Patent ID: 8543245

Claim:
A method of specifying one or more operational parameters for a pumping system, the method comprising: determining a first suction pressure loss profile for a first pump in a pumping system, wherein the first suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the first pump and a pump rate of the first pump; determining a second suction pressure loss profile for a second pump in the pumping system, wherein the second suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the second pump and a pump rate of the second pump; comparing the first suction pressure loss profile with the second suction pressure loss profile; and specifying one or more operational parameters to modify the operation of the pumping system based, at least in part, on the comparison; and controlling one or more of the first pump and the second pump based, at least in part, on the one or more operational parameters.