Does An Irrigation Centrifugal Pump Need To Be Mounted On The Level?
Posted by admin on January 26, 2010 under Fluid Mechanics | 
2 Comments to Read
I have recently set up a 60hp direct coupled pump mounted on a frame with 4 wheels which has the flexible suction pipe on the same axis as the pump/motor. The unit is on the rivers edge with a suction lift of 3ft, everything works fine but I feel it is not meeting its output as per the pump curves, is it because the angle of the pump/motor axis to the water is at 21deg to horizontal, does it need to be level.
Allen said,
The pump doesn’t care how it’s mounted.Make sure your piping is sized large enough and don’t put an elbow at the inlet or outlet as this will restrict flow and possibly cause cavitation at the inlet.
steve h said,
Orientation of the pump will only make a difference if it makes it hard for the pump to be fully primed. Otherwise it should work just fine.
Is the performance curve in feet of water or psi? Sometimes people forget to correct the discharge pressure from psi to feet of the fluid flowing? That can change how you read the curve. Is the pressure gage on the discharge accurate?
Have you checked the inlet for debris. That is a common problem with water from a natural body of water.
Is the pump fully primed? Is it self priming?
How long is the suction line. You say the lift is only 3 feet but you also have to add the pressure loss in the suction line.
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