The phrase refers to determining the total pressure increase (head) generated when six pumps are arranged in a series configuration. In this setup, the fluid discharged from one pump becomes the inlet fluid for the next in the line. The cumulative head developed by the system is then calculated based on the performance characteristics of each individual pump, assuming consistent flow rate throughout the arrangement.
Understanding this calculation is critical in applications requiring significant increases in fluid pressure, such as long-distance pipelines or high-rise building water distribution systems. The efficient operation of such systems relies on precise determination of the pressure achieved by series pumping to meet required output. Historically, this type of analysis involved laborious manual calculations, but contemporary engineering leverages software and modeling to predict system performance. This predictive capability enables optimized pump selection and minimizes energy consumption.
