Source: Australian Pump Technical Handbook 3rd Edition and reproduced in entirety with permission from P/A

DEFINITIONS
1.1 UNITS
The units used throughout this book are those in common use in the pumping
industry and defined in AS1686-Metric Units in Water Supply, Sewerage and
Drainage (including pumping) and AS2417-Pumps, The International
Acceptance Test Code. In addition, these standards should be read in
conjunction with AS1000 - The International System of Units (SI) and its
Application.

Although it is recommended to work in SI Pump Units, there may be occasions

when it is necessary to convert Imperial or Metric Units to SI Units, and tables
of conversion factors are given in Section 13.

1.2 NOTATION
The most commonly used pumping terms are:

Term Notation Unit customary in practice

Flowrate Q L/s
Head H m
Pressure p kPa
NPSH NPSH m
Velocity v m/s
Density ᵨ kg/m3
Gravitational acceleration g m/s2
Efficiency η —
Rotational speed N r/min
Area A m2
Absolute viscosity μ mPa.s
Kinematic viscosity ν mm2/s
Specific weight γ kg/m2.s2
Specific volume v m3/kg
Specific gravity S.G. —

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ABN – 66 138 876 641 MOUNT CROSBY Fax: 07 3201 2497
www.pumpapplicationengineers.com.au Qld 4306 Mobile: 0437 734 000
[email protected]
1 .3 PUMPING TERMS
Pumping:
Pumping can be described as the addition of energy to a fluid to move it along
a pipe, into a pressure vessel or to a higher level, i.e. a pump moves fluid from
one point to another in a system.

Flowrate:
The flowrate (Q) is the flow (volume of liquid per unit of time) delivered by a
pump through the outlet, normally expressed in litres per second (L/s).

Total Dynamic Head:

Total dynamic head (sometimes called differential or generated head) is a
measure of the energy imparted to the liquid by the pump, and is equal to the
algebraic difference between the total discharge head and the total suction
head.

Total dynamic head, where suction lift exists, is the sum of the total discharge
head and total suction lift. Where positive suction head exists, total dynamic
head is the total discharge head minus the total suction head (Fig. 1 .3.1 and
1 .3.2).

The total dynamic head against which a pump operates comprises:

(a) Total static head.
(b) Friction losses.
(c) Velocity head.
(d) Entrance and exit losses.
where
(a) Total static head is the difference in elevation between the liquid levels
of the suction and discharge. If the pump discharges into a pressure
tank, then the total static head is the difference in elevation between
liquid levels plus the pressure in the tank expressed in metres of liquid.

(b) Friction head is the equivalent head, expressed in metres of liquid,

necessary to overcome friction on the interior surfaces of the pipework
system including all valves, bends and fittings.

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(c) Velocity head of a liquid moving with a certain velocity is the equivalent
static head through which it would have to fall in order to attain that
velocity. Velocity head is expressed by the formula:

H = v2 where H is the velocity head, m.

2g v is the average velocity in the pipe, m/s.
g is the gravitational acceleration, m/s2.

(d) Entrance and exit losses are usually comparatively small and can be
neglected in the majority of industrial applications.

Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH)

There are a number of factors which must be considered collectively in order
to obtain a complete picture of conditions prevailing at the suction of a pump.
The universally accepted practice is to express this calculation in the form of
“Net Positive Suction Head” abbreviated as NPSH.

Calculation of NPSH involves consideration of fundamental fact that every

liquid has a vapour pressure which is a function of the liquid and its
temperature. Furthermore, if the pressure acting on a liquid is less than its
vapour pressure the liquid will boil.

In any pumping system, there is always an absolute pressure available at the

suction source. This pressure is reduced in the suction line due to such factors
as static elevation, friction and turbulence losses, and energy expended in
accelerating the liquid. Finally, there is a pressure drop within the pump itself
caused by an increased velocity at the entrance to the impeller and shock
losses in the impeller eye.

