What is Runout?
Runout is the maximum flow a pump can produce.
When a pump manufacturer publishes a pump performance curve it is typically cut off at some point beyond the pump’s allowable operating range (AOR). The point at which the published pump curve ends is referred to as runout.
The AOR is established to provide a range of operating conditions at which the pump may be continuously operated. However, as flow moves away from the pump’s best efficiency point (BEP) pump performance begins to deteriorate and this deterioration is evidenced by increased vibration and reduced efficiency. At some point operation deteriorates to the point that further increase in flow could rapidly damage the pump. This is the pump’s runout point, and operation beyond this point should be avoided.