What do pump flow and head mean?

We often encounter many customers who do not understand what flow and head of the pump  when selecting a pump. In this way, they cannot select an appropriate pump. Before selecting a pump, you must know how much flow and head are required to select an appropriate pump. Below is what our company explains for you about pump flow and head respectively.

1. The meaning of water pump flow

   Definition: The flow of a water pump refers to the volume of liquid transported by the pump per unit of time. Simply put, it indicates how much liquid the pump can discharge within a certain period. Its units are usually cubic meters per hour (), liters per second (), etc. For example, if a water pump has a flow rate of 10 cubic meters per hour, it means that this pump can transport 10 cubic meters of liquid every hour.

   Significance in practical application scenarios: In water supply and drainage systems, the size of the flow determines how much water can be supplied or drained within a certain period of time. For instance, in the water supply system of a residential building, if there are many households using water simultaneously, a water pump with a sufficient flow rate needs to be selected to meet the residents' water demand. If the flow rate is too small, users may experience problems such as low water pressure and weak water flow during peak water usage periods. In irrigation systems, the flow is also crucial as it determines the area of farmland that can be irrigated within a certain period of time.

2. The meaning of water pump head

   Definition: The head refers to the energy obtained by a unit weight of liquid after passing through the water pump, that is, the height to which the water pump can lift the water. Its unit is meters (m). However, this height is an equivalent height, which includes the actual vertical lifting height and the height corresponding to the energy consumed to overcome pipeline resistance, etc. For example, if a water pump has a head of 30 meters, it means that this pump can theoretically lift the water to a height of 30 meters.

   Significance in practical application scenarios: In the water supply system of high-rise buildings, the head is a very important parameter. Since water needs to be transported to higher floors, the water pump must have a sufficient head to overcome gravity as well as the frictional resistance and local resistance of the pipelines. If the head is insufficient, the water will not be able to reach the higher floors or the water pressure on the floors will be very low. In fire protection systems, water pumps with sufficient head are also required to ensure that water can be sprayed to the higher floors of buildings with sufficient pressure in case of a fire.