194 Chapter 14 Fluid Machinery

Observing that P1 P2 Patm and expressing u2  u1 hL , we have

W_
 y2  y1 hL (14-16)
_
mg
From Chapter 13, we can write for the head loss
v2
hL K
2g
where the quantity K accounts for frictional pipe loss as well as minor losses due to valves,
elbows, and ttings.
The operating line for system performance is now expressed by
W_ v2
 y2  y1 K (14-17)
_
mg 2g
Plotting the system operating line together with the plot of pump performance yields the
combined performance diagram as shown in Figure 14.9.

150
Head
Pump efficiency, %
Total head, m

100 System 11
operating
line h

NPSH, m
10

50 9
NPSH
8
0
0 0.50 1.0 1.50 2.0 Figure 14.9 Combined pump and
system performance.
Flow rate, V m3/s

We note that the two operating lines intersect at a ow rate where the required head for
system operation matches that which the particular pump can produce. At this operating
ow rate, one can read the corresponding efciency from the chart. A system designer
would, naturally, want the system to operate at, or as near as possible to, the ow rate of
maximum pump efciency. If the operating point corresponds to an undesirable efciency
value, changes must be made either to the system, which is generally a difcult process, or to
pump operating conditions.

14.2 SCALING LAWS FOR PUMPS AND FANS

The concepts of similarity and scaling are introduced in Chapter 11. The requirements of
geometric, kinematic, and dynamic similarity nd important applications in the scaling of
rotating uid mechanics. In this section we will develop the fan laws that are used to
predict the effect of changing the uid, size, or speed of rotating machines, which are in a
geometrically similar family.

Dimensional Analysis of Rotating Machines

The Buckingham method of dimensional analysis, which is introduced in Chapter 11, is a
useful tool in generating the dimensionless parameters that apply to rotating uid machines.
 14.2 Scaling Laws For Pumps And Fans 195

As discussed earlier, the rst step to be undertaken is to develop a table of variables that are
important to our application. Table 14.1 lists the variables of interest along with their
symbols and dimensional representation in the MLt system.

Table 14.1 Pump performance variables

Variable Symbol Dimensions

Total head gh L2 /t2

Flow rate V_ L3 /t
Impeller diameter D L
Shaft speed v 1/t
Fluid density r M/L3
Fluid viscosity m M/Lt
Power _
W ML2 /t3

Without repeating all details regarding the Buckingham method, we can establish the
following:
 inr 734
 with a core group including the variables D; v; r, the dimensionless pi groups become
p1 gh/D2 v2
_
p2 V/vD 3

_
p3 W/rv 3 5
D
p4 m/D2 vr

The group p4 m/D2 vr is a form of Reynolds number. The other three groups here are
designated, by the pump community, as
p1 gh/D2 v2 CH the head coefficient (14-18)
_
p2 V/vD 3
CQ the flow coefficient (14-19)
6
CH _
p3 W/rv D CP
3 5
the power coefficient (14-20)
5 1.00
Figure 14.10 is a plot of the dimensionless parameters CH and CP
Efficiency, h
vs. the ow coefcient, CQ, for a representative centrifugal pump
CP and efficiency

4
0.75 family.
CH

CP
3 There is, of course, one additional dimensionless perfor-
0.50 mance parameter, the efciency. The efciency is related to the
2 other parameters dened above according to
0.25
1 CH CQ
h (14-21)
CP
0 0
0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 As the parameters on the right-hand-side of the equation are
CQ functionally related to CQ, the efficiency, h, is also a function of
Figure 14.10 Dimensionless performance CQ, and is included as one of the dependent variables in
curves for a typical centrifugal pump. Figure 14.10.
196 Chapter 14 Fluid Machinery

The three coefcients CH ; CQ ; and CP provide the basis for the fan laws. For similar
pumps, designated 1 and 2, we may write, for CH
CH1 CH2
or
gh1 gh2
2 2
2 2
v1 D1 v2 D2
thus
 2  2
h2 v2 D2
(14-22)
h1 v1 D1
Performing the same equations on CQ and CP , we obtain
 
V_ 2 v2 D2 3
(14-23)
V_ 1 v1 D1
   
P2 r2 v2 3 D2 5
(14-24)
P1 r1 v1 D1
These three equations comprise the fan laws or pump laws that are used extensively for
scaling rotating machines as well as predicting their performance.
Example 3 illustrates the use of these expressions.

EXAMPLE 3 A centrifugal pump, operating at 1100 rpm against a head of 120 m H2O produces a ow of
0.85 m3/s.
(a) For a geometrically similar pump, operating at the same speed but with an impeller
diameter 30% greater than the original, what ow rate will be achieved?
(b) If the new larger pump described in part (a) is also operated at 1300 rpm, what will be the
new values of ow rate and total head?
Specifying for pump 1, D D1 ; then for the larger pump, D2 1:3 D1 ; thus the new ow rate
will be, using equation (14-23)
 
V_ 2 v2 D2 3
(14-23)
V_ 1 v1 D1
 3
1:3 D1
V_ 2 0:85 m3 /s
D1
1:867 m3 /s (a)

For the case with D2 1:3 D1 and v2 1300 rpm, we have, from equation (14-23)
  
1300 rpm 1:3 D1 3
V_ 2 0:85 m3 /s
1100 rpm D1
2:207 m3 /s (b)
The new head is determined using equation (14-22).
 2  2
h2 v2 D2
(14-22)
h1 v1 D1
   
