Analytical Approach for the Optimal Operation of Pumps in Booster Systems

Booster systems are used to ensure the water supply in multistory buildings, office buildings, and public institutions. The question is how to operate a booster system to achieve optimal power consumption. Usually, the individual pumps of a booster system are identical in construction. However, this analysis investigates the more general case of different pumps. For identical pumps, the answer is simple, easy to implement, and state of the art. Power consumption is minimal when all individual pumps provide the same partial flow rate and thus run at the same rotational speed. In the case of different pumps, the answer is more complex and is provided in this paper.