Pumping System Analysis for Upgrading Works in a Government Owned Water Treatment Plant in Malaysia

Abstract

Pumping system analysis can be used together with a decision support system to provide information for efficient pumping system operation or system refurbishment and upgrading. The actual operation condition of the water supply system needs to be ascertained. This paper will share experience by the authors in determining the actual pump performance through measurement of flow and pressure in the system. The incremental increase in pressure is achieved by varying head loss induced to the system by valve throttling. Integrating the Bernoulli's principles of the geodetic, static and dynamic energy, and input power data will enable the analysis of energy input and output and hence arriving to pump efficiency values. This method offers the most accurate operation conditions for refurbishment systems to endure. The on-site measurements will allow the determination of the averaged actual friction coefficient which includes the effect of system deterioration and fittings conditions. This information will be used to determine the expected duty point of an upgrading system more precisely. The study highlighted the actual pump operating efficiencies for an old pumping system installation.