Pumping systems — Pump selection and circuit design

The smooth operation of a pumping installation depends not only on the quality of the pumps, or more generally on the quality of the equipment that makes it up, but also, and to a very large extent, on the way in which the installation has been designed, then built and finally operated.

Each of these three phases (design, implementation and operation) must be analyzed from the very start of the project.

The design phase covered in this article involves :

• judicious choice of pump(s). This choice is essential, as it will determine not only the economic profitability of the installation, but also the subsequent phases of construction and operation;

• a technically compliant and economically optimized circuit design, which will require the introduction of economic criteria;

• a system design that ensures correct operation of all components;

• a modern technical-economic approach that simultaneously reduces overall operating costs and minimizes environmental impact.

The design phase will show that there is no single solution to the problem posed, but rather an almost infinite number of solutions. The choice between these solutions will thus become a dominant factor in the project, with major financial consequences.