ME2135-1 CHARACTERISITICS OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

Parallel Pumps

Semester 4

2015/2016

Department of Mechanical Engineering

National University of Singapore

CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(i)

LIST OF DEFINITIONS AND SYMBOLS

(ii)

INTRODUCTION

DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT

BASIC THEORY OF PUMP

PROCEDURE

REFERENCES

LIST OF DEFINITIONS AND SYMBOLS

diameter of pump (= 0.16m)

acceleration due to gravity (= 9.81 m/s2)

pump head in column of water (m)

Mg

weight used to balance the torque arm (N)

rotational speed of pump (r.p.s)

Ps

shaft power of pump (kW)

PW

water power (output power) of pump (kW)

flow rate through pump (m3/s)

length of the torque arm (= 0.12m)

Re

Reynolds number = D2N/

input torque to pump (Nm)

Vd

discharge velocity of pump (m/s)

efficiency of pump = Pw/Ps

dynamic viscosity (Ns/m2)

density of water (kg/m3)

CH = head coefficient of pump = gH/(ND)2

CQ =

flow coefficient of pump = Q/ND3

INTRODUCTION
Pumps have come to occupy an important place in a large number of industries which have
different requirements. Attempt to meet the needs of industries has resulted in the design
and development of various types of pumps. To match a pump for a particular application
and to use a pump effectively, it is necessary to know the pump characteristics. In this
experiment, students are exposed to the method of determination of pump characteristics,
which is similar for all types of pumps. The experiment is conducted using a parallelseries centrifugal pump test rig.
Purpose
a)

To determine the pump characteristics H versus Q, P, versus Q, and versus Q at

a given speed.

b)

To verify speed laws Q N and H N2 for the same pump.

Scope
This experiment demonstrates the method used for the determination of the characteristics
of a pump and the way the graphs are plotted to illustrate the pump characteristics. The
speed laws show how the pump characteristics are predicted at different speeds of
operation, knowing the characteristics at one particular speed. The use of the test-rig,
helps the student to familiarize himself with the operation of pumps.

DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT
The test-rig is the HP 309 Parallel and Series Pumps test set (Figure 1), which is shown
schematically in Figure 2 is a self contained unit for studying the series and parallel pump
characteristics. The unit consists of two sets of centrifugal pump and motor, a storage tank
and measuring instruments. Flow control is achieved via a set of pipes with valves to
operate the two pumps individually, in series or in parallel. By manipulating flow control
valves, each pump can be operated individually or both pump connected in series or
parallel. Speed control is by two advanced inverters for controlling and indicating motor
speed as well as for calculating motor torque and power. In the pipe circuit the flow
measuring devices is the digital flow meter. The head across the pump is measured using
the pressure gauges at suction and discharge pipe section. The input power to the electric
motor is measured by balancing the torque arm attached to the stator which develops an
equal and opposite torque to that of the rotor. The electric motor has operating speed
range of 0 to 2900 rpm.

BASIC THEORY OF PUMP

It is well known that the following variables significantly affect the performance of
constant-shape pumps.
D
Q

N
g
H

or

impeller diameter
volume flow rate
density of fluid
rotational speed
gravitational acceleration
head across the pump
dynamic viscosity of fluid

f (D, Q, , N, g, H, ) = 0

From the above variables, it can be shown by dimensional analysis using Buckingham
Theorem that:

CH=
CQ=
Neglecting the Reynolds number (Re) effect, one parameter law for a geometrically
similar pump is obtained. For such pumps:

For the same pump:

PROCEDURE
Performance test of Pump 1 and Pump 2 in Parallel Connection
1. Ensure that valves V5 and V9 are close and all other valves are open.
2. Turn on the power circuit breaker of both pumps. All measuring devices such as

suction pressure, discharge pressure, flow rate, pump rotation speed and torque, should
read 0.
3. Turn on both inverters pumps by pushing Run Key to Run and slowly adjust the

inverter up and down key to set the pump speed to 2900 rpm for both pumps. Then
close the discharge valve V6 to increase the pump outlet pressure (P5) to 100 kPa
approximately.
4.

Record the following data: pump speed of both pumps (rpm), suction pressure P1 and
P3 (kPa), discharge pressure P5 (kPa), flow rate (lpm) and torque of both pumps (Nm).
(P4 and P2 should be approximately the same as P5)

5. Repeat the experiment with the regulating valve V6 at five other valve settings for

the same speed. This is achieved by turning valve 6 in close direction to further
increase the outlet pressure at equal increments until maximum pressure is attained.
The final reading is taken with the valve V6 fully closed.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 6 at pump speed of 2000 rpm.
7. Plot the head versus flow curve as the experiment is conducted. Make sure all

experimental points lie on a smooth curve and they are evenly spaced between fully
opened and closed valve settings.
8. After completion of the test, turn both speed adjusting knobs to 0 and then turn off

ELCB at the upper control box, power circuit breaker pump 1 and 2, and then the main
ELCB respectively.

