PERFORMANCE OF A GEAR PUMP

Abstract
The experiment seeks to learn how to determine the Pressure drop and the corresponding Head loss, using
Gear Pump.

Introduction
A pump is a device which is used to move fluids either liquid or gas with the help of mechanical
actions. Certain types of pumps operate with their own mechanisms and consumes mechanical energy for
use in moving the fluid. A positive displacement pump, a type of pump is a pump that makes a fluid move
by trapping a fixed amount and forcing that same volume to the discharge. Positive displacement pumps,
unlike centrifugal pumps can have the same flow at a given speed which translates to it being a constant
flow machines but internal leakages affect the true constant flow rate.
Gear pump is a type of positive displacement pump
which uses the meshing of gears to pump the fluid. As the
gears are rotating, they move separating from the intake
side which makes a vacuum like process and traps the fluid
in the teeth of the gear. The meshing of the gear makes the
fluid move. Clearances must be tightly sealed with a high
quality sealant to avoid the spillage or backflow of water.
Gear pumps are designed for high pressure and can also
pump very viscous fluids. Low viscosity fluids are avoided
to be used with these pumps because it has a greater tendency
of slip through the teeth of gears. Gear pumps tends to be noisy due to their high speed operations.
There are three types of gear pump most common of which is the external gear pump. This pump
is used for hydraulic power applications such as in cranes arms. Another type of gear pump is the internal
gear pump which is used for automotive oil or high viscosity fluids. High precision flow can be achieved
with properly designed gear pumps which leads it to be applied on high precision requirements such as the
gear flow meter and fuel line oil pump in automotive application.
Advantages of gear pumps includes that it can handle a
very wide range of viscosities. It also has less sensitivity to
cavitation compared to centrifugal style pumps. It is
relatively simple to maintain the pump. Disadvantages
includes the pumps limited array of materials of construction
due to tight tolerances required. Abrasive fluid cannot be used
as it will damage the gears in the gear pumps due to its high shear
production. Also if the gears get worn, the whole pump must be
changed because no repair can be done compared to a reciprocating
pump wherein the pump can be repaired by a mechanic. Gear pumps must be controlled
by changing the motor speed and not varying the discharge as it will stall or damage the pump.
Objectives

To get familiarized with the characteristics and operation of the gear pump test set.
To measure the performance, accuracy and efficiency of the reciprocating pump.
To know the scaling relationships and draw the Flow rate vs Head curve.
To measure the pump input, output and overall efficiency at various speed.

Methodology
Materials/Equipment/Apparatuses

Thermometer
Stopwatch
Gear pump test set
Clamp meter

Procedure
1. Prepare the necessary equipment for the experiment.
2. Measure the input voltage using the clamp meter.
3. Determine the hydraulic oils density by measuring its temperature using a thermometer.
4. Fully open the gate valve in the discharge pipe of the pump.
5. Get the flow rate by using a stopwatch and a flowmeter.
6. Slightly close the discharge valve. Note down the various reading on the data sheet. Repeat
procedure for different gate valve openings.

Safety Precautions

Cool the motor with a fan while operating to avoid overheating.

Operate all the controls gently.
Do not use fluids with abrasives or solid particles as it may damage the unit.
Remove hanging accessories before doing the experiment.
Data and Results

Raw Data
Voltage = 220.5 V

Time Current V Temp. Pin Pout P

Trial Observation
(s) (A) (L) (oC) (kgf/cm2) (kgf/cm2) (kgf/cm2)
1 20 1.1 10.30 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
2 20 1.1 10.20 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
3 20 1.1 10.35 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
4 20 1.1 10.35 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
5 20 1.2 10.25 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
6 20 1.2 10.34 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
7 20 1.2 10.80 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
8 20 1.1 10.25 40 0 0.00 0.00 Smooth Gear noise
9 20 1.2 10.35 40 0 0.10 0.10 Noise softens
10 20 1.3 9.70 40 0 1.00 1.00 Noise softens more
11 20 1.5 9.70 40 0 2.10 2.10 Noise softens
12 20 1.6 8.45 40 0 3.00 3.00 Whirring sound
13 20 1.7 5.32 40 0 3.80 3.80 Whirring with whistling-like sound
14 20 1.9 2.28 40 0 4.60 4.60 Smooth whirring sound
15 20 1.9 0.00 40 0 4.75 4.75 Valve is fully closed(no flow)

