Our surveys provide the foundations upon which designs are based.
- Flowcheck brochure (250Kb)
- Guide to specifying pumps (620Kb)
Hydraulic Surveys
Flowcheck specialise in performing surveys of pumps, pumping stations, pipe systems and hydraulic processes. We install survey instrumentation to measure process variables, for example, pressure, flow and level, to determine exactly what is happening within a hydraulic system.
Our surveys are performed quickly, efficiently and with the minimum of disruption to the operation of the plant.
The need
Before a works or process is modified it is important to know exactly how it functions. By taking accurate measurements of all the relevant process variables, new designs can be based on the known hydraulic performance of the existing plant.
When a project is completed our surveys can confirm that the new plant and equipment is performing correctly and that contractual obligations have been met.
Pumps
Pumps are the major source of energy usage within the water and wastewater industry. A pump which is worn or incorrectly sized is likely to waste large amounts of energy and fail to reach its required duty point.
For pumps to deliver correct flow rates and to operate at their best efficiency points, they have to be carefully matched to the hydraulic characteristics of the pipeline they deliver into. When changing a pump or modifying a pumping system it is essential to know both the static head and the friction heads which will be generated as these should form the foundations for any design. In duty assist and variable speed pump applications the friction heads generated need to be known for the complete operational range of the pumps.
Our experience has proved that the actual friction heads generated within a pipe system can vary significantly from those predicted using theoretical calculations. Typical sources of error in theoretical calculations can be due to:
- Settled solids in the bottom of the pipe
- Build up of fat or slime on the pipe walls
- Tuberculation
- Pipe welds protruding into the bore of plastic pipe
- Surface roughness (Ks) values differing from guideline figures
- Air locks
- Pipe composition differing from that shown on drawings
To view the theoretical effects of different flow rates, pipe dimensions, roughness values and the influence of settled solids, you can use our friction head calculator. However, the only way to truly determine the pressure to flow relationship and the friction heads generated within a pipe is to take on site measurements. Flowcheck specialise in providing this service.