If a plant needs to boost pressure while maintaining the same flow, which arrangement would be preferred?

If a plant needs to boost pressure while maintaining the same flow, which arrangement would be preferred?

• A. Series Pumps
• B. Parallel Pumps
• C. Deadhead Pumps
• D. Runout Pumps

Answer: (A)

Boosting pressure without changing the amount of fluid moved calls for putting pumps in series. When pumps are arranged in series, their pressure (head) contributions add up. The fluid passes through each pump in sequence, so the discharge pressure after the last pump is higher than with a single pump, while the flow through the line remains essentially the same as what a single pump would deliver at that operating point. In other words, you get more pressure at the same flow. If you used pumps in parallel, you’d primarily increase the flow at the same pressure, not raise the pressure itself. Deadheading—pumping against a closed valve—creates high pressure with essentially zero flow, which isn’t a usable or safe normal operating condition. Runout pumps isn’t a standard arrangement to achieve higher pressure with the same flow.

Boosting pressure without changing the amount of fluid moved calls for putting pumps in series. When pumps are arranged in series, their pressure (head) contributions add up. The fluid passes through each pump in sequence, so the discharge pressure after the last pump is higher than with a single pump, while the flow through the line remains essentially the same as what a single pump would deliver at that operating point. In other words, you get more pressure at the same flow.

If you used pumps in parallel, you’d primarily increase the flow at the same pressure, not raise the pressure itself. Deadheading—pumping against a closed valve—creates high pressure with essentially zero flow, which isn’t a usable or safe normal operating condition. Runout pumps isn’t a standard arrangement to achieve higher pressure with the same flow.