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In order to prevent the liquid boiling, the suction pressure at the pump suction
branch must be at least equal to the vapour pressure of the liquid at pumping
temperature plus a margin to overcome losses in the pump. This margin of
head available above the vapour pressure of the liquid is the nett positive
suction head, defined as follows -

NPSH Nett positive suction head - total head at the pump suction
branch over and above the vapour pressure of the liquid
being pumped.

NPSHR NPSH required - is a function of the pump design and is the

lowest value of NPSH at which the pump can be guaranteed
to operate without significant cavitation. There is no
absolute criterion for determining what this minimum
allowable NPSH should be, but pump manufacturers
normally select an arbitrary drop in total dynamic head
(differential head) of 3% as the normal value for
determining NPSHR.

NPSHA NPSH available - is a function of the system in which the

pump operates and is equal to the absolute pressure head
on the liquid surface (Ha) plus the static liquid level above
the pump centreline (negative for a suction lift) (Hs) minus
the absolute liquid vapour pressure head at pumping
temperature (Hvap) minus the suction friction head losses
(Hf)

i.e. NPSHA = Ha + Hs — Hvap - Hf

Alternatively, where the suction pressure head (suction gauge reading) on site
is known.

NPSHA NPSH available at the pump inlet is equal to the absolute

pressure head (Ha) plus the suction pressure head referred
to pump centreline. (Hsp) minus the absolute liquid vapour
pressure head at pumping temperature (Hvap) plus the
suction velocity head (v2/2g)
i.e. NPSHA = Ha + Hsp - Hvap + v2/2g

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For successful operation NPSHA must be greater than NPSHR.
For sample calculations of NPSH refer Section 4.2.

Pump Suction Lift:

The concept of ‘suction lift’ is normally only applied to atmospheric suction
systems, with an open tank or reservoir exposed to one atmosphere of
pressure.
For a particular system —
Total Suction Lift (SL) = Static difference in levels (Ha) + pipe friction loss
between reservoir and pump including entry loss (Hf)
= Suction gauge reading corrected to pipe centre line
(HSP) and velocity head (v2/2g)

Thus the maximum allowable suction lift is given by:

SL (Max) = Atmospheric pressure - vapour pressure - NPSHR

Hence the maximum allowable suction lift depends on the local atmospheric
pressure, the liquid vapour pressure and the NPSHR of the pump.
The theoretical maximum lift obtainable with an ideal pump with zero NPSHR
is equal to atmospheric pressure minus vapour pressure.

Maximum Theoretical Suction Lift with Zero Pump NPSHR

(Basis: Water at 1 standard atmosphere of 1 01 .325 kPa.abs., g = 9.80 m/s)
Extracted from “APMA PIPE FRICTION HANDBOOK” 1982, APMA pp.112, 113.

Temperature Density Vapour Pressure Maximum Suction

Lift
°C kg /m3 kPa m
15 999.0 1.704 10.176
20 998.2 2.337 10.119
30 995.6 4.242 9.950
40 992.2 7.375 9.662
50 988.1 12.33 9.190
60 983.3 19.92 8.448
70 977.5 31.16 7.324

For systems with suction vessels at pressures other than atmospheric the NPSH
should be calculated — Refer Section 4.2, Examples 5 and 6.

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Density:
The density (ᵨ) of a liquid is defined as the mass (kg) of that liquid per unit
volume (m3). Thus the units of density are kg/m3.
For water at 20°C ᵨ = 998.2 kg/m3.
Specific Weight:
The specific weight (γ) is defined as the weight per unit volume and is
expressed in kg/m2.s2.
Density and specific weight are related by γ = ᵨ.g
For water at 20°C γ = 998.2 x 9.8
= 9782 kg/m2.s2

