For some reason, ever since I have been involved with HVAC, I've always had this kind of soft spot for pumps.  I guess part of that could be because they are a very common component in the systems and subsystems that help keep our buildings comfortable and safe.  And it may also be because some of my first experiences with troubleshooting and testing HVAC systems were centered around pumps with Phil Sutherlin, Jim Brooks, and Bud Wieczorek sharing their knowledge with me regarding pump theory, testing and operation.    What ever the reason for my nerdy affection, I was really excited several years ago to discover that there is an initiative called Pump Systems Matter.

The initiative has its roots in a manufacturer's survey that discovered that 60 percent of all pumps are improperly applied. Of those, 90 percent are not specified for the proper operating point.  Thus, the proper selection and application of pumps was targeted as a rich field for improving the efficiency of our building and process systems and the Pump Systems Matter initiative was formed to support the effort.  

By going to the Pump Systems Matter website, you can avail yourself of a number of very useful, free resources.   One is Pumps and Systems magazine, a free publication that you can receive digitally or in paper form by simply completing the on line subscription form.  The distribution e-mail for the current issue, which arrived in my in box just the other day and is pictured below, will give you a feel for the typical content.  I always find something of interest and an opportunity to learn in every issue.

The site also has a link to a growing number of energy saving tip sheets targeted at improving pumping system efficiency.  The cover page from one of them, illustrated below, walks you through the impeller trim process, one of the first pump optimization strategies I learned about when I first entered the industry.

You can also link to a no-cost download of the source book Improving Pump System Performance (pictured below), which among other things, discusses pump system basics,performance improvement opportunities, and the economics of improving pumping systems. 

You can also down load the Pump System Improvement Modeling Tool, a no-cost subset of a sophisticated network analysis tool that will allow you to gain insights into the interactions of flow and head in a pumping system and also model simple systems.  The screen shot below illustrates the model I built of the hypothetical water feature illustrated in the diagram. 

I use the model for illustrative purposes in a class I teach, but I can tell you from personal experience that downloading the tool and applying it once or twice, while a bit intimidating at first, will provide a great education regarding the physics of pumps and hydraulic systems.  And, in my experience, tools like this are not just design tools.  They can also be used by facilities operators and engineers to model an existing system and troubleshoot problems, assess the impact of proposed modifications, and play "what if?" games.

So, take a few minutes to check out the Pump Systems Matter initiative.  Who knows, you may discover that you too have a soft spot in your heart for these workhorses in our industry.