A. System resistance curves can be used to graphically determine flows and pressures in process systems where there is typically one supply pressure or tank, a centrifugal pump, a control valve, and one destination tank or pressure.
Using this graphical approach one can visually determine:
- The flow rate through a pipeline or series of pipelines
- The flow rate through a pumped systems
- Determine how multiple pumps operate in a systems
- Determine the differential pressure across a control valve to restrict flow to a specified valve
- See how changes to the pump curve can be employed
In this article we'll describe how to create a system resistance curve, and how to best gain information from it. In future articles we'll discuss means of controlling the flow rate, along with limitations of a system resistance curve, and explore ways to see how to visualize more complex piping systems. (MORE)
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