Professional Documents
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Summer 2002
Introduction
Consider a centrifugal pump used to deliver a fluid through a pipeline that contains various
fittings and an elevation change. A typical performance curve for the pump is given in Figure 1.
Figure 1 indicates that the head increase, ∆h, across the pump declines as the flow rate, Q,
increases. However the head loss increases with increasing flow (why?) for the piping system
and is typically of the form ∆h = α + βQ 2 for turbulent flow. The constant, α, is a hydrostatic
term and if positive would imply that the fluid is being pumped to a higher elevation. The
constant, β, represents the frictional losses through the system due to the resistance of the pipe
and associated fittings.
In this particular example, there is s stable point of operation, P, where the two curves cross.
Clearly the same flow passes through the pump and piping system, and the head increase
provided by the pump must equal the head loss in the pipeline.
Pump
P
∆h
Head Loss or Increase
Piping System
Q Flow Rate
In addition to exploring the behavior of a centrifugal pump in a piping system, you will also
study frictional losses through pipes, valves and fittings in this experiment.
Equipment
The equipment is a pumping-piping system located in the Unit Operations Laboratory. It allows
flow to be directed through any of six flow paths with different restrictions. Flow is measured
using rotameters, paddle wheel flow meters and/or timed weighings. The pressure drop across a
CHEE 4500
Summer 2002
pipe, valve or fitting is obtained by subtracting direct pressure measurements made before and
after a restriction using an Omega PCL4000 digital pressure calibrator.
Experimental Procedure
Startup:
1. Fill the feed tank about half full of water.
2. Verify the system is leak-free
3. Plug the system in, turn on the pump, and check for proper operation.
4. Clear the system of air bubbles, using appropriate valves. They rise to the clear pipe on top,
and then to the atmosphere through the top valve near the tank. This valve requires periodic
venting.
Data Measurement: You must decide what data to collect to complete the requested tasks
described below.
5. For each flow restriction (pipe, valve, or fitting), set the flow at the desired setting and
measure the pressures before and after the restriction. This procedure will also work for the
pump to measure the pressure rise across the pump for various conditions. Be sure to record
the system flow rate as well as the pressure readings in your data.
6. At several flow rates, verify the flow meter readings by checking the paddle wheel meter and
rotameters using timed weighings.
PA − PB + (hB − hA )( g / g c ) ρ H 2O = PM A − PM B
Thus:
∆P = ( PA − PB ) = ( PM A − PM B ) + (hA − hB )( g / g c ) ρ H 2O
(pressure drop across device) = (difference in meter readings) + (correction for difference in fluid height in clear tube)