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For a pump or turbine, there is a limited set of default "Specific Speed" options available. How can I add my own specific speed for a pump or turbine, to model a custom quadrant characteristic curve to use during a transient simulation?
During the initial conditions calculation (steady state), HAMMER uses a pump's pump definition to determine the initial operating point of the pump, and the Turbine Curve to determine the initial operating point of a turbine. However, during a transient simulation HAMMER uses a special characteristic curve to represent the behavior of a pump or turbine, based on the "specific speed" selection (in the "transient" tab of the pump definition, or the properties of a turbine). The specific speed determines which four-quadrant curve to use, which defines the shape of the curve that can operate in all four quadrant (not just positive head/flow/speed). HAMMER applies the pump/turbine initial operating point to this curve's "shape", to construct the actual curve used during the transient simulation.
The formula in the link below can be used to estimate you pump or turbine's specific speed, and you can select the closest available default specific speed. The source of the default specific speeds (quadrant curves), is explained in another link found below.
Although the closest default specific speed is often adequate, your own, custom four-quadrant characteristic curve for your pump or turbine can be added in a special text file. This is located in the HAMMER installation folder, and is named QuadrantCurves.txt
Note that there are two versions of this file - one used by the 32-bit version of HAMMER (and in HAMMER for MicroStation and HAMMER for ArcMap) and the other for the 64-bit version (this is the default for the Standalone version of HAMMER, and if you use HAMMER for AutoCAD 64-bit). Ensure that you add your custom curve to both. See more here: Custom quadrant curve not being recognized
The default specific speeds are defined in the file QuadrantCurvesPredefined.txt - this file should not be edited, but could be used as an example to understand the format required for your custom characteristic curve.
Note: in versions 10.01.01.04 and earlier, upgrading to a new version would result in the quadrantcurves.txt file being removed and replaced with the default blank file (losing any changes). This has been resolved starting with version 10.02.00.43 (reference # 764788) - when installing this version (or newer), any existing quadrantcurves.txt file in your previous HAMMER installation will be retained. Be sure to install the newer version to the same folder as the previous.
Comprehensive details on adding your custom four-quadrant curve can be found in the HAMMER Help documentation, in the topic Creating Models > Elements and Element Attributes > "Pump and Turbine Characteristics in HAMMER"
Pump specific speeds are defined under the [PUMPS] section. There are several different formats that can be defined, primarily Circular and Suter.
For the circular format, the relative values of Q (flow) and N (speed) along lines of 100% head (QH and NH) and 100% torque (QM and NM) are entered at a suitable interval throughout the entire operating range of the pump.
For the Suter format, (described in Fluid Transients (Wylie & Streeter, 1978)), pump characteristic data is presented in terms of two angular functions, WH(x) and WB(x). The details are documented in the aforementioned Help topic.
Turbine specific speeds are defined under the [TURBINES] section. The format is similar to the pump "Circular" format, but there is a characteristic curve for each position of the wicket gate. So, it is often difficult to find enough information to construct a custom turbine characteristic curve in HAMMER.
Turbines in HAMMER are always expected to operate in the first quadrant of operation (positive flow and positive speed).
You can use these equations to help calculate the required data. Note, the rated data for the full-scale turbine, with diameter D (m), are denoted below by the subscript R.
First, find the rated values NR (rpm) and HR (m) for your turbine, along with the unit values N11R, Q11R and M11R.
Solving the unit formulae for head (H), flow (Q), and torque (M), you obtain:
H = D2 (N / N11 )2 (m)
Q = D3 Q11 N / N11 (m3 /s)
M = D5 M11 (N / N11)2 (N m)
Which can be used to calculate QR and MR
Then, the rated output power PR and efficiency ηR are estimated as:
PR = (p / 30) NR MR (W)
ηR = PR / (10-3 ρ g QR HR) - where ρ is fluid density and g is acceleration due to gravity
while the specific speed, NS, of the unit is:
NS = NR PR0.5 / HR1.25 (kW0.5 /m1.25)
Finally, for constant speed:
H% = 100 H / HR = 100 (N11R / N11)2
Q% = 100 Q / QR = 100 Q11 N11R / (Q11R N11)
P% = M% =100 M / MR = 100 M11 N11R2/ (M11R N112)
The unit formulae are generally applicable. To work out, say, QR you need to use Q11R, NR and N11R
Estimating the Specific Speed of a Pump or Turbine
Source of the default Specific Speed for pumps and turbines
Custom quadrant curve not being recognized
How to add comments on custom pump and turbine quadrant curves