Pump Total Head
Calculator
Results
- Total dynamic head (m)
- 16.7
- Pressure (kPa)
- 163.771055
- Pressure (bar)
- 1.63771
- Hydraulic power (W)
- 163.771055
HVAC and plumbing results
| Total dynamic head (m) | 16.7 |
| Pressure (kPa) | 163.771055 |
| Pressure (bar) | 1.63771 |
| Hydraulic power (W) | 163.771055 |
formula-map diagram
- Total dynamic head (m)
- 16.7
- Pressure (kPa)
- 163.771055
- Pressure (bar)
- 1.63771
- Hydraulic power (W)
- 163.771055
HVAC and plumbing relationship
Formula
H = static lift + friction + fittings= 16.7
Note
This is a simplified model: it applies a standard engineering formula to the numbers you entered. Conversions between BTU/h and kW use the exact factor 1 kW = 3412.142 BTU/h, but every sizing figure is an estimate. Air conditioner sizing uses the common 20 BTU/h per square foot rule of thumb, not a room-by-room load calculation, and it ignores insulation, glazing, orientation, ceiling height, infiltration and local climate. Heating loads use a single volumetric heat-loss factor in W/m³·K rather than a fabric-by-fabric U-value calculation. Air properties are fixed at 1.2 kg/m³ and water at 1000 kg/m³ and 4186 J/kg·K, with no correction for temperature, altitude or glycol. Duct and pipe results use the ideal continuity equation and ignore fittings, bends, roughness and system effect unless you enter those losses yourself. The Hazen-Williams equation is valid only for water in full turbulent flow at ordinary temperatures. Water hammer uses the Joukowsky surge, an upper bound for instant closure. Tank drainage assumes a prismatic tank and steady free discharge. Hot water recovery and condensate figures ignore standing losses and coil bypass. Size real systems with a proper heat-loss survey and have the work checked by a qualified HVAC or plumbing professional.
More in HVAC and plumbing
See all →Frequently asked questions
What does 'total head' mean for a pump?+
Total head is the total equivalent height, expressed in meters or feet of water column, that a pump must overcome — combining the physical elevation change, the friction losses through pipes and fittings, and any pressure the fluid needs at the discharge point.
Why is head expressed as a height rather than a pressure?+
Expressing pump performance in head (a length unit) rather than pressure allows pump curves to be compared independently of the fluid's density — the same pump lifts water and lighter fluids to different actual pressures but to a comparable head value.
What's the difference between static head and friction head?+
Static head is the fixed vertical elevation difference between the pump and the discharge point, which doesn't change with flow rate. Friction head is the additional resistance from pipe walls, fittings, and valves, which increases as flow rate increases.
Why does selecting the right pump depend on more than just the required head?+
A pump must be selected where its performance curve intersects the system's required head at the desired flow rate — a pump that produces enough head at zero flow may not maintain adequate head once friction losses increase with the actual operating flow rate.
What happens if the pump doesn't produce enough total head for the system?+
The pump won't deliver the design flow rate — it will settle at a lower flow rate and head combination where its performance curve matches the system's actual resistance, resulting in reduced water delivery to the highest or farthest points in the system.