Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)

Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig

Semester January 2017

Experiment 6

Multi Pump Test Rig

Objectives
Determine the operating characteristic of different pumps in a contained unit.
Understand the types of pumps in principle and design, and the selection of the
appropriate pump for a particular application for optimal operation.

Overview
Pumps are of a major concern to most engineers and technicians. The types of pump vary
considerably in principle and design, and the selection of the appropriate pump for a
particular application is essential for satisfactory operation. This experiment allows students
to measure the operating characteristic of different pumps in a contained unit. This training
unit incorporates appropriate pipe work and tanks to make the operation self-contained. The
manually operated valves and pipe work are arranged for rapid and safe selection of any one-
test pump. All necessary instrumentation for measurement of flow, pump head, speed and
power are included. In the experiments, students are able to operate three types of pump
namely a Horizontal Single Stage Centrifugal Pump, a Positive Displacement Plunger Pump
and a Positive Displacement Gear Pump.

1
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

General Start - Up Procedures

Before conducting any experiment, it is necessary to do the following checking to avoid any
misuse and malfunction of equipment.

1. Make sure that the water tank is filled with water up to at least 50%.

2. Make sure that the oil tank is filled with oil up to at least 50%.

3. Make sure that the RS 232 data cable is connected to the computer.

4. Switch on the main power supply located on the control panel. The instruments
should light up.

5. Select the appropriate pump and flow meter according to the following
combination.

6. Switch on the computer and monitor if you are using them to collect data and
generate the characteristic curve.

Table A
Pump Indication Flow Meter Flow rate Diff. Pump Head
Pressure
P1/P2 0 -100% FT 1 0 113.56 DPT 1 0 3 bar
L/min
P3 0 -100% FT 2 0 28.39 PT 1 0 20 bar
L/min

Table B
Types of Pump Process Hand Valve OPEN Hand Valve CLOSE
Pump Selection Selection
Switch Switch
Horizontal
Single P1 Water HV2, HV3, HV4 HV1, HV5, HV6,
Stage Pump HV7, HV8
Plunger P2 Water HV2, HV5, HV6 HV1, HV3, HV4,
Pump HV7, HV8
Gear Pump P3 Oil HV10, HV11 HV 9

2
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Important:

i. Never operate the pumps when there is no liquid in the pipeline. It will cause
serious damage to the pumps.
ii. Always watch out for the direction of the motor impeller, it should follow the
direction of the arrow on the pump.

Data Acquisition System

1. Power the pump Test Rig first.

2. Ensure that the cable between the computer and the Pump Test Rig is correctly
connected.

3. Switch on the power to the computer.

4. Under Windows click on the Pump Test Rig icon. The program wills startup
automatically.

5. The table consists of fifteen entries and a final entry at the bottom labeled 'live'- this
is the live reading at that moment in time (online data).

6. During an experiment, if you wish capture these data, click on the 'Record'
button.

7. The recording mechanism will capture at maximum 15 entries. After which it will
try to replace the closest old entry found.

8. These captured data could be saved in the form of a file. It could also be loaded
later for review or to add a new entry.

9. It is important that the user selects the correct pump before recording the data, as
live data will be represented differently for each pump.

3
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Experimental Procedures

Experiment 1 : Rotational Speed Vs Volumetric Flow rate.

Performance Curve for a Centrifugal Pump

Experimental Procedures 1 for P1

Please refer to the general start - up procedures (Table B) before conducting this experiment.

1. Press the START push button to start the pump.

2. Set the motor speed to about 2800rpm using the speed control beside the speed
indicator.

3. Open HV2 fully so that the flow rate is at its maximum.

4. Record the flow rate once the readings are stable. (Refer Table 1)

5. Repeat steps 2 and 4 for the following speed readings of 2600, 2400, 2200, 2000,
1800, 1600, 1400, 1200, 1000, 800 and 600rpm.

6. The data collected using above procedure will enable you to plot the following
characteristic curve:

i. Rotational speed (N) Vs. Volume Flow (Q)

At the end of experiment:

i. Adjust the potentiometer (speed control) to its minimum setting (fully anti
clockwise).
ii. Please switch off the pump by pressing the stop push button at the end of
experiment.

4
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Experiment 2 : Other Performance Curve for a Centrifugal Pump

Experimental Procedures 2 for P1

Please refer to the general start - up procedures (Table B) before conducting this experiment.

1. Press the START push button to start the pump.

2. Set the motor speed to maximum (2800rpm) using the speed control beside the
speed indicator.

3. Set HV2 at full opening (50% of flowrate) so that the output flow rate is maximum
and record the readings for the flow rate, the differential pressure, the power and
speed once the readings are stable. (Refer Table 2)

4. Repeat step 3 with the following flow rate of output 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%. You can
try any other intermediate reading.

5. The data you have collected will enable you to analyze the following characteristic
curve:

i. Motor Input Power (PMi) Vs Volume Flow rate (Q)

ii. Pump Total Head (H) Vs Volume Flow rate (Q)
iii. Pump Power Output (Po) Vs Volume Flow rate (Q)
iv. Pump Power Input (Pi) Vs Volume Flow rate (Q)
v. Pump Efficiency (ETA) Vs Volume Flow rate (Q)
vi. Overall Efficiency (ETAgr) Vs Volume Flow rate (Q)

At the end of experiment:

i. Adjust the potentiometer (speed control) to its minimum setting (fully anti
clockwise).
ii. Please switch off the pump by pressing the stop push button at the end of
experiment.