1300 rpm 2 1:3 D1 2
120 m H2 O
1100 rpm D1
283 m H2 O (c)
 14.5 Closure 197

14.3 AXIAL AND MIXED FLOW PUMP CONFIGURATIONS

Our examination of pumps, thus far, has focused on centrifugal pumps. The other basic
conguration is axial ow. The designation centrifugal ow or axial ow relates to the direction
of uid ow in the pump. In the centrifugal case, ow is turned 90 to the axis of rotation; in the
axial ow case, ow is in the direction of the axis of rotation. There is an intermediate case,
designated mixed ow, where the ow has both normal and axial components.
The choice of centrifugal, axial, or mixed ow congurations depends on the desired
values of ow rate and head needed in a specic application. The single parameter that
includes both head and ow rate effects is designated NS, the specic speed. It is dened as

CQ1/2
NS (14-25)
C 3/4
H

Figure 14.11 is a plot of optimum efciencies of the three pump types as functions of NS.
The values of NS shown in this plot correspond to the somewhat unusual units shown.
The basic message conveyed by Figure 14.11 is that higher delivery head and lower ow
rate combinations dictate the use of centrifugal pumps, whereas lower heads and higher ow
rates require mixed ow or axial ow pumps.

1.0

0.9
hmax

0.8 Mixed
flow
Centrifugal Axial
pump flow
0.7

0.6
0

00

00

00
00

00

00
50

Figure 14.11 Optimum pump

10

20

40
50

,0

,0
10

15

Ns efciency as a function of specic

(rpm) (gal/min)1/2(H,ft)3/4 speed.

14.4 TURBINES
Analysis of turbines follows the same general steps as has been done for pumps. The reader
is referred to Section 5.4 in Chapter 5 for a review of the analysis of an impulse turbine.
Turbine operation uses the energy of a uid, emanating from a nozzle, to interact with
blades attached to the rotating unit, designated the rotor. The momentum exchange
produced as the uid changes direction generates power at the rotor shaft.
A detailed discussion of turbine operation, other than that presented in Chapter 5, is
beyond the scope of this book. Numerous treatises are available to the interested reader. A
good introductory discussion, along with extensive references, is included in the text by
Munson et al. (1998).

14.5 CLOSURE
This chapter has been devoted to the examination of rotating uid machines. External power
applied to pumps and fans produces higher pressure, increased ow, or both. Turbines
operate in the reverse, producing power from a high-energy uid.
198 Chapter 14 Fluid Machinery

Types of pumps or fans are characterized by the direction of ow through the rotor. In
centrifugal pumps, the ow is turned 90 to the ow axis; ow is parallel to the ow axis in
axial ow pumps. Machines with both centrifugal and axial ow components are designated
mixed-ow pumps.
Standard performance plots for a family of geometrically similar pumps or fans show the
head, power, efciency, and NPSH as functions of ow rate for a designated speed of rotation.
Scaling laws were developed using parameters generated from dimensional analysis.
The resulting fan laws that relate two similar systems are
 2  2
h2 v2 D2
(14-22)
h1 v1 D1
 
V_ 2 v2 D2 3
(14-23)
V_ 1 v1 D1
   
P2 r2 v2 3 D2 5
(14-24)
P1 r1 v1 D1

PROBLEMS
14.1 A centrifugal pump delivers 0.2 m3/s of water when 14.5 A centrifugal pump is being used to pump water at a ow
operating at 850 rpm. Relevant impeller dimensions are as rate of 0.018 m3/s and the required power is measured to be
follows: outside diameter 0.45 m, blade length 50 cm, 4.5 kW. If the pump efciency is 63%, determine the head
and blade exit angle 24 . Determine (a) the torque and power generated by the pump.
required to drive the pump and (b) the maximum pressure 14.6 A centrifugal pump having the dimensions shown develops
increase across the pump. a ow rate of 0.032 m3/s when pumping gasoline r 680 kg/m3 :
14.2 A centrifugal pump is used with gasoline r 680 kg/m3 : The inlet ow may be assumed to be radial. Estimate (a) the
Relevant dimensions are as follows: d1 15 cm; d2 28 cm; theoretical horsepower; (b) the head increase; and (c) the proper
L 9 cm; b1 25 ; and b2 40 : The gasoline enters the blade angle at the impeller inlet.
pump parallel to the pump shaft when the pump operates at
1200 rpm. Determine (a) the ow rate; (b) the power delivered
to the gasoline; and (c) the head in meters. 5 cm
35
14.3 A centrifugal pump has the following dimensions: d2
42 cm; L 5 cm; and b2 33 : It rotates at 1200 rpm, and the 10 cm
head generated is 52 m of water. Assuming radial entry ow, deter- 1650 rpm
mine the theoretical values for (a) the ow rate and (b) the power.
14.4 A centrifugal pump has the conguration and dimensions
shown below. For water owing at a rate of 0.0071 m3/s and an
impeller speed of 1020 rpm, determine the power required to drive
the pump. The inlet ow is directed radially outward, and the exiting
velocity may be assumed to be tangent to the vane at its trailing edge.
3
V = 0.0071 m /s 6.5 cm
55

14.7 A centrifugal water pump operates at 1500 rpm. The

dimensions are as the following:
V1

1020 rpm
28 cm 8 cm
r1 12 cm b1 32
r2 20 cm b2 20
L 4:2 cm
Determine (a) the design point discharge rate; (b) the water
1.85 cm
horsepower; and (c) the discharge head.