21.2. Application to Fluid Flow

In this section, performance curves for centrifugal pumps, reciprocating pumps, and piping networks are discussed. The use of pump and system curves is introduced and the concepts of net positive suction head are discussed.

21.2.1. Pump and System Curves

In this section, performance curves for a centrifugal pump and the flow of a liquid through a pipe network connecting a storage tank to a chemical reactor are presented. Centrifugal pumps are very common in the chemical industry. Figure 21.3 shows the inner workings of a centrifugal pump. It is important to understand that the performance curves presented here are unique to centrifugal pumps. Positive displacement pumps, the other common type of pump used in the chemical industry, have a completely different performance curve and are discussed briefly in Section 21.2.3.