Role of Dissipation Characteristics in Predicting Flow from Dissimilar Centrifugal Pumps
Examination of flows in a particular case of dissimilar pumps coupled in series or in parallel (without check valves) showed that the ‘classical’ graphical solution of combined characteristics in the [+H, +Q] quadrant did not accord with the output field in certain regions. To predict the full flow fields, it was necessary to take into account dissipative flow characteristics in two other quadrants: for low-output parallel flow (when there is still flow available from the pump of higher head when the ‘weaker’ pump's flow has been reduced to zero), that in the [+H, –Q] quadrant; and for high series flow (after the output head of the pump of lower maximum flow has been reduced to zero), that in the [–H, +Q] quadrant. This problem does not arise when the pumps have identical characteristics.