Why are pumps operated in series?

Pumps are operated in series primarily to obtain greater heads when additional stages are not efficient. When pumps are configured in a series arrangement, each pump adds its own pressure, or head, to the system. This cumulative effect allows for significantly higher total head to be achieved than what a single pump could deliver alone.

In situations where the required head for a system exceeds the capabilities of a single pump, adding another pump in series enables designers to meet the hydraulic demands of the system more efficiently. This is particularly relevant in applications where high elevation changes or long-distance water transfer is required; the series configuration ensures that the system can overcome these challenges effectively.

This approach contrasts with situations where enhancing flow rate or balancing pump loads would lead to different design considerations. While cost efficiency is important, it’s secondary to meeting the specific hydraulic requirements of the application when it comes to pump selection and configuration.