acceleration of gravity (32.2 ft/s²)
The velocity at the impeller tip can also be expressed as
rpm × D
V= ………………………………. (2.2)
229
where: rpm = pump speed (in revolutions per minute)
D = impeller diameter (in inches)

Substituting Equation 2.2 above for V in Equation 2.1 results in the following
expression
(rpm× D) ²
H= …………………………….…… (2.3)
3.337 ×10 6
Equation 2.3 shows that the head developed by a centrifugal pump is
only a function of rpm and impeller diameter, and is not a function of specific
gravity of the liquid being pumped. The pump discharge pressure in psi (or
equivalent metric units such as kPa) changes with the specific gravity of the

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 Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves

liquid, but the head in feet (or meters) remains constant for liquids of various
density. When using centrifugal pumps, it's important to convert pressure
terms to feet (or meters) of head. The head-capacity curve of a pump remains
constant regardless of the liquid's specific gravity. If the liquid were water (SG
= 1.0), a pressure gauge located at the pump discharge would show a
pressure, using Equation 1.1, of 100 × 1.0/2.31 = 43.3 psig. If the liquid being
pumped up the 100-ft height were oil, with a specific gravity of 0.8, the gauge
would read 100 × 0.8/2.31 = 34.6 psig. The point of this is that the pump
discharge pressure expressed in psi (or equivalent metric units such as kPa)
varies with the specific gravity of the liquid, while the head expressed in feet
(or meters) of liquid remains constant for liquids of different density. This is
why one www.EngineeringBooksPdf.com Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves 5
should always convert pressure terms into units of feet (or meters) of head
when dealing with centrifugal pumps. A pump’s head–capacity curve does
not require adjustment when the specific gravity of the liquid changes. On the
other hand, as will be demonstrated shortly, the horsepower curve does vary
with varying specific gravity. Further, as illustrated in Chapter 3, Section II,
the head–capacity curve is also affected by the viscosity of the pumped liquid.
To determine the required size of a centrifugal pump for a particular
application, all the components of the system head for the system in which the
pump is to operate must be added up to determine the pump total head (TH).
There are four separate components of total head, and they refer back to the
discussion in Chapter 1 on the reasons for raising the pressure of a liquid. The
four components of total head are:
1. Static head
2. Friction head
3. Pressure head
4. Velocity head
Each of these four components of head must be considered for the system in
which the pump is to operate, and the sum of these is the total head (TH) of
the pump. Note that the last of these components, velocity head, may or may
not need to be included in the calculation of the components of system head
for sizing a pump, depending on the point of reference for the calculation
(where the pressures for pressure head and the levels for static head are
measured). The four components of system head are each discussed
separately below.
A. Static Head
Static head is the total elevation change that the liquid must undergo. In most
cases, static head is normally measured from the surface of the liquid in the
supply vessel to the surface of the liquid in the vessel where the liquid is
being delivered. The total static head is measured from supply vessel surface
to delivery vessel surface, regardless of whether the pump is located above
the liquid level in the suction vessel (which is referred to as a “suction lift”) or
below the liquid level in the suction vessel (“suction head”). Figure 2.1 shows
an example of a pump with a static suction head, and defines static suction
head, static discharge head, and total static head.

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 Pump Characteristics and Applications

B. Friction Head
Friction head is the head necessary to overcome the friction losses in
the piping, valves, fittings, and components such as heat exchangers
for the system in which the pump operates. Friction loss in a piping
system varies as the square of the liquid’s velocity (assuming fully
turbulent flow). The smaller the size of the pipe, valves, and fittings for
a given flow rate, the greater the friction head loss. In designing a
piping system, if smaller sizes of pipes, valves, and fittings are chosen,
the installed capital cost of the piping system is reduced. However, the
tradeoff is that this results in higher total pump head due to the
increased friction head loss. This, in turn, increases pump and driver
capital cost and also increases lifetime energy costs. This relationship
between capital costs and pumping costs is illustrated in Figure 2.5,
which shows that an evaluation of several alternatives may produce an
optimum pipe size selection.

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 Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves

With the design capacity and the chosen preliminary pipe size, the friction
tables give the head loss in feet per 100 linear feet of pipe (labeled “hf” in
Table 2.1). Note the two different uses of the term “foot” here, with Table 2.1
showing feet of head loss per 100 linear feet of pipe. This means that the value
found in Table 2.1 must be multiplied by the actual pipe length divided by 100
to get the total friction head loss in a given length of pipe. This is expressed by
the formula:

The value of V2 /2g in Equation 2.5 for different flow rates and different
valve/ fitting diameters is found in the pipe friction table (Table 2.1). The
value of K, the resistance coefficient for the particular valve or fitting, is
determined using one of the charts in Figure 2.6, which has a different K chart
for each type of valve or fitting [2]. To find K for a particular size of valve or
fitting, take the nominal size of the valve or fitting in inches, read up to the
heavy line on the chart, and then read on the left scale to get the K factor.
Note that the K values for valves shown in the Figure 2.6 charts are generic
only. If particular valves are already chosen, the valve manufacturer may
have more precise resistance coefficients. Note that some valve manufacturers
provide a flow coefficient, Cv, instead of a resistance coefficient K. The
mathematical relationship between these two coefficients is given by the
following formula:

K = 891d^4/ Cv^2 (2.6)

where d is the inside diameter of the connecting piping (in inches).

