EXPERIMENT NO.

PERFORMANCE OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

NAME 1. Navero, Kevin Paul A. DATE PERFORMED: SCORE:
2. Ramos, Karl John M.
3. Santos, Marvin Gabrielle F. DATE SUBMITTED:
4. Sevilleja, Maria Danica Vicela
INSTRUCTOR:
SECTION 57019
Engr. Basil Aloysuis P. Bautista
GROUP # 6

I. OBJECTIVE:
The primary objective of this activity is to demonstrate the principles and operation of
centrifugal pumps. Secondary objectives are to familiarize the students with the characteristics of a
centrifugal pump and measure its performance.

II. LEARNING OUTCOME (LO):

The students shall be able to:

1. Discuss the principle and operation of a centrifugal pump.

2. Compute the percent efficiency of an centrifugal pump at different parameters
3. Interpret the data gathered and relate the result to governing scientific principle.
4. Illustrate graphical representation of correlation of data.
5. Develop professional work ethics, including precision, neatness, safety and ability to
follow instruction.

III. DISCUSSION:

A centrifugal pump is a rotodynamic pump that uses a rotating impeller to increase the
pressure of a fluid.

A centrifugal pump consists essentially of a rotating impeller followed by a diffuser. Fluid is

drawn through the inlet casing into the eye of the impeller. The function is to increase the energy
of the fluid by whirling it out-wards thereby increasing the angular momentum of the 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 (casing), from where it exits into the
downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are used for large discharge through smaller
heads.
 Figure 3.1 Centrifugal Pump Parts

The specific speed of a pump is used in the sense that a specific pump size to deliver
a gallon per minute to a height of one (1) foot will run at its specific speed.

Pumps with low specific speeds ranging from 500 to 2,000 rpm have the capacity to
deliver small discharges at high pressures. Meanwhile, pumps having high specific speed
ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 rpm have the capacity to deliver large discharges at low pressure.
Also, pumps that has impeller which has large diameter have relatively small flow passages,
generate high pressure but delivering small discharges. This type of pump has low specific
speeds.

The pressure or head to be developed is the sum of the height to which the water is to
be lifted from the level of the reservoir or sump from which the water is pumped. In addition to
this height the friction losses occurring in the suction and discharge pipes must be taken into
account. Losses of energy through inlet devices such as strainer and foot valve, elbows, valves,
and other components must also be considered. The pressure or kinetic energy required at the
end of the supply line is also a part of the total dynamic head.

The performance of a centrifugal pump may be expressed in terms of:

𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 = x 100%
𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

The brake power is the power excreted by the motor coupled to the pump in delivering
a certain amount of fluid. We may define brake power as,

𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 = 2 𝛱 𝐹 𝑅 𝑁

Where F is the net brake force measured by spring scale or force gauge, R is the brake
arm or torque arm and N is the rotational speed of the motor.
 The water power is the power transmitted to the fluid by the pump.

𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 = 𝑄𝛾𝑇𝐷𝐻

Where Q is the volume flowrate (discharge), γ is the specific weight of the water (9.8066
𝑘𝑁
), TDH is the total dynamic head of the pump.
𝑚3

IV. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:

Centrifugal Pump Test Rig with Digital Tachometer

Spring Scale
Stop Watch
Venire Caliper

V. PROCEDURE:
Safety Procedure:
The following safety procedure are the safety measures which have been practiced upon
conducting experiment:
1. Never perform unauthorized work, preparations or experiments, wait for the
instruction of your respective professor.
2. If necessary, wear laboratory gown upon performing the experiment in order to avoid
getting dirt from the liquids and other materials used in the experiment.
3. Use gloves and proper eye protection.
4. It is prohibited to bring or used flammable liquids (i.e. gasoline, alcohol, etc.) which
may cause of fire upon conducting experiment.
5. After the experiment clean all the apparatus and equipment used during experiment.

Pump Start – Up Procedure

1. Open the suction and discharge valve.
2. Check the water level in the sump tank, if not at safe water level, refill the tank to its
required level.
3. Start the motor by pressing the start button (green button).
4. Check the pressure gauges to ensure that the pump quickly reaches the correct
discharge pressure. If not, stop the motor by pressing the red button and inform the
laboratory instructor and technician.

Experiment Procedure:
1. Gathered the data dimensional data such as diameter of suction and discharge pipe,
tank width, length and length of dynamometer brake arm;
2. Start with fully open valve.
3. Control the opening of the valve from fully opened and adjust per number of turn.
4. Repeat the procedure for 5 trials.
5. Plot the performance curve of the pump
 VI. DATA AND RESULTS:

Data sheet (A)

VALVE
PRESSURE PRESSURE
OPENING FORCE TORQE DISCHARGE
RPM SUCTION DISCHARGE
(per number of (N) (N – m) (m3 per sec)
(kPa) (kPa)
turn)

1
2
3
4
5

Data sheet (B)

Total Dynamic
VALVE OPENING Brake Power Water Power EFFICIENCY
Head
(per number of turn) (Kw) (Kw) (%)
(m)
1
2
3
4
5
VII. COMPUTATIONS
VIII. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
IX. CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION
Centrifugal Pump Test Rig:
Design of Centrifugal Pump Test Rig using SolidWorks.

Figure 1: Isometric View

Figure 2: Isometric View

Figure 3: Front View

Figure 4: Side View