Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

of SINGAPORE

Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Experiment F2
Flow Measurement in Closed Conduit and Centrifugal Pump
Characteristics

Name

Matric No.

Group

Date of Expt. :

GRADE :

Part I: Flow Measurement in Closed Conduit

Objectives:

To get familiarised with various flow measuring devices, such as venturi meter, orifice
plate, rotameter, etc., for measurement of discharge in closed conduits.
To determine the loss coefficients for the various fittings in the system.

Apparatus:
Smooth bore pipe, rough bore pipe, gradual expansion, sudden contraction, bend, elbows,
diaphragm valve, ball valve, globe valve, needle valve, orifice meter, venturi meter, gate
valve, rotameter, holding vessel and pump.

Theory:
A schematic diagram of the flow measuring apparatus is shown in the attached figure. Water
is pumped from the holding vessel into the piping system. There are three parallel lines. The
first one consists of smooth bore pipe, rough bore pipe, gradual expansion, sudden
contraction, bend and elbows. This line can be closed or opened by the control of a gate valve.
The second one consists of a diaphragm valve, ball valve, globe valve and needle valve. The
third one consists of orifice meter and venturi meter. The closure and open of this line is
controlled by a gate valve. The combined flow passed through a rotameter and then flow back
to the holding vessel.
The loss coefficient, K is defined by the following expression.
P
V2
(1)
=K
2

where P is the pressure drop, is the density of fluid and v is the velocity of the fluid. For
a particular device, if the pressure drop and the flow rate are known, then the loss coefficient
may be obtained very easily.

Experimental Procedure
Before starting the pump, ensure that the bypass is opened. Switch on the power for the
digital pressure gauge and the pump. Open the isolation valve for line 1 and close lines 2 and
3. Close the bypass valve partially, and adjust the knob of the rotameter to set a desired
flowrate. Take the reading for all the pressure tap points in line 1. Vary the flowrate to make
at least 3 different runs. Try to cover the entire range of the flowrate. Repeat the same
procedure for line 2 (with lines 1 and 3 closed) and line 3 (with lines 1 and 2 closed).
Open all three lines and take pressure readings for one of fittings in each line for at least 3
different flow rates on the rotameter.

Tabulation and Calculations

ID of rough bore pipe =
ID of smooth bore pipe =
ID of sudden contraction pipe =
ID of line 2 pipe =
ID of orifice meter =
ID of venturi meter =
Plot the curves for pressure drop versus flow rate.
Determine the loss coefficient for all the devices at different flow rates.

Results and Discussions

1. Comment on the results and relative advantages and disadvantages of the various
discharge measuring devices.
2. Comment on the head losses associated with the various devices.
3. Find the individual flow rates in each line when all three lines are opened.

References
1. Gerhart, PM & Gross, RJ, "Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics", Addison-Wesley.
2. Munson, BR, Young, DF & Okiishi, TH, "Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics", John Wiley
& Sons.

Part II: Centrifugal Pump Characteristics

Objectives:

To determine the performance curves of the pump.

Apparatus:
TQ H47 Centrifugal Pump Test Unit.

Theory:
Pump Performance Curve
The operation of a centrifugal pump can be studied by considering the angular momentum of
the fluid. With sufficient number of blades, it is reasonable to assume that the fluid flows in
and out of the impeller with a relative velocity tangential to the blades. The velocity triangles
for the fluid particles entering and leaving the impeller are shown in Fig. 1.
The angular momentum of the fluid entering and leaving the impeller are:
Hi = r1 m (u1 cos 1)
and
respectively
Ho = r2 m (u2 cos 2)
where
m : mass of fluid flowing through the impeller
u1 : the fluid velocity at the impeller inlet
u2 : the fluid velocity at the impeller outlet
1 : the angle between u1 and the tangential direction at the blade
2 : the angle between u2 and the tangential direction at the blade
The torque acting on the fluid, is equal to the time rate of change of angular momentum of
the fluid:
= Ho - Hi
= m (r2 u2 cos 2 - r1 u1 cos 1)
The power required is:
P=
= m (r2 u2 cos 2 - r1 u1 cos 1)
where is the (angular speed) rotational speed of the impeller
The fluid output power:
Pf = m g h
where h is the theoretical head of the fluid.
Compare P with Pf :
h = 1/g x (r2 u2 cos 2 - r1 u1 cos 1) (Euler Equation)
This head equation can be simplified further with the additional assumption that there is no
prerotation of the fluid at the impeller inlet, as r1= 0:
h = r2 u2 cos 2 / g
(1)

From the velocity triangle at the outlet of the impeller

u2 cos 2 = ut2 - ur2 / tan (2)
and since ur2 is directly proportional to the flow rate Q,
u2 cos 2 = ut2 - C Q
where C is a constant for the pump
Combining (1) and (2):
h = r2 (ut2 - C Q) / g

(2)

(3)

A plot of equation (3) (Euler Line) as shown in Figure 2 shows a linear relationship between
H and Q. However the actual characteristic curve of the centrifugal pump shows a sharper
decline of the head H over the increase of flow rate Q due to the following factors:
1) Prerotation of fluid on entering the impeller
2) Interblade rotation of the fluid
3) Losses at entrance of the impeller and in the subsequent diffusing process
4) Leakage through the impeller
Experimental Procedure:
Make sure the reservoir is filled with clean water. Fully open the control valves at discharge
side and the suction side of the pump. Turn on the main power switch. Start the pump motor
and run it to maximum speed. Use the bleed line to bleed all pressure gauges. Adjust the
motor to 3000 rpm. Control the flow of the pump by gradually closing the control valve at
discharge side. Take readings of the measured values for at least five different flow rates.
Repeat above steps with two more pump speeds.

Tabulation and Calculation

Measured Values:
Pump Speed, (rev/min)
Power input W1
Pump inlet (suction) pressure P2
Pump outlet (discharge) pressure P3
Venturi pressure difference P1
Calculated Values:
Pump Head H
Flow rate Q
Hydraulic Power W2
Pump Efficiency = W2/W1
Results and Discussions
For each trial (i.e. each pump speed), plot total head against pump delivery for each test point.
Mark the efficiency of the pump at each test point. Connect the neighbouring points of equal
efficiency with smooth curves. (The final characteristic curves of the pump should be similar
to the graph as shown in Figure 3.)

References
1. McCabe, W.L, Smith J.C and Harriot .P., Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering,
McGraw-Hill, Sixth Edition 2000
2. Perry, R.H., et al., Perry's Chemical Engineers Handbook, 6th ed. New York, McGraw-Hill,
1984.