5
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Experiment 3 : Rotational Speed Vs Output Pressure

Performance Curve for a Positive Displacement Pump

Experimental Procedures 1 for P3

Please refer to the general start-up procedures (Table B) before conducting this
experiment.

1. Press the START push button to start the pump.

2. Adjust the potentiometer beside the speed indicator, set the motor speed to its
maximum (About 1500 rpm for P3)

3. Slowly adjust the HV11 so that the pump head (pressure) is at 70%.

4. Record the flow rate once the readings are stable.(Refer Table 3)

5. Repeat steps 2 and 4 for the following motor speed readings of P3 = 1300, 1200,
1100, 1000, 900, 800, 700, 600, 500 and 400 rpm.

6. The data you have collected will enable you to plot the following characteristic
curve.

i. Rotational Speed (N) Vs. Volume Flow Rate (Q)

At the end of experiment:

i. Adjust the potentiometer (speed control) to its minimum setting (fully anti
clockwise).
ii. Please switch off the pump by pressing the stop push button at the end of
experiment.

Warning: Do not close the HV11 completely when P3 is running. This may cause serious
damage to the instrument.

6
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Experiment 4 : Other Performance Curve for a Positive

Displacement Pump

Experimental Procedures 2 for P3

Please refer to the general start-up procedures (Table B) before conducting this experiment.

1. Press the START push button to start the pump.

2. Adjust the potentiometer beside the speed indicator, set the motor speed to its
maximum (About 1500 rpm for P3).

3. Slowly adjust the HV11 so that the pump head (pressure) is at 70%, record the flow
rate, differential pressure, power and speed once the readings are stable (Refer
Table 4).

4. Repeat step 3 with the following pump head readings of P3 = 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%,
45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15% and 10%. You can try any other intermediate
reading but never try to close the HV11 fully. This is to ensure that the existing
pressure develop in the pipeline doesnt exceed the limit.

5. The data you have collected will enable you to plot the following characteristic
curve;

i. Motor Input Power (PMi) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)

ii. Volume Flow (Q) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
iii. Pump Power Output (Po) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
iv. Pump Power Input (Pi) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
v. Pump Efficiency (ETA) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
vi. Overall Efficiency (ETAgr) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
vii. Volumetric Efficiency (ETAv) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)

At the end of experiment:

i. Adjust the potentiometer (speed control) to its minimum setting (fully anti
clockwise).
ii. Please switch off the pump by pressing the stop push button at the end of
experiment.

Warning: Do not close the HV11 completely when P3 is running. This may cause serious
damage to the instrument.

7
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Results

Record the data collected for experiment 1 in the table below.

Table 1: Rotational Speed and Flow rate for P1

Speed (RPM) Flow rate (%)

2800
2600
2400
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600

Record the data collected for experiment 2 in the table below.

Table 2: Flow rate, Speed, Differential Pressure and Power for P1

Flow rate (%) Speed Diff.Pressure Power

(rpm) (%) (kW)

8
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Record the data collected for experiment 3 in the table below.

Table 3: Rotational Speed and Differential Pressure for P3

Speed (RPM) Flow Rate (%)
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400

Record the data collected for experiment 4 in the table below.

Table 4: Pressure, Flow rate, Speed and Power for P3

Pressure Flow rate Speed Power
70
% % RPM kW
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
10

9
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

List of Abbreviation

Symbol Description Constant Unit

Value

N Rotational Speed RPM

PMI Motor Input Power W

H Pump Total Head m

Q Volume Flowrate m3/hr

Pi Pump Power Input W

Po Pump Power Output W

Pm Pump Mechanical Power W

Zc1 Inlet Distance From Datum (water) 180 mm m

Zc2 Outlet Distance From Datum (water) 860 mm m

ETA Pump Efficiency %

ETAgr Overall Efficiency %

ETAv Volumetric Efficiency %

w Density of Water 1000 kg/m3

oil Density of Oil 910 kg/m3

DP Differential Pressure %

Pr Pressure %

g Gravity 9.81 m/s2

Pp1min Pump 1 Power at No Load (50 Hz) 70 W

Pp2min Pump 2 Power at No Load (50 Hz) 60 W

Pp3min Pump 3 Power at No Load (50 Hz) 50 W

Vigar Volume Displacement for Gear Pump 6.309 x 10-6 m3/rev

Vipiston Volume Displacement for Plunger Pump 2.09 x 10-5 m3/rev

ZG1 Inlet Distance From Datum (oil) 64 mm m

ZG2 Outlet Distance From Datum (oil) 380 mm m

10
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Formula for Calculation of Variables

11
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

12
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Discussion

1. Plot the characteristic curves which have been stated in experiment 1 and 3.
Comments the plotted graphs in terms of their relationships between the y axis
and the x axis.

2. Plot all the characteristic curves which have been stated in experiment 2 and 4 in
one graph paper for i) P1 and ii) P3 . Comments the plotted graphs in terms of their
relationships between the y axis and the x axis.

13
 Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)
Experiment 6: Multi Pump Test Rig
Semester January 2017

Tutorial

1. Define pump.

2. What is the difference between dynamic pump and positive displacement pump?

3. List down three factors which influence the choice of pump for a particular
operation.

References

1. White, F.M. Fluid Mechanics 4th Ed. McGraw Hill

2. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C and Harriot Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering
5th Ed. McGraw Hill

3. Anthony Esposito. Fluid Mechanics with Applications. Prentice Hall International

Inc.

4. Debler, W.R. Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals. Prentice Hall International Inc.

14