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 Pump Characteristics and Applications

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Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves

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 Pump Characteristics and Applications

C. Pressure Head
Pressure head is the head required to overcome a pressure or vacuum in
the system upstream or downstream of the pump. It is normally
measured at the liquid surface in the supply and delivery vessels. If the
pressure in the supply vessel from which the pump is pumping and the
pressure in the delivery vessel are identical (e.g., if both are atmospheric
tanks), then there is no required pressure head adjustment to TH.
Likewise, there is no pressure adjustment to TH for a closed loop system.
If the supply vessel is under a vacuum or under a pressure different than
that of the delivery vessel, a pressure head adjustment to TH is required.
The pressure or vacuum must be converted to feet. Pressure in pounds
per square inch converts to feet by Equation 1.1, rewritten as Equation 2.7:
feet = psi × 2.31/SG (2.7)
where psi is pounds per square inch and SG is the specific gravity.
Vacuum, usually expressed in inches of mercury (in Hg) using USCS
units, is converted to feet of head by the formula:

D. Velocity Head

Velocity head is the energy of a liquid as a result of its motion at some

velocity V. The formula for velocity head is

This value is found in Table 2.1, expressed in feet of head. The value of
velocity head is different at the suction and discharge of the pump, because
the size of the suction piping is usually larger than the size of the discharge
piping.

The 10-step procedure below summarizes the procedure for determining the
total head for a pump, using the methods and formulas covered in this
section:
1. Choose an appropriate design velocity range for the suction and
discharge piping, based on the parameters discussed in Chapter
2, Section III.B. If using relatively clear liquid and standard pipe
materials, use suction piping design velocity range of 4 to 6 ft/s,
and discharge piping design velocity range of 7 to 10 ft/s.

2. Choose the suction pipe size, based on the design velocity range.
Use the pipe friction tables (Table 2.1) to do that, finding the pipe
size that meets the design velocity range. If the piping already
exists (i.e., if a pump is being replaced in an existing system),

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Hydraulics, Selection, and Curves

ignore Step 1 and make note of the existing suction pipe

diameter. For the pipe size chosen, make note of the values of
V2 /2g and hf found in the pipe friction tables.

3. Repeat Step 2 for the discharge pipe.

4.Determine the static head, Hs, which is usually equal to the change
in elevation from the normal liquid level in the suction supply vessel
to the normal liquid level in the delivery vessel. The exception is
when the liquid free falls, as per Figure 2.3.

5. Calculate the friction head losses in the suction pipe. these include
• Pipe losses: This is the value of hf times the actual pipe length,
divided by 100. • Fitting losses: For each fitting type, multiply the
K value from the appropriate chart in Figure 2.6 times V2 /2g,
times the quantity of that type of fitting. Include the sudden
contraction loss where the suction pipe leaves the suction vessel
(use a K of 0.5 times V2 /2g for square edge. If not square edge,
see Figure 2.6). • Valve losses: For each valve type, multiply the K
value from the appropriate chart in Figure 2.6 times V2 /2g, times
the quantity of that type of valve.

6. Repeat Step 5 for the friction head losses in the discharge pipe.
Include the sudden enlargement loss where the discharge pipe
enters the delivery tank (equal to a K of 1 times V2 /2g). Friction
head, Hf , is the sum of the friction head losses in the suction and
discharge pipes.

7. Calculate the pressure head, Hp, which is equal to 0 if the system

is a completely closed system, or if the system is open but the
pressure in the delivery vessel is the same as the pressure in the
supply vessel. If pressures in the supply and delivery vessels are
different from each other, they must be converted to feet of head.
Use Equation 2.7 to convert pressure in psi to feet of head or
Equation 2.8 to convert vacuum in inches of mercury to feet of
head. When using gauge pressures for these calculations, the
Pressure Head is equal to the converted feet of head in the
delivery vessel minus the converted feet of head in the supply
vessel if the supply vessel pressure is atmospheric pressure or
higher, and is equal to the converted feet of head in the delivery
vessel plus the converted feet of head in the supply vessel if the
supply vessel pressure is below atmospheric pressure. The best
way to avoid confusion is to use absolute pressure in the supply
and delivery vessels to convert to feet, rather than gauge
pressures. If absolute pressures are used for these conversions,
pressure head is always equal to the converted feet of head in the
delivery vessel minus the converted feet of head in the supply
vessel.
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 Pump Characteristics and Applications

8. Determine the velocity head, Hv. This value is 0 if the normal

reference point for head calculations is used, namely the liquid
surface levels in the suction and delivery vessels. If any other
reference points are used, calculate V2 /2g at the reference point
in the discharge pipe and subtract the value of V2 /2g at the
reference point in the suction pipe. These values of V2 /2g can be
found in the pipe friction table, Table 2.1, for the respective pipe
sizes.
9. Add the values of all head losses together, including static head
(Step 4), friction head in the suction pipe (Step 5), friction head in
the discharge pipe (Step 6), Pressure Head (Step 7), and, if
applicable, Velocity Head (Step 8). The sum of all of these is the
Total Head (TH).
10. 10. Choose a pump to produce a head equal to, or slightly greater
than the calculated Total Head, at the desired flow rate .

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