Pump Head Calculation for Chilled

Water System
Understanding the Basics

Prepared by:

Paarth Kaushik
TechFour Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Operations From India & Thailand
 Contents

1. Introduction

2. What Is Pump Head

3. Units of Measurement

4. Equivalent length Method

5. Step-by-Step Calculation Example

6. Tools and Software for Calculation

7. Chilled Water System Considerations

8. Common Mistakes in Pump Head Calculation

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 Introduction

• What is a Chilled Water System?

• Explanation: Chilled water systems are used in HVAC to distribute cooling

throughout a building.

• Key Components: Pumps, chillers, pipes, and cooling coils.

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 What is pump head?
Active Design
• Definition: Pump head is the height to which a pump can raise water. In chilled water
Passive Design
systems, it represents the energy required to overcome the system’s friction losses

and static head.

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• Formula:H= Hstatic+Hfriction
Renewable Energy
• ​where H is the total head, H static is the static head, and H friction is the friction loss.

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 Units Of Measurement

• Flow Rate: Measured in USGPM (U.S. gallons per minute).

• Head: Measured in feet (ft) or meters (m).Form & Orientation

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 Equivalent Length Method

• Definition: The equivalent length method is used to calculate frictional losses in

pipes by converting all fittings and valves into an equivalent length of straight pipe.

• Advantages:

• Simplifies complex piping systems.

• Easier to estimate total pressure drop due to friction.

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 Components of Pump Head Calculation

• Static Head: The vertical height difference between the highest and lowest points in

the system.

• Friction Head: Caused by resistance in pipes, fittings, valves, and other

components.

• Velocity Head (Optional): The energy required to maintain fluid velocity, often

negligible in large systems.

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 Steps in Calculating Pump Head Using Equivalent
Length Method
• Determine the Static Head: Measure
the height difference between the
pump and the highest point of the
system.
• Calculate Friction Losses:
• Find the friction loss per unit length of
the pipe using the Darcy-Weisbach
equation or a pipe friction chart.
• Use the Equivalent Length Method to
convert all fittings (valves, bends, tees)
into equivalent lengths.
• Sum the total pipe length and
equivalent lengths for fittings.
• Calculate Total Head
• HTotal = HStatic + HFriction

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 Tools and Software for Calculation

• Pipe Friction Charts: To determine

friction losses based on flow rates.

• Online Calculators: For quick estimation

of pump head.

• Software: HVAC software like HAP,

Carrier, or EnergyPlus for detailed

analysis.

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 Chilled Water System Considerations

• System Design: Closed loop vs. open loop.

• Effect of Temperature: Impact on water density and viscosity.

• Pump Selection: Importance of selecting the correct pump for efficient system

performance.

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 Common Mistakes in Pump Head
Calculation
• Overestimating or underestimating friction losses.
• Not accounting for all system components like elbows, tees, and valves.

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 Conclusion

• Accurate pump head calculation is crucial for efficient operation of chilled water
systems.
• Takeaways: Understand the components of pump head and how they affect the
pump selection and system efficiency.

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 Evaporative Cooling
• Evaporative cooling reduces the indoor temperature thus, reduced AC load.
• Hence reduced energy comsumption helps achieving goal of NZEB.
• But it is suited for hot & dry region, hence apt for Rajgarh.

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 Recommendations
• Pools, ponds and water features immediately outside windows or in courtyards can

pre-cool air entering the house. As water evaporates it draws large amounts of heat

from surrounding air.

• In public accessible areas like reception, fountains can be used as a cooling element

along with cross-ventilating arrangement of openings.

• Vegetation for evaporation: Evapotranspiration from wet grass can reduce the

ground surface temperature by 6-8°C below the average surface temperature of

the bare soil which ultimately reduces load of fresh air.

• Use of porous materials for roof materials of newly constructed buildings can cause

evaporative cooling effect.

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 Other Passive Design Approaches
• Shading on the exposed wall can reduce heat gain substancially. Providing

horizontal or vertical shading element helps reducing load.

• Anti- reflective enamel on the exposed roof also reduces heat gain. It goes

unnoticed but it constitutes a larger portion of heat gain.

• Panel insulation & Under-deck insulation should be employed at all possible

locations.

• Fenestration elements should be designed in such a way that it allows maximum

quantum of visible light which reduces lighting load of the building.

• Vegetation near the building helps in many ways, provides shading for fow rise

buildings, provides agood quality of fresh air (to be injected in guest rooms).
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 Recommendation for existing building (Fort)
Existing design elements that shall the goal of NZEB:
• Longer facades of the fort is already in south (rear) & east (left).
• Fort being ancient building has thicker wall i.e. lower U-value and lower heat gain.
• Internal water bodies/pools pre-cools the air.
• Off- grid system has been proposed with net-metering.

Recommendations:
• All the glass to be used should be DGU (Double Glazed Units)
• Highly efficient appliances should be used (such as 5-star Air Consitioners)
• BMS system should be effectively used.

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 Recommendation for new buildings
Newly-constructed building includes clusters, tent villas, spa, swimming pool area,
restaurants, etc.

• Proper shading & orientation analysis to be carried out using suitable tool.
• All the glass to be used should be DGU (Double Glazed Units) with lowest possible
U-value & SHGC.
• All the walls should be provided with Air Gap/Cavity wherever possible.
• Circulation of water in the designed water body using pumps rather than stagnant
water.
• Insulation should se selected with proper calculation.
• Parapets should be provided to provide shadings.

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 Thanking You
For any query please visit:
www.techfoursolutions.com

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