Industrial Pump Guides
From reading a pump curve to diagnosing cavitation — technical guides for every stage of pump life: selection, installation, operation, and overhaul.
Centrifugal pumps handle high-flow, low-viscosity applications (water, thin process fluids). Positive displacement pumps (gear, lobe, diaphragm) suit viscous fluids, accurate metering, or high-pressure/low-flow duty. Always check NPSH margin ≥ 1.0 m to avoid cavitation.
Fundamentals
How to Read a Pump Curve
Head vs flow, BEP, efficiency curves, system curve intersection, and how to spot off-BEP operation.
Total Dynamic Head (TDH) Calculation
Step-by-step TDH formula: static head, friction losses, velocity head, and pressure head — with a worked example.
Centrifugal vs Positive Displacement
Comparison table, viscosity considerations, pressure limits, and how to choose the right pump type for your application.
Pump Selection Guide
Full decision framework: fluid properties, flow/head requirements, duty, materials of construction, and seal type selection.
NPSH & Cavitation
NPSH Explained: NPSHa vs NPSHr
Net positive suction head — what NPSHa and NPSHr mean, how to calculate NPSHa, and maintaining safe NPSH margin.
Pump Cavitation: Causes & Prevention
What causes cavitation, how to diagnose it from sound and vibration, and corrective actions to protect the impeller.
Troubleshooting & Failure Analysis
Mechanical Seal Failure Analysis
Identify the cause of seal leakage: dry running, thermal shock, misalignment, contamination, and incorrect flush.
Pump Vibration Analysis
Common vibration signatures for centrifugal pumps — imbalance, misalignment, cavitation, and recirculation spectra.
Centrifugal Pump Efficiency
How to calculate pump efficiency, what causes efficiency losses, and whether to repair or replace an ageing pump.