Page 31 - Simplified Wastewater Treatment Fundementals\Pumps and Pumping
P. 31
Pumps and their Applications
To calculate the pump motor horsepower needed to push water or sludge to a higher level, we
need to know the following factors:
The numerator (or top part of the equation) must include:
✓ The total head (H) needed to pump the liquid or sludge.
✓ Total head means the length and the height of the discharge pipe.
✓ The desired flow rate (Q) (expressed in GPM)
✓ The Specific Gravity (SP) of the material to be pumped. Water has a specific gravity of 1. Sludge or
some chemicals would have a specific gravity of > 1.
The denominator (or bottom part of the equation) must include:
✓ 3960 – 3960 is the total gallons 1 horsepower can move in 1 minute