COMPUTATION OF RESULTS
1)

Using the pressure gauges:

P Pout Pin x

98066.5 N / m 2
(P in N/m2)
2
1 kgf cm

where P = g H
2)

Input power (Ps) is the power of the motor measured by the dynamometer
Ps = T
= (M g R).(2 N / 60)

3)

Output power (Pw) is the power of the flowing fluid

Pw = gH.Q
= P.Q

4)

Pump efficiency is defined as:

=

Pw
x100
Ps

PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
a)

Graph 1 - Plot H(m), Ps (kW) and versus Q (m3/s) for both speeds of the pump.

b)

Graph 2 - Plot versus for both speeds and verify the performance law of a
fluid machinery.

c)

Graph 3 - Plot H (m) vs Q (m3/s) for both speeds and verify speed law by
predicting one curve from the other.

d)

Discuss the results and conclude.

References:
1.

Agrawal, R.K., Fluid Mechanics and Machinery, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.,
1997.

2.

Debler, W.R., Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals, Prentice Hall, 1990.

3.

Douglas, J.F., Gasiorek, J.M. and Swaffield, J.A., Fluid Mechanics, 3rd Edition, Longman,
1995.

4.

Hicks, T.G. and Edwards, T.W., Pump Application Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 1971.

5.

Streeter, V.L., Benjamin Wylie, E. and Bedford, K. W., Fluid Mechanics, , 9th Edition,
McGraw-Hill, 1998.

6.

White, F.M., Fluid Mechanics, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Figure 1. HP 309 Series and Parallel Pumps Test Set

P5
Flow meter

V9

V2

V4

P4

P2

P3

V5

V6

V3

P1
V1

Pump 1
Measuring
Tank

Pump 2

V7
Over flow

Strainer

V8

Figure 2. Isometric Piping System of the Test Unit for Parallel Pumps

Storage Tank

ME 2135-1 Centrifugal Pump Experiment - Work Sheet Pump 1

N1 =

(rpm) =

Experiment Date: ____________

Workgroup: ____________

(rad/s)

(Note: Pump speed N should be maintained constant for different valve settings)

Valve
Setting
Fully Open

M (kg)

Suction Pressure,
Pin (kgf/cm2)

Discharge
Pressure, Pout
(kgf/cm2)

Pressure Head
(kgf/cm2)

Volume Flow Rate,

Q, m3/hr

Input Shaft Power,

Ps, (KW)

Output Power,
Pw, (KW)

Efficiency,
, (%)

Output Power,
Pw, (KW)

Efficiency,
, (%)

Fully Close
N2 =

(rpm) =

(rad/s)

(Note: Pump speed N should be maintained constant for different valve settings)

Valve
Setting
Fully Open

M (kg)

Suction Pressure,
Pin (kgf/cm2)

Discharge
Pressure, Pout
(kgf/cm2)

Pressure
Head (kgf/cm2)

Volume Flow Rate,

Q, m3/hr

Fully Close
Input Power :
Output Power :
Unit Conversion:

Ps = MgRN (N in rad/s)
Pw = wgH.Q (H in m)
2

1 kgf/cm = 98066.5 N/m (Pa)

Torque Arm Length, R =

Impeller Diameter, D =

Input Shaft Power,

Ps, (KW)

ME 2135-1 Centrifugal Pump Experiment - Work Sheet Pump 2

N1 =

(rpm) =

Experiment Date: ____________

Workgroup: ____________

(rad/s)

(Note: Pump speed N should be maintained constant for different valve settings)

Valve
Setting
Fully Open

M (kg)

Suction Pressure,
Pin (kgf/cm2)

Discharge
Pressure, Pout
(kgf/cm2)

Pressure Head
(kgf/cm2)

Volume Flow Rate,

Q, m3/hr

Input Shaft Power,

Ps, (KW)

Output Power,
Pw, (KW)

Efficiency,
, (%)

Output Power,
Pw, (KW)

Efficiency,
, (%)

Fully Close
N2 =

(rpm) =

(rad/s)

(Note: Pump speed N should be maintained constant for different valve settings)

Valve
Setting
Fully Open

M (kg)

Suction Pressure,
Pin (kgf/cm2)

Discharge
Pressure, Pout
(kgf/cm2)

Pressure
Head (kgf/cm2)

Volume Flow Rate,

Q, m3/hr

Fully Close
Input Power :
Output Power :
Unit Conversion:

Ps = MgRN (N in rad/s)
Pw = wgH.Q (H in m)
2

1 kgf/cm = 98066.5 N/m (Pa)

Torque Arm Length, R =

Impeller Diameter, D =

Input Shaft Power,

Ps, (KW)