Pump sizing and selection calculators
How to size an irrigation pump
Build a duty point from the operating zone, elevation, pressure and losses before comparing pump curves.
Read the worked example
ISO 2858 Endsuction Pump Selection
Pump sizing and selection calculators
From a single bore pump to a multi-duty station, Tenselo takes you from flow and head to a sized, curve-matched pump with NPSH margin, efficiency and running cost — in minutes, not spreadsheets. Built for pump designers, mechanical engineers and installers across the water industry.
Guides & worked examples
Understand the calculation
Follow the inputs, equations and assumptions before working on a project design.
A worked example
Southern Cross STARLINE 150-125-160
ISO 2858 frame · close-coupled
These figures come from the Tenselo engine. Every result Tenselo produces shows the inputs it used and the method behind it, so the work can be checked rather than taken on trust.
Inputs
Duty flow
45.0 L/s
Duty head
32.0 m
Pump speed
Auto (head-based)
Efficiency at BEP
Auto
Results
45 L/s
Duty @ 32 m head
~2900 rpm
2-pole speed
84 %
BEP efficiency
16.8 kW
Absorbed power
18.5 kW
Motor at duty
22 kW
Non-overloading
Why it matters on the job
The duty is met, not approximated
Flow and head are matched against the maker's published curve bands, so the pump you quote actually sits where you need it rather than near enough.
NPSH checked before it cavitates
Available NPSH is worked from the real suction arrangement and compared to the pump's requirement, so a marginal lift is flagged on paper instead of on site.
Motor sized non-overloading
Absorbed power at duty and the non-overloading motor are both shown, so the starter and cable are sized for the pump's whole curve, not just its duty point.
Running cost in the quote
Energy at the duty point over a season turns a cheaper pump into a more expensive one, and the numbers are there before the customer finds out.
Interchange, not lock-in
Equivalent ISO 2858 frames from other makers are shown alongside, so a supply problem does not restart the design.
Curves you can hand over
Pump and system curves are drawn together with the duty marked, in the same PDF report as the selection.
Pump sizing, duty and selection for irrigation pump shops
An irrigation pump shop can use pump sizing and selection software to move from the water-system duty to a reviewable model comparison. Keep the demand, hydraulic losses, pump curve and supplier data connected so the quoted pump is assessed at the intended operating point.
What does an irrigation pump sizing calculator need?
Start with the design flow and total dynamic head. The head calculation should include elevation, pipe and fitting losses, equipment losses and the pressure required at the operating outlet.
What should pump selection software check?
It should place the duty point on the current manufacturer curve and check efficiency, absorbed power, motor size, operating range and NPSH. Low-flow, design and peak cases may each need review.
How can an irrigation pump shop use Tenselo?
An irrigation pump shop can use Tenselo to connect crop or system demand, pipe losses and required pressure to a pump duty, then compare candidate models and prepare a calculation report for review.
Does Tenselo replace manufacturer pump-selection data?
No. Confirm the selected model against current manufacturer curves, motor data, NPSH requirements, installation limits and supplier availability before quoting or ordering equipment.
Can I use the pump sizing and selection calculators now?
The website provides public guides and static worked examples. Apply for an account to run project calculations; new applications require approval.
Choose the pump calculation for the duty
For a house pressure system, use the domestic pump calculator workflow to establish household demand and compare pressure pumps. For a field or orchard, the irrigation pump sizing example builds the duty from the operating zone, elevation, required pressure and losses.
For a general pump-head calculation, use PMP-003 Pump Duty & Power and PMP-006 System Curve in the pump calculator catalogue. Keep the pipe and fitting losses with the flow at which they were calculated. For an off-grid duty, continue to solar pumping after the water demand and hydraulic duty are established.
What is in this category
36 Pumps & Pump Stations calculators
Every calculator in this category, by its reference code. Running them requires an approved Tenselo account with access to the relevant calculators.
