PumpToolkit Update

Pump Curve Digitizer: Turning Pump Curves into Usable Engineering Data

Pump performance curves are often available only as PDF datasheets or image-based charts. That is sufficient for visual review, but not for calculations, comparison, interpolation or reuse in engineering documents. PumpToolkit now includes a dedicated Pump Curve Digitizer as a separate beta tool.

Why pump curves still need to be digitized

Manufacturers commonly provide Q–H, efficiency, power and NPSHr information as plotted curves rather than structured data. Engineers then have to estimate values manually, recreate a curve in a spreadsheet or request source data from the supplier. This is slow and introduces avoidable transcription errors.

A digitizer converts selected points from the original chart into numerical flow and performance data. Once the axes are calibrated, each clicked point can be translated into engineering units and exported for further use.

One chart, several performance curves

The PumpToolkit digitizer is designed around a typical manufacturer performance chart. One uploaded image may contain all relevant curves or only some of them. The same source chart can be used to digitize:

• Q–H or head curve,
• efficiency curve,
• NPSHr curve,
• power consumption curve.

Each curve is calibrated separately because the chart may use different vertical axes, scales and units. The horizontal flow axis can still remain common across the full performance chart.

Expected engineering workflow

1. Upload one pump performance chart.
2. Select the curve type.
3. Calibrate the flow and value axes.
4. Zoom into the chart and click along the selected curve.
5. Repeat the process for the remaining curves present in the same image.
6. Enter the rated flow to interpolate head, efficiency, power and NPSHr.
7. Export numerical data or generate a clean pump curve report.

Two different report outputs

The beta tool provides two separate outputs because they serve different purposes.

Clean pump curve report

This output is intended for presentation and project documentation. The Q–H curve receives the largest area. Efficiency, power and NPSHr are arranged below it at the same width but with a smaller height. The report highlights the rated operating point and lists the interpolated performance values without showing every source click.

Full digitization report

The full report includes the recreated curves, rated duty point and complete tables of the digitized source points. This makes the result easier to review, check and archive.

Typical applications

Digitized pump curves can support pump comparison, retrofit studies, preliminary system checks, operating-point evaluation, affinity-law calculations and preparation of project documentation. The output remains an engineering aid rather than a replacement for certified manufacturer data.

What the current beta version includes

• one uploaded image containing multiple performance curves,
• zoom and pan for accurate point selection,
• separate calibration for Q–H, efficiency, power and NPSHr,
• CSV export of digitized data,
• clean A4 pump curve report,
• full report with source-point tables,
• automatic interpolation at rated flow.

The digitizer is released as a beta feature so that its workflow, report layout and curve-processing logic can be refined using real pump datasheets.