Specific Volume: _
The specific volume v of a liquid is the reciprocal of density and is expressed in
m3/kg
_
v = 1/ᵨ
_
For water at 20°C v = 1 = 0.001 m3/kg
998.2
Specific Gravity:
The specific gravity (or relative density) (S.G.) of a liquid is defined as the ratio
of its density at a specified temperature to that of water at some standard
temperature. Usually the temperatures are the same and 15.6°C/ 15.6°C (or
rounded off to 15°C/15°C) is commonly used.
S.G. = ᵨ (any liquid at specified temperature)
ᵨ (water at 15.6°C)

e.g. for gasoline ᵨ = 749.8 kg/m3 @ 15.6°C

for water ᵨ = 999.1 kg/m3©15.6°C
therefore S.G. = 749.8/999.1 = 0.7505

Pressure:
Although it is preferable to express heads in metres of liquid (m) as this is
independent of the temperature of the liquid being pumped, head can also be
expressed as a pressure in kilopascals (kPa). However, these terms are
mutually convertible one to the other as follows:

Pressure in kPa x 1000 = Head in metres

Density in kg/m3 x g

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E.g. 1 If the discharge gauge on a pump reads 20 kPa when pumping water
at 15°C what is the discharge head in metres?

H = 200 x 1000 = 20.42 m

999 x 9.8

Eg. 2 If in E.g. 1 the pumping temperature was 90°C, the density would be
965.2 kg/m3 hence

H= 200 x 1000 = 21.1 m

965.2 x 9.8

In addition for a given pump, the total dynamic head expressed in metres will
remain constant at a given capacity for all fluids (except for viscous liquids).
However, the pressure generated (kPa) at a given temperature will be affected
by the specific gravity of the fluid pumped.
SG Head in m. kPa
Water 1.0 20 195
Brine 1.2 20 235
Petrol 0.75 20 147

Pressure Terms:
The pressure terms used in discussing pumping applications may be defined as
follows:
a) Absolute pressure:
Is the pressure above absolute zero, and is equal to the barometric
pressure plus the gauge pressure.
b) Barometric pressure:
Is the atmospheric pressure at the altitude where it is measured.
c) Gauge pressure:
Is the pressure measured by a gauge and is the pressure above
atmospheric pressure at the altitude being considered.

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d) Vacuum:
Is any pressure below atmospheric, i.e. a negative gauge pressure.

Viscosity:
The viscosity of a fluid (liquid or gas) is that property which offers resistance to
flow due to the existence of internal friction within the fluid. This resistance to
flow, expressed as a co-efficient of dynamic (or absolute) viscosity is a measure
of its tendency to resist internal deformation or shear. Molasses is a highly
viscous fluid, water is comparatively much less viscous and the viscosity of
gases is quite small compared to that of water.
Dynamic or absolute viscosity “μ” by definition is the ratio of shear stress to
velocity gradient in the fluid. The unit of dynamic viscosity is N.s/m2 which may
be simplified to Pa.s. (Pascal-second). As this unit results in very small values of
viscosity for common fluids, it is common practice to express dynamic viscosity
in the unit of Centipoise (cP)

1 cP = 10 -3Pa.s = 1 m Pa.s (millipascal-second)

Kinematic viscosity “v” is defined by the ratio of dynamic viscosity to the fluid
density
(i.e. v = μ/ᵨ) and is commonly used in Reynolds number calculations.

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The unit of kinematic viscosity is m2/s which also results in very small values for
common fluid. It is common practice to express kinematic viscosity in the units
of Centistokes (cSt)
1cSt = 10-6 m2/s = lmm2/s

Kinematic viscosity (cSt) = dynamic viscosity (cP)

density (g/cm3)

The viscosity of the fluid to be pumped should be determined for the range of
operating conditions as the performance of a pump is affected by the viscosity
which may change with temperature. A reduction in efficiency, increase in
power, reduction in head and maximum allowable pump speed, and some
reduction in capacity occurs with higher viscosities. Viscosity also affects pipe
friction losses, i.e. an increase in pipe friction.
As pump performance curves are normally only available for clean cold water it
is recommended that the pump manufacturer be consulted when considering
viscous fluid applications.

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