CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004

Single, Series, and Parallel Pumps

Theory
Introduction:
Whereas turbines convert fuid ener!" into mechanica ener!", pumps convert mechanica ener!"
into fuid ener!", increasin! the ener!" possessed b" the fuid# $here are t%o main pump t"pes&
positive dispacement pumps'pistons, pun!ers, diaphra!ms, vanes, scre%s, obes, %hich have a
fi(ed fo% rate per stro)e or revoution* and turbo+h"drauic or )inetic pumps'centrifu!a
pumps, %hich convert fuid )inetic ener!" into static pressure ener!"#
,ethod of -peration
.n 1730, /emour demonstrated that %hen rotatin! a $ formation pipe %ith bottom end
submer!ed in a i0uid and primed'oaded %ith the i0uid, the centrifu!a force ifts the i0uid
and dischar!es it throu!h the arms %hen the centrifu!a force is !reater than the !ravitationa
force# $oda", the desi!n of a centrifu!a pump has the %ater enterin! the o%+pressure center of
the impeer# $he vanes then ead the %ater to the hi!her+pressure re!ion to the casin!# $he
casin! is desi!ned %ith a !radua" e(pandin! spira shape so that minimum oss occurs in the
transformation of )inetic ener!" to pressure ener!"# $he pump receives the %ater at a o%
veocit" on the interior ed!e of the set of movin! impeer vanes and dischar!es it from the outer
ed!e %ith )inetic ener!" sufficient to raise it to a desired hei!ht* and throu!h the !radua"
e(pandin! spira passa!e transforms the )inetic ener!" into pressure ener!"#

$he 12erformance Characteristics1 of a pump at a fi(ed speed are represented b" the foo%in!
!raphica reationships&
$ota 3ead 4325 versus /ischar!e 465
2o%er .nput 425 versus /ischar!e 465
Efficienc" 4 75 versus /ischar!e 465
$his ab e(amines the head8fo% rate and efficienc"8fo% rate reationships# 2ump characteristics
or performance curves are created %hen the head deivered b" a pump 4or pumps5 is potted
a!ainst the fo% rate# $hese curves represent the behavior of a !iven si9e pump 4or pumps5
operatin! at a !iven speed and are important toos in pump seection# :enera", the hi!her the
fo% rate, the o%er the head that the pump can contribute# ;dditiona", pumps are used to ift
+ 1 +
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
%ater up or to increase the ener!" so that the %ater can trave farther# $his ab determines the
head8fo% characteristics of centrifu!a pumps operatin! at a sin!e speed& a sin!e centrifu!a
pump, t%o simiar centrifu!a pumps operatin! in parae and in series#
<eca the tota head is the difference bet%een the tota ener!" head at the outet and the tota
ener!" head at the inet 4ne!ectin! the sma differences in veocit" heads5# ;s sho%n be the
foo%in! e0uation&
L P
H H z
g
V
g
p
z
g
V
g
p
=

