You are operating a 3000 L/min pump at 1000 kPa. If you increase the pressure to 1400 kPa, you would be:

You are operating a 3000 L/min pump at 1000 kPa. If you increase the pressure to 1400 kPa, you would be:

• A. Increasing The Potential Flow Of Water
• B. Decreasing The Potential Flow Of Water
• C. No Change In The Potential Flow Of Water
• D. Erratic Changes In The Flow

Answer: (B)

When a pump runs at a fixed speed, its flow depends on the head it must overcome, which is shown by the pump’s head–flow curve. Increasing the discharge pressure raises the head the pump has to push against. As head increases, the flow drops along the curve. So raising the system pressure from 1000 kPa to 1400 kPa will reduce the flow below the original 3000 L/min. The exact new flow depends on the pump’s specific curve, but the trend is downward. This isn’t a case of more pressure producing more flow, nor is it a scenario of no change or erratic behavior—the flow decreases as head increases.

When a pump runs at a fixed speed, its flow depends on the head it must overcome, which is shown by the pump’s head–flow curve. Increasing the discharge pressure raises the head the pump has to push against. As head increases, the flow drops along the curve. So raising the system pressure from 1000 kPa to 1400 kPa will reduce the flow below the original 3000 L/min. The exact new flow depends on the pump’s specific curve, but the trend is downward.

This isn’t a case of more pressure producing more flow, nor is it a scenario of no change or erratic behavior—the flow decreases as head increases.