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Pump Discharge Pressure Formula:
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Pump discharge pressure is the pressure developed by a pump at its outlet, representing the energy imparted to the fluid to overcome system resistance and elevation changes in the piping system.
The calculator uses the fundamental pressure-head relationship:
Where:
Explanation: This formula converts the energy head developed by the pump into equivalent pressure, accounting for the fluid's density and gravitational effects.
Details: Accurate discharge pressure calculation is essential for proper pump selection, system design, ensuring adequate flow rates, and preventing cavitation or overpressure conditions in piping systems.
Tips: Enter fluid density in kg/m³ (water ≈ 1000 kg/m³), pump head in meters, and gravitational acceleration (default 9.81 m/s²). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the difference between pump head and pressure?
A: Head represents energy per unit weight of fluid (meters), while pressure is force per unit area (bar). Head is independent of fluid density, while pressure depends on it.
Q2: Why divide by 1000 in the formula?
A: The division by 1000 converts from Pascals (N/m²) to bars, since 1 bar = 100,000 Pascals and the formula gives pressure in Pascals before conversion.
Q3: What are typical pump head values?
A: Pump heads vary widely from a few meters for circulation pumps to hundreds of meters for high-pressure applications like boiler feed pumps.
Q4: Does temperature affect the calculation?
A: Yes, temperature affects fluid density. For accurate results, use the density at the operating temperature, especially for fluids other than water.
Q5: When is this calculation most important?
A: This calculation is crucial during pump sizing, system design, troubleshooting performance issues, and when converting between head and pressure specifications.