Pumps; Series or Parallel; a Review of a Common Misconception

Sometimes the required operating conditions for a system are beyond the reach of a single, standard pump. Rather than purchasing a heavy-duty pump that may be far more than which is needed, consider taking advantage of parallel or series system design strategies to combine simple pump performances that add up to the necessary requirements. There may be many reasons to use parallel or series pumps instead of a single, larger pump. These may include: • Lower initial cost • Lower installation cost• Increased redundancy • Easier maintenance, • Lower operating cost, and • Significant energy savings. furthermore, the designer must possess clear knowledge of pump and pumping system design fundamentals in order to achieve these benefits. Regarding arranging pumps in series or parallel, there is a widely-held misconception in the mechanic engineering community. This article aims to critique this prevailing belief and provide a resolution for it .