Safe operation of the industrial centrifugal pump sets in parallel connection

The operation and maintenance of the main rotating equipment, such as centrifugal pumps at power plants should be done in economic effective way. These requirements are possible to achieve utilizing the control algorithm of the duty point of the pump, which is based on pump's manufacturer prescriptions regarding the safe recommended working conditions for the unit. In order to operate the centrifugal pump sets following the aforementioned recommendations is necessary to control the set point of pump sets in H-Q coordinates or as an alternative is possible to perform the conversion to H-n (head vs rpm) coordinates, utilizing pressure transmitters in pressure pipeline and value of angular shaft speed from variable speed driver. In the framework of this study is proposed the pump sets switching and start-up algorithm for the pump sets with respect to a system high reliability, which are proved within simulation model of full-scale equipment.