Which measurement is appropriate to plot pump test data on a graph regarding discharge performance?

Which measurement is appropriate to plot pump test data on a graph regarding discharge performance?

• A. Discharge pressure
• B. Suction pressure
• C. Type of motor
• D. Volts and Amps

Answer: (A)

In pump performance testing, you evaluate how much pressure the pump develops on the discharge side as the flow changes. Plotting discharge pressure against flow rate (the discharge side head) is how you visualize the pump’s discharge performance, forming the common pump curve that shows how pressure carries as the load varies. Suction pressure pertains to the inlet conditions and isn’t a measure of discharge capability; the motor type is equipment information rather than a hydraulic measurement; and volts and amps are electrical parameters that don’t directly describe the hydraulic discharge performance.

In pump performance testing, you evaluate how much pressure the pump develops on the discharge side as the flow changes. Plotting discharge pressure against flow rate (the discharge side head) is how you visualize the pump’s discharge performance, forming the common pump curve that shows how pressure carries as the load varies. Suction pressure pertains to the inlet conditions and isn’t a measure of discharge capability; the motor type is equipment information rather than a hydraulic measurement; and volts and amps are electrical parameters that don’t directly describe the hydraulic discharge performance.