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Question:

How do I calculate water volume pumped?

I have an 8 gpm pump at a depth of 170 ft, I am pumping the water 2000 ft in a 1 1/4 inch line. I need to know how many gallons per minute I am getting.

Answer:

Use the Bernoulli equation, aka mechanical energy balance.
You have already stated the volume as 8 gpm. There is an elevation head of 170 ft, a friction loss of 1 1/2 ft/100 ft at 8 gpm for and additional 30 ft. of head, You did not state what the service pressure was supposed to be at the delivery point. so the total head required of the pump will be 200 ft. or more if a pressure is desired. Add 2 1/3 ft of head for each psig of desired pressure. Because of hydrodynamic design limitations of the pump impellers, you will never find a centrifugal water pump for sale with that low volume combined with that high head. You will need a positive displacement water pump having an approximately 8 -10 gpm capacity at 200 ft head (87 psi) or more, depending on that pressure. You cannot lift water farther up than about 25 feet with any kind of pump because of the thermodynamic properties of water under negative suction pressure. Deep well pumps are lowered down into the well and submerged. The well may have been drilled 170 feet deep, but the water will probably have risen up into the casing. The actual depth of water may be much less than 170 ft. That will need to be measured You will need 3/4 horsepower as is and 1 hp with 20 psig of pressure at the delivery point.

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