Processed Data
Voltage = 220.5 V Time = 20 s
Temperature = 40 oC Density = 866.3 kg/m3
Current V Pin Pout P Head
Trial Q (L/s) Pe (W) Pw (W)
(A) (L) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa) (m)
1 1.1 10.30 0 0.00 0.00 0.5150 0.00 242.55 0.00 0.00 %
2 1.1 10.20 0 0.00 0.00 0.5100 0.00 242.55 0.00 0.00 %
3 1.1 10.35 0 0.00 0.00 0.5175 0.00 242.55 0.00 0.00 %
4 1.1 10.35 0 0.00 0.00 0.5175 0.00 242.55 0.00 0.00 %
5 1.2 10.25 0 0.00 0.00 0.5125 0.00 264.60 0.00 0.00 %
6 1.2 10.34 0 0.00 0.00 0.5170 0.00 264.60 0.00 0.00 %
7 1.2 10.80 0 0.00 0.00 0.5400 0.00 264.60 0.00 0.00 %
8 1.1 10.25 0 0.00 0.00 0.5125 0.00 242.55 0.00 0.00 %
9 1.2 10.35 0 9.81 9.81 0.5175 1.15 264.60 5.08 1.92 %
10 1.3 9.70 0 98.10 98.1 0.4850 11.54 286.65 47.58 16.60 %
11 1.5 9.40 0 206.01 206.01 0.4700 24.24 330.75 96.82 29.27 %
12 1.6 8.45 0 294.30 294.30 0.4225 34.63 352.80 124.34 35.24 %
13 1.7 5.32 0 372.78 372.78 0.2660 43.86 374.85 99.16 26.45 %
14 1.9 2.28 0 451.26 451.26 0.1400 53.10 418.95 63.18 15.08 %
15 1.9 0.00 0 465.98 465.98 0.0000 54.83 418.95 0.00 0.00 %
 PERFORMANCE CURVE
60 140

120
50

100
40
Head, m - Efficiency, %

80

Water Power, W
30

60

20
40

10
20

0
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

-10 -20
Flow Rate, L/s

FLOW - HEAD FLOW - EFFICIENCY FLOW - WATER POWER

Discussion

Starting from the fully opened to fully closed, the flow rate remains unchanged until there was an
increase in the inlet pressure. The increase in the inlet pressure means that there was a backflow. The inlet
pressure remained at zero point all throughout the experiment. We also observed a change of sound after
the increase in the discharge pressure. The electric power also started to increase at this point.
The curve produced by the data we gathered shows that it agrees with the gear pump performance
curve. The relationship shows that as the flow rate decreases, the head increase until the backflow occurs
then it rapidly increases. Efficiency is also high at the point near the maximum flow rate which agrees with
the literature, which means that they should be operated close to their maximum rated speeds. Water power
is also maximum at the point near the maximum flow rate.
Main reasons for the errors could be the use of an ammeter with unreliable data reading. The
ammeter used only showed the Ampere reading up to one decimal point from which it came out that the
current flowing thus the Power input was constant throughout the experiment. The ammeter should have
had greater accuracy for little changes to be noticed. Human error also contributes to the deviance of
accuracy such as the assumption of temperature as a constant value throughout the experiment. This is
assumption was done because the difference in the density at different temperatures was insignificant.
Reading of pressure gauge is also one of the factor that contributes to the deviance of the accuracy.

Supplementary Information

The application of gear pumps includes the pumping of all varieties of oil and lube oil, Resins and
Polymers, Alcohol and solvents, Asphalt, Bitumen, Tar, Polyurethane foam. Food products such as corn
syrup, chocolate, and peanut butter also uses gear pumps. Production of other household items such as
Paint, Soap, Surfactants and Glycol also takes the advantages of the Gear Pumps.

Conclusion

The experiment that was performed showed the same curves for its Head Water Power and
Efficiency with respect to Flowrate. Experiment was a success because the pump curves were produced
correctly but a greater number trials could have made the curve produced more feasible. The number of
trials that were lost in the constant flowrate region could have been placed in between the varying flowrate
to improve the feasibility of the curve produced.
Appendices

Fig. 1 Screw Pump Set

Reference/s

External Gear Pump Principle of Operation & Advantages. (n.d.). Liquiflo.

Internal Gear Pumps. (n.d.). Viking Pump Inc.

Sample Computation