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How to Read a Generic AOD Pump Curve

Step One: Identify your required TDH and flow rate

Total Discharge Head (TDH) is the energy required by your fluid to make it through all the constrictions, bends, and appliances plus your required pressure on the outlet side. Flow Rate is your required flux of material. In the sample application above, TDH is Point A; flow rate is Point B.

The BPH team can help you calculate TDH and flow rate. These values are critical in choosing the best pump for your application.

Step Two: Determine air pressure requirements

AOD pumps run faster with more air pressure. In the sample application, you'll be running at 80 PSI. Point C, the intersection of your required TDH and flow rate lies on the 80 PSI flow curve. Please note that your required air pressure will, in most cases, be higher than your TDH requirement.

Step Three: Determine your SCFM requirement and ensure your air compressor is adequately sized

More flow and TDH requires more air. As you go to the right in a flow curve, the amount of compressed air required increases. In the sample application, just less than 15 SCFM is required, (Point C).

Your air compressor is the driving force behind your pump. It provides air pressure and a flow to make your pump work at a given pressure. The table below gives the power per SFCM for rotary compressors.

In the example, you're running at 80 psi, so will need 0.182 HP/SCFM. The air consumption is just less than 15 SCFM. You'll need a compressor of at least 2.73 HP (0.182 HP/SCFM * 15 SCFM = 2.73 HP).

How to Read a Centrifugal Pump Curve

Step One: Know and identify your required TDH and flow rate

Total Discharge Head (TDH) is the energy required by your fluid to make it through all the constrictions, bends, and appliances plus your required pressure on the outlet side. Flow Rate is your required flux of material. In the sample application above, TDH is Point A; flow rate is Point B.

The BPH team can help you calculate TDH and flow rate. These values are critical in choosing the best pump for your application.

Step Two: Select the proper impeller diameter

This refers to choosing the proper flow curve for your requirements. In the sample application shown above, TDH and flow rate intersect at Point C, indicating that a 2” impeller is the correct diameter

Step Three: Size your motor

For any given (and maintained) TDH, the power the required horsepower increases. This is because you are looking at the curve. As you follow the curve your BHP may decrease if the TDH drops off quickly. In the sample application, a 1 HP motor is recommended, since Point C is to the right of the 0.75 HP curve.

Step Four: Consider your efficiency requirements

Each centrifugal pump curve has a set of gradients for efficiency. For most pumps, the best efficiency lies about 2/3 down the right side of a curve. The greater the efficiency, the more power is converted into flow and pressure. In the sample application, Point C indicates efficiency greater than 50%.

If several pumps appear to meet your requirements, consider how much power is needed to move your product. The BPH team can help you choose a pump with the greatest efficiency in order to keep your long-term power consumption costs down.

Step Five: Make sure you have enough NPSH

Rule of thumb: If you have a flooded inlet and low temperature on a non-volatile fluid, you'll have adequate NPSH the vast majority of the time.

Fluid must move freely into your pump at your required flow rate, without help from your pump. Expressed mathematically, NPSHa must be > NPSHr, where NPSHa is net positive suction head available and NPSHr is net positive suction head required. NPSH is typically expressed in units of feet of head. Running a pump with inadequate NPSH is not a good idea. The pump will cavitate and which will cause severe wear on the impeller and seal.

In the sample application, the NPSHr required is found at Point D.

Common Pump Terminology

The purpose of this area is to give you a reference for some of the terms used by pump users and manufacturers. If you don't see something you think needs to be defined, call us at 888-289-8787 or drop us a note on the "Contact us" page.

Chemical Resistance Chart

EHEDG-Certified FAQ

What's the difference between EHEDG certified and plain old vanilla EHEDG?
The EHEDG-Certified mark says that pumping equipment verifiably cleans as well as a straight piece of pipe. A testing regime exists to make sure the equipment actually performs. Some competitive designs claim they meet EHEDG standards but don't carry the certified mark.

Why should I care?
Ultimately it's a question of your comfort level. We respectfully suggest that the trend since the industrial revolution is for increasing safety standards particularly in the water and food supply. Events like the Mad Cow disease outbreaks in Britain, Canada, and the US are only going to increase scrutiny - and rightfully so - on our food supply. All things being equal, using equipment that has some sort of a verification of its cleanability - we feel - is preferable to using equipment that doesn't.

How can I tell if it's EHEDG Certified or not?
Simple. Look for this logo. Ask for documentation with a raised seal.

What is the certification process?
The certification process is quite simple. A control or “reference pipe” and the pumping equipment in question are both exposed to a process fluid with biological contaminants, and are worked into all the fluid contact areas. Next, the reference pipe and pump are cleaned with an appropriate “Clean in place” procedure and dried. Agar media containing nutrients, sugar, and a pH indicator is then poured and solidified in all working surfaces. After an incubation period, both reference pipe and pump are examined for color changes in the pH indicator that demonstrate bacterial activity. Only pumps that show equal or lesser degrees of biological activity than the reference pipe pass the test.

What is important to stress is that outside organizations are doing the testing, which generally mean more open protocols and presumably greater confidence in their results.

Who is EHEDG anyway?
The European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) seeks to increase awareness about food hygiene, help in the prevention of food safety problems, and sustain the image of the food industry among consumers. The organization consists of manufacturers, engineering firms, scientific and research organizations as well as health organizations.

Is EHEDG an artificial trade barrier in the guise of a safety regulation?
We respectfully submit that EHEDG certified mark is a reasonable and evolutionary regulatory improvement that American food and pharmaceutical manufacturers in particular should be looking for. If for no other reason, the required independent testing makes good common sense.

How do I know a product cleans effectively?
Because it's been proven by someone outside of the manufacturer.

Is BPH Pump's EHEDG-Certified Equipment going to drive up my costs?
We don't believe so. One of the reasons we're so proud to represent ITT Jabsco pumps is that we're able to offer a superior pump at a similar initial investment and lower total cost of ownership than what you might be used to. No pump line does everything perfectly, but if you need a pump that cleans well (and can prove it), a pump that's easy to maintain, and a pump is probably going to drive your costs down, we think we've got a winner for you. Call us at 888-289-8787 and let's talk.