What is the use of operating curve of centrifugal pump to chemical engineers in Process Engineering ?

Pump curves are essentially data about a given pump's ability to produce flow against certain head. And it is a primary tool for pump selection. Being able to read and understand a pump curve is an essential skill if you're someone who needs to select a pump for a specific application and you want to ensure that that your pump enjoys a long service life operating at maximal efficiency.

The operating curve of the centrifugal pump allows to select the operating point of the system with greater efficiency to minimize the power .

This curve helps in selecting the correct model of pump & in future for capacity augmentation.

Pump curves are important to get the proper pump size for each application with maximum efficiency. 

Operating curve of centrifugal pump defines the range where system loss is less than head produced by pump. It also gives idea about the pressure drop across control valve in Pump discharge.

1. To choose the pump for the required head, capacity.

2. To select the motor to provide necessary power to drive the pump.

3. To anayse the pump efficiency for energy monitoring.

The curve provides information of a pump head over the flow range stipulated on the curve. One can take the head at a specific flow and multiply it by gravity and fluid density of the pump fluid to get the discharge pressure of the pump.

The operating curve of the centrifugal pump allows to select the operating point of the system with greater efficiency to minimize the power consumption that meets the pressure requirements.

It also allows the engineer to establish:

1.- The maximum pressure with zero flow (closed discharge valve) to size the safety valve to be installed in the pump discharge.

2.- Establish the mechanical resistance to specify the pipes and accessories downstream in the system.

3.- Select the most suitable pump recirculation valve for protection by minimum flow.

4.- Specify the maximum capacity of the electric motor or gas / steam turbine to avoid overload when the pump operates at the point of maximum flow.

to increased flow rate as head pressure decreases. the curve also shows the shut off head or the head that pump would generate if operating aginast a closed valve 

It provides relationship between pump head vs flowrate and is helpful in determining safe operating ranges of a centrifugal pump during daily operations for e.g.

1. Shutoff head is the maximum head that can be developed by a centrifugal pump at a fixed speed.
2. Similarly, without damaging the pump, the maximum flowrate that can be obtained at a fixed speed can be termed as Pump runout.
3. It also helps in optimum selection of pump for desired operation.

.Use of operatator curve of centrifugal pump is beter than Mathematical equations