EXPERIMENT 7: PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

Objective: Apparatus:

To study the performance characteristics of single stage centrifugal pump connected in series/parallel. Series/parallel pump test set, hydraulic bench and stopwatch.

Theory: Centrifugal Pump: A centrifugal pump is a rotodynamic pump that uses a rotating impeller to increase the velocity of a fluid. Centrifugal pumps are commonly used to move liquids through a piping system. The fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber, from where it exits into the downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are used for large discharge through smaller heads. Pump Characteristics Curve: single pump: The delivered volumetric flow rate is dependent on the pressure which the pump has to generate within a pipe network. If the required pump pressure is high, the resulting volumetric flow rate will be low and the relationship between both shown in figure 1. Pump connected in series-(Head Added): When two (or more) pumps are arranged in serial their resulting pump performance curve is obtained by adding their heads at the same flow rate as indicated in the figure 2. For two identical pumps in series the head will be twice the head of a single pump at the same flow rate . Pump connected in parallel- (Flow Rate Added): When two or more pumps are arranged in parallel their resulting performance curve is obtained by adding their flowrates at the same head as indicated in the figure 3. For two identical pumps in parallel, and the head is kept constant, the flow rate doubles.

FIGURE 1:SINGLE PUMP

FIGURE 2 :TWO PUMPS IN SERIES

FIGURE 3: TWO PUMPS IN PARALLEL

FIGURE 4: THE APPARATUS ARRANGEMENTS

Pump 2

Procedure: (a) Pump connected in Single pump:

Pump 1

Figure 5 1. The apparatus was setup as shown in Figure 3. 2. The stop-cocks were setup as shown in Figure 3.1 to get the flow for single pump. 3. The water reservoir was filled with water to maximum level. 4. Pump 1 was switched on and pump 2 was switched off. 5. The pressure outflow was set with drain cock(8). 6. Continuous water inflow to reservoir was maintained at fixed level. 7. Psuction , Pdelivery, Poutflow ,and V were measured and recorded. 8. The experiment was repeated with different pressure outflow.

(b) Pump connected in series:

Figure 6 1. The apparatus was setup as shown in Figure 4. 2. The water reservoir was filled with water to maximum level. 3. Pump 1 and pump was switched on. 4. The pressure outflow was set with drain cock(8). 5. Continuous water inflow to reservoir was maintained at fixed level. 6. Psuction 1 , Pdelivery 1, Psuction2, Pdelivery 2 and V were measured and recorded. 7. The experiment was repeated with different pressure outflow. (c) Pump connected in Parallel:

Figure 7 1. The apparatus was setup as shown in Figure 5. 2. The water reservoir was filled with water to maximum level. 3. Pump 1 and pump was switched on. 4. The pressure outflow was set with drain cock(8). 5. Continuous water inflow to reservoir was maintained at fixed level. 6. Psuction 1 , Pdelivery 1, Psuction2, Pdelivery 2 and V were measured and recorded. 7. The experiment was repeated with different pressure outflow.

Results (a) Pump connected in Single pump:

P SUCTION 1 (PS1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

P DELIVERY 1 (PD 1) 2.8 2.4 2 1.6 1.2 0.8 0.4 0

P OUTFLOW (PO) 2.2 1.8 1.4 1.2 0.8 0.2 0 0

VOLUME (V) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

TIME (s) 1.04 0.46 0.38 0.31 0.27 0.2 0.17 0.15

TABLE 1

Total Change in Pressure / Bar

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.4 0

Volumetric Flow, V/ Ls-1

9.615 21.739 26.316 32.258 37.037 50 58.824 66.667

(b) Pump connected in series:

TABLE 2

Total Change in Pressure / Bar1.8 1.4 1 0.8 0.2 0.05 0.4 0

Volumetric Flow, V/ Ls-1

18.868 25 31.25 37.037 43.479 50 52.632 55.556

c) Pump connected in Parallel:

TABLE 3

Total Change in Pressure / Bar0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.25 0 0 0

Volumetric Flow, V/ Ls-1

37.037 52.632 62.5 76.923 99.909 111.111 125 125

PUMP PRESSURE DIFFERENCES VS VOLUMETRIC PUMP.

0 2 1.8 1.6 pump pressure differences (bar) 1.4 single pump 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 series pump paralle lpump 20 40 volumetric flow (L/s) 60 80 100 120 140

FIGURE 5 : GRAPH PUMP PRESSURE DIFFERENCE VS VOLUMETRIC FLOW

DISCUSSION

From the experiments, characteristics of pumps ran at different conditions are observed and drawn in graphs. These characteristics curves are essential in defining the properties of a pump, since only size and shape cannot be sufficient to select a pump for certain purpose. The variation of head available with change in flow rate. With pumps in parallel, it can increase the flow almost twice for the same head delivered, while head delivered can be increased twice by arranging pumps in series. Hence, where a single pump is inappropriate for large flow rate or high head, pumps can be arranged in series and parallel or combination of both to suite our requirement. We see that overall efficiency of the pumps against flow rate. It should be efficiency of pumps in combination is higher than a single pump. Even, efficiency of pumps in series is higher than that in parallel. More closely, we can also see that efficiency of pumps in series is better in lower flow rate, example at higher head delivered and pumps in parallel is better for higher flow rates and low head delivered. As the pumps are connected in series or parallel, the input power to the pumps increases than that of a single pump. In case of field operation to select a particular type of pump or a particular combination of the pump, first of all the characteristics curves, provided by

manufacturer, should be studied carefully and then only it should be used in field. The main aim of the practical was to drawn up the characteristics curve. With the help of characteristics curve and the actual field conditions. We should have to compromise in efficiency for the fulfilment of the actual field condition situations. So the characteristics curve helps to optimize the field conditions and to select a particular type of pump or a combination of pump for a particular site.

The curve on the graph is not smooth as expected. This is due to the errors occur when carrying out the experiment. The person who records the time taken to collect 10 mL of water may not press the button on the right time. The level of water is not constant as it is difficult to maintain the volume to be 10 L. Furthermore, the pointer that reads the water pressure is fluctuating, making it difficult to get accurate reading. Some of the components in the apparatus may not properly functioning as the apparatus is manufactured a very long time ago, not to mention the zero error. By referring to Graph 1, we can see that the curve for pump connected in series is steeper when compared to the curve for single pump and the pressure difference for pump connected in series is higher. This is because when two pumps are connected in series, the pressure difference is twice as the pressure difference for single pump at same flow rate. The water flows from one pump to the other resulting in increase of the pressure difference. Meanwhile, the curve for pump connected in parallel is less steep than the curve for single pump and the volumetric flow rate is higher. This is because when pumps are connected in parallel, the volumetric flow rate is doubled when compared to single pump at same pressure difference. The water flows to the pumps in two different path and meet at one point causing the volumetric flow rate to be increased.

Conclusion Pressure difference to the pump connected in series is higher than the pressure difference for single pump. Meanwhile, the volumetric flow rate of the pump is connected in parallel is higher than the volume flow rate for a single pump. The performance curves and observation are obtained from these experiments is much the same as predicted.

Reference 1) Buku Manual EML 331/2 (2013/2014) 2) Fluid Mechanics Fundamental and Application by Yunus A. Cengel 3) http://www.scribd.com/doc/22278098/Lab-Report-Performance-Characteristics-ofCentrifugal-Pump 4) http://www.scribd.com/doc/22091923/Centrifugal-Pumps