Technical Paper

Practical Guidance on Modeling Pumps Under Transient Conditions

Aug 13, 2026

1 minute read

Trey Walters, P.E.
Trey Walters is currently Principal, R&D, Engineering Software at Datacor. He previously founded Applied Flow Technology which is now part of Datacor. He has developed simulation software for pipe flow, system optimization, slurries, waterhammer, and pulsation modeling. He has 40 years of experience in thermal/fluid system engineering and has consulted in numerous industries including power, municipal water, oil & gas and chemicals. He holds both a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He sits on several standards committees of the Hydraulic Institute and is Chairman of their Waterhammer Committee, and he is a Fellow of the ASME.

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Trey W. Walters, P.E., Datacor, Inc.(formerly Applied Flow Technology) - presented at the Proceeding of the ASME 2026 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference PVP2026, July 19-24,2026, Anaheim California

Abstract:

There are two common methods of modeling centrifugal pumps during waterhammer transients. One is focused on normal pump operation in the first quadrant, and the other on abnormal pump operation in all four quadrants. The first relies on manufacturer data and is more accurate. The second relies on data derived from other pump tests and is less accurate. Both methods are described, the inaccuracies and limitations of each method are detailed, and guidance is given on which model is preferred in various potential circumstances. A new, third method is presented which involves careful extrapolation of the first method approach. Industrial case studies are presented to demonstrate each of the three methods and which is preferred.

Keywords: Four-Quadrant, Method of Characteristics, Pumps, Surge, Suter Method, Transient Flow, Waterhammer