+ +

+ +
1
2
1 1
2
2
2 2
2 2
%here subscripts 1 and 2 refer to inet and outet sections# p
H
is the pressure head produced b"
the pump and
L
H is the ener!" oss due to friction and pipe fittin!s# =" conservation of mass,
V1 = V2 if the pipe diameters are e0ua at the inet and outet sections#
$he incomin! pressure is read on the compound !au!e at the pump inet# ;fter the %ater fo%s
throu!h the pump, it traves up 0#> meters 4assumin! the pump is paced on the foor5 to the
manifod !au!e# $he pressure at the manifod is read on the manifod !au!e# 3o%ever, the
pressure head at the manifod is 0#> meters ess than the pressure head at the e(it of the pump#
$herefore, the tota head is determined b" addin! the manifod pressure head to the datum
correction and subtractin! the inet pressure head# $his shoud be appro(imate" the same as
subtractin! the inet pressure head from the outet pressure head 4verif" that this is the case for
the sin!e pump5#
$ota 3ead& 32 ? 4pressure head increased b" the pump5
$ota 3ead -utet& 32 ? 4pressure head at pump outet + pressure head at pump inet5
? 4outet pressure85 @ 4inet pressure85
$ota 3ead ,anifod& 32 ? 4Amanifod pressure head B datum correctionC + inet pressure headC5
? DA4manifod pressure8) B datum correctionC + 4inet pressure85E
Fin!e pump& 6out 6in ?6out
6in hpump ? h%ater
Pumps in Parallel:
When t%o or more simiar pumps are connected in parae, the head across each pump is the
same and the tota fo% rate is shared e0ua" bet%een the pumps, 628n, %here n is the number of
pumps in parae# Gor identica pumps in parae, the pressures at the t%o inets and outets are
identica and the ma(imum head the t%o pumps can deiver is no !reater than for a sin!e pump#
$heoretica", the fo% rate is doubed, athou!h in practice, this %i not occur, due to osses in
the pipin! s"stems#
$ota head 4usin! outlet, not manifold5 is determined the in the same manner as for the sin!e
pump#
$he theoretica curve for the parae pump confi!uration is obtained from the sin!e pump data
+ 2 +
;
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
b" mutip"in! the fo% rate b" t%o#
Gor theoretical parae pump curve, pot& 3p4sin!e pump5 vs# 2H64sin!e pump5
2arae 2umps& n? 2 pumps
6$ hpump; ? hpump= ? h%ater
6; B 6= ? 6$ota
Fince the head oss across the parae pumps is e0ua, the pump curve derived for each shoud be
the same#
Gor the experimental parae pump curves, pot& 3p4pump i5 vs# 6 %here i ? 1 or 2
Pumps in Series:
When t%o or more simiar pumps are connected in series, the same fo% rate passes throu!h each
pump and under !oes a head boost of tota head divided b" number of pumps, 328n# $herefore,
the series confi!uration of t%o identica pipes provides a pump characteristic of t%ice the head as
for a sin!e pump# Gor series pumps, the tota head can be computed as foo%s&
$ota 3ead& 32 ? 4pressure head at pump 2 outet + pressure head at pump 1 inet5
? D4outet 2 pressure85 @ 4inet 1 pressure85E
Gor the experimental series pump curve, pot& 3p vs# 6
$he theoretica curve for the series pump confi!uration is obtained from the sin!e pump data b"
mutip"in! the head b" t%o# $his doubed head is potted %ith the measured fo% rate#
To get the theoretical series pump curve, plot: 2HP!single pump" vs# $!single pump"
%eries pumps:
n ? 2 pumps
6out 6in ? 6out ? 6tota
6in ; = hpump; B hpump= ? h%ater
Pump Efficiency
Gor a pump, the efficienc" is defined as
= Po/Pi
%here Po ? po%er out from the pump ? po%er imparted to the fuid
? *Q*Hp ? DN8m
3
EHDm
3
8sEHDmE ? DN+m8sE ? DI8sE ? DWE
Pi ? po%er input to the pump shaft ? po%er output from the motor ? DWE
+ 3 +
6
;
6
=
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
-utput po%er is determined e(perimenta"# .nput po%er shoud be !iven in the manufacturerJs
specifications for the pump# Gor the pumps used in this ab, 2i ? 0#37 )W ? 370 W#
;n important obKective %hen seectin! a pump for an en!ineerin! s"stem is ma(imi9in! the
efficienc" for the desired fo% conditions#
!perimental Procedure
Purpose:
/etermine the head8fo% characteristics of centrifu!a pumps operatin! at a sin!e speed& a sin!e
centrifu!a pump, t%o simiar centrifu!a pumps operatin! in parae and in series#
"uipment:
3"drauics bench, t%o au(iiar" centrifu!a pumps, dischar!e manifod, appropriate hoses and
connectors, !raduated c"inder, and stop%atch#
#$T:
%or this la&, it is important to emphasi'e the need to turn o(( the pumps &e(ore any hoses
are disconnected) .f other e(periments are bein! performed at the same time, it can be difficut
to hear the motor4s5#
Procedure:
1# Ftradde the manifod boc) across the channe of the bench# ,a)e sure the outet is pourin!
into the stiin! basin for correct measurement of fo% rate#
2# $he au(iiar" pump shoud be paced on the foor, %hich is important for the datum
correction, and connected to the bench %ith the appropriate hoses as foo%s&
3# Girst set up for the F.N:LE 2U,2&
i# $he sin!e pump receives its %ater direct" from the sump# $he sump drain outet is
ocated ne(t to the buit+in bench pump# ; hose shoud e(tend bet%een the sump and