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PMP-001 Affinity Laws
Speed change / impeller trim / solve for N2
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PMP-002 Energy Cost / Season
Total $ to pump for a season
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PMP-003 Pump Duty & Power
Pick a task: duty / power / running cost / check pump / convert / operating point
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PMP-004 Pump Specific Speed
Metric specific speed Ns and the impeller type it points to
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PMP-005 Pumps in Parallel/Series
Combine identical pump duty points
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PMP-006 System Curve
H_sys = H_static + K * Q^2
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PMP-007 VSD Energy Savings
Cubic affinity at part speed
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PMP-008 Diesel ISO Pump Set
ISO 2858 pump duty power, diesel engine & running fuel cost
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PMP-009 ISO 2858 End-Suction Pump Selector
Duty, motor kW, BEP eff & ISO 2858 model (Southern Cross STARLINE/SOVEREIGN, Davey ISOspec CM)
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PMP-010 Multistage Pump Selector
Brand-aware vertical multistage / packaged booster station selector: duty point, brand + model, VFD/speed control, NPSH check, manifolds (7 modes)
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PMP-011 NPSH Available
Builds suction friction from flow, pipe, foot valve + fittings
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PMP-012 Pump Cavitation Margin Risk Score
NPSH margin, ratio and cavitation risk with temperature/altitude
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PMP-013 Bore Pump Selector
Bore pump duty, pump & injector selection, drop pipe, tank & BOM -- submersible or deep-well jet
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PMP-014 Borehole Drawdown
Pumping level from specific capacity
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PMP-015 Deepwell Offset
Horizontal deep-well jet pump - offset friction, pipes & venturi pick
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PMP-016 Submersible Bore Pump Cable Voltage Drop
Voltage drop in a long bore drop-cable (AS/NZS 3008)
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PMP-017 Vertical Turbine Pump Column Loss
Column friction + shaft allowance and corrected pump head
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PMP-018 Pump Efficiency from Field Measurements
Actual pump and wire-to-water efficiency from measured flow, head and power
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PMP-019 Pump Performance Degradation
Flow/head/efficiency loss vs original and the extra energy cost
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PMP-020 Pressure-Boosting Pump Station
Tender-ready station spec: pump model per pump, motor, manifold DN, diaphragm tank, control, power (N+1)
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PMP-021 Pump Intake / Wet-Well Hydraulics
Minimum submergence, bell velocity & clearances to avoid vortexing (Hydraulic Institute 9.8)
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PMP-022 Pump Station Header / Manifold Sizing
Header/branch velocity, friction and recommended diameter for multiple pumps
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PMP-023 Pump Station Noise Estimate
Estimated sound level at a receiver and attenuation needed
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PMP-024 Pump Station Redundancy Capacity
Does the station meet demand with pump(s) out of service?
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PMP-025 Pressure Tank Sizing
Fixed-speed & VFD diaphragm tank selection with pre-charge (Grundfos method, AU range)
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PMP-026 Pump Cycle / Cooling
Min cycle time to stay inside motor starts/hr
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PMP-027 Pump Minimum Flow / Bypass Sizing
Minimum continuous flow and the bypass/recycle to protect the pump
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PMP-028 Pump Seal Flush / Cooling Flow
Seal flush flow, velocity and source-pressure margin (API plan guide)
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PMP-029 Pump Start Frequency / Cycling
Starts per hour and the storage volume to avoid short cycling
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PMP-030 Restriction Orifice Plate
Size an orifice plate to burn excess pump head and hold the duty point
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PMP-031 Stock Water Calculator
Livestock daily water demand by class & region -> storage & supply rate
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PMP-032 Aeration Blower Sizing
Air flow + submergence -> blower discharge pressure & power
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PMP-033 Diffuser Selection
Diffuser count, spacing & air flow for a tank
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PMP-034 Hot Water Circulator Pump Selector
Pick a hot-water circulating pump in a few easy steps. New to this? Just answer the plain questions -- the tool works out the flow and head for you and shows which pumps fit, by brand, with the speed setting to use.
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PMP-035 Helical Rotor (Progressive Cavity) Pump Selector
Duty, speed, drive, mandatory relief valve, pipe & series for a PC / eccentric-screw pump
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PMP-036 Air Diaphragm (AODD) Pump Selector
Duty, air supply & consumption, typical curve and an Australian AODD brand comparison
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