A ‘rising main’ is the name given to a discharge pipework that is pressurised by a pump. Once the pressurised pipework discharges into a sump – or out to the kerb etc – it is no longer a ‘rising main’ and returns to being a gravity system.
The appropriate diameter of the rising main is governed by the required flow rate at discharge, the length of the rising main and capability of the pump. Best practice is to try different combinations of pumps and rising main diameters to achieve the discharge flow rate you need.
Our Pump Station Selector Tool eliminates manual calculation and estimates the diameter of the rising main for you!
Friction loss is the resistance that a pump encounters when pushing fluid through a pipe.
Friction loss is dependent on the length of the pipe, the diameter of the pipe, and the flow rate that is being achieved by the pump. Friction loss is measured in meters head.
For more on how friction loss is calculated click <here>.
'Static Head' is the vertical distance only from where a pump is physically located, to where it is discharging. It is measured in metres, and 1m of vertical distance equals 1m of static head.
The length of pipe runs is not accounted for in static head calculations.
‘Total system head’ is the added values of ‘static head’, ‘friction loss’, and ‘velocity head’.
Graphically this can be displayed as a ‘system curve’.
When reading plans or a specification, a duty point is the project requirements of the pump system.
In sewer or stormwater pump stations, the duty point is often communicated as *** L/s (discharge flow rate) @ ***m head.
A duty point is a pump’s flow rate capability at a certain resistance level, (the resistance level is also known as total system head).
Graphically this is displayed by overlaying a pump’s performance curve, with a calculated system curve and seeing where the curves intersect. This intersection point is the duty point.
Yes they are. The enclosures are IP65 rated with an inner door. However, they are not suitable for applications within proximity (i.e. 2kms) from the ocean. If so, contact one of our friendly team to upgrade the enclosure to 31 Stainless Steel.
A pump cover can be either a grate or an enclosed lid. They can be made out of polyethylene, aluminum, cast iron, or galvanised steel, depending on your project requirements. Covers are also often load-rated (i.e., Class A through to Class E). A specified load rating for a cover advises on the magnitude of point load the engineer expects that cover to encounter on the project, for example, wheel point load from vehicles driving over a cover located in a driveway versus pedestrians walking over a cover in the footpath or garden.
Dead Head Pressure (also known as ‘shut-off head’) is a negative outcome for a centrifugal pump system, and it occurs when the pump discharge line is blocked, or the pump is undersized and cannot overcome the total system head requirement. The undersized pump attempts to discharge water unsuccessfully, with no liquid actually leaving the chamber. As a result of the pump motor running continuously but the liquid not leaving the chamber, the temperature of the liquid rises. This may cause issues for the pump through overheating or burning out over time.
To calculate Dead Head Pressure, subtract the pump's inlet pressure from the discharge pressure. For example: The discharge pressure is 32.5 PSI, and the suction pressure is 15 PSI, resulting in a Dead Head Pressure of 17.5 PSI.
Any centrifugal pump operating at dead head pressure or beyond will not be able to successfully discharge flow. To rectify this, a more powerful pump may be required to overcome the total system head, or alternatively, the system may be altered to reduce the total system head and allow the pump to start performing effectively.