the au(iiar" pump# $he hose is attached to both the sump outet and the au(iiar"
pump inet# Ne(t, a hose continues from the au(iiar" pump to the manifod# ,a)e sure
manifod outet drains do%n into h"drauic bench for %ater coection# Gi!ure 1 sho%s
the proper pipin! connections#
+ 4 +
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
Gi!ure 1# Fin!e 2ump -peration
ii# ;fter the connections are made open the sump drain vave# Cose the dischar!e contro
vave on the manifod* turn on the au(iiar" pump, then compete" open the dischar!e
contro vave# $urn on on" the au(iiar" pump, not the h"drauic bench# Water shoud
fo% out the manifod# .f %ater is not emitted, chec) that&
a5 the au(iiar" pump is pu!!ed in*
b5 the sump vave is open*
c5 the dischar!e manifod contro vave is open*
d5 the sump has sufficient %ater#
iii# Fo%" cose the fo% contro )nob to obtain manifod pressure readin!s#
iv# <ecord inet pressure 4compound !au!e5 and outet pressure 4pump5 usin! !au!es#
<ecord the fo% rate usin! the !raduated c"inder and stop%atch#
v# .f the sump drain vave is not fu" open, inet pressure %i fa o% enou!h to %here
cavitation can occur# Cavitation %i be mar)ed b" a oud noise and a sharp decrease in
pump performance# $o avoid cavitation, ma)e sure sump drain vave is fu" open#
vi# $urn off pump motor after a readin!s have been ta)en#
4# Ne(t %eJ set up for the FE<.EF 2U,2F#
i# Cose the sump drain vave# /isconnect the hose from the manifod# Connect this hose
to the inet of the second pump# ;ttach a hose from the outet of the second pump to the
manifod#
ii# ;fter the connections are made, cose the dischar!e contro vave, turn on both pumps,
and then compete" open the dischar!e contro vave# Water shoud fo% out the
manifod#
iii# Fo%" cose the fo% contro )nob to obtain manifod pressure readin!s#
iv# Usin! the appropriate !a!es, record the outet pressure for pump 2 and the inet pressure
+ M +
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
for pump 1# <ecord the fo% rate usin! the voumetric tan) and a stop%atch#
v# $urn off both pumps and cose the sump drain vave %hen a readin!s have been ta)en#
M# Gina", set up for the 2;<;LLEL 2U,2F#
i# /isconnect a hoses, bein! carefu not to spi %ater ever"%here# <e+connect t%o
au(iiar" pumps in a parae confi!uration as sho%n in instructed b" the $;#
ii# ;fter the connections are made open the sump drain vave# $urn on on" pump 1# Water
shoud fo% out the manifod# Ne(t, turn off pump 1 and turn on pump 2# ;!ain, %ater
shoud fo% out the manifod# No% the pumps shoud be primed# Cose the dischar!e
contro vave* turn on both pumps, then compete" open the dischar!e contro vave#
Chec) outet pressure !a!es on pumps to ensure e0ua fo% is movin! throu!h each#
iii# Fo%" cose the fo% contro )nob to obtain manifod pressure readin!s#
iv# <ecord inet and outet pressures for both pumps usin! the !au!es# <ecord the fo% rate
usin! the voumetric tan) and a stop%atch# $urn off both pumps, cose sump drain vave,
and disconnect hoses# <eturn pumps and hoses to .$LL modue room#
+ N +
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
*ata Ta&les
Table 1. Single Pump
+ani(old
Pressure
$utlet
Pressure
Inlet
Pressure
Height
,orrection
Total
Head
+ani(old
Total
Head
$utlet
-olume Time
%lo.
/ate
0nits 1psi2 1m2 1s2
1 N 0#>
2 O 0#>
3 12 0#>
4 1M 0#>
M 1> 0#>
N 21 0#>
Table 2. Series Pumps
+ani(old
Pressure
Pump 2
$utlet
Pressure
Pump 1
Inlet
Pressure
Total Head
$utlet
-olume Time
%lo.
/ate
0nits 1psi2 1s2
1 O
2 1M
3 21
4 27
M 33
N 3O
7 4M
> M1
O M7
+ 7 +
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
Table 3. Parallel Pumps
+ani(old
Pressure
Pump 1
$utlet
Pressure
Pump 1
Inlet
Pressure
Pump 2
$utlet
Pressure
Pump 2
Inlet
Pressure
Total
Head
$utlet 1
Total
Head
$utlet 2
-olume Time
%lo.
/ate
0nits 1psi2 1s2
1 14
2 1N
3 1>
4 20
M 22
Table 4. Single Pump Efficiency
Pi Po
0nits 132 132 13/32 142
1 370
2 370
3 370
4 370
M 370
N 370
+ > +
CVEN 3323 Updated November 17, 2004
/esults and Questions
1# Gi in the tabes on the data sheet for each pump confi!uration# UFE C-NF.F$EN$ UN.$F# Gor
the single pump, discuss the reationship bet%een the tota head determined b" the outet pressure
!a!e and the tota head determined b" the manifod pressure B datum correction# E(pain an"
differences#
2# 2ot the $ota 3ead -utet vs# Go% <ate for the sin!e pump, parae pumps, and series pumps on
the same !raph# 4:raph 15
3# Gor the parae pumps, pot the e(perimenta and theoretica $ota 3ead vs# Go% <ate curves on
the same !raph# 4:raph 25
4# Comment on the fo% rates obtained on :raph 2# What are some reasons that fo% rates do not
increase in proportion to the number of pumps usedP
M# Gor the series pumps, pot the e(perimenta and theoretica $ota 3ead vs# Go% <ate curves on the
same !raph# 4:raph 35
N# /oes the head from the e(perimenta series pump !raph in :raph 3 increase e(act" b" a factor of
t%oP /iscuss#
7# Gor the single pump, pot both the $ota 3ead -utet vs# Go% <ate and the Efficienc" 4as percent5
vs# Go% <ate on the same !raph# 4:raph 45
># Grom this !raph 4:raph 45, estimate the desired operatin! fo% rate for the sin!e pump#
+ O +