OBJECTIVE

To determine the system and pump characteristic curves for a pump by establishing the operating
point of the pump.

THEORY

In a centrifugal pump that was driven at a constant speed, the delivery head depends on the
delivery volume flow rate. The correlation between these performance data is represented in a
characteristic curve. To obtain the operating point for the pump, there are two characteristics
curves involved. These characteristics curves are:

1. Pump characteristic curve and

2. System characteristic curve.

The pump characteristic curve will indicate the pump performance in terms of its delivery head
against the discharge. As shown in Figure 1, as the discharge increased, there will be some lost in
its delivery head. For the system characteristics, this is shown in Figure 2. At different rotational
speed, the pump behaves in such a way that it would uniquely delivered the discharge at certain
delivery

Figure 1 Pump Characteristics Curve

 Figure 2: System Characteristic Curve

The operating point of a pump depends on the pump characteristic and system characteristic.
The operating point of a pump starts at the point where the delivery head of the pump and the
system are identical. This point is given by the intersection of the pump characteristic curve and
the system characteristic curve. The example of this point is shown by Figure 3.

Figure 3: Operating Point, P

In addition to the head or power added to the fluid, the overall efficiency is of interest. The
overall pump efficiency is affected by the hydraulic losses in the pump. Performance
characteristics for a given pump geometry and operating speed are usually given in the form of
plots of system characteristic, pump characteristic, and efficiency versus volume flow rate as
illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Typical performance characteristics for a centrifugal pump of a given size operating
at a constant speed

Efficiency is a function of flow rate and reaches a maximum value at some particular value of
the flowrate, commonly referred to as the normal or design flowrate or capacity for the pump.
The points on the various curves corresponding to the maximum efficiency are denoted as the
best efficiency points (BEP). It is apparent that when selecting a pump for a particular
application, it is usually desirable to have the pump operate near its maximum efficiency. Thus,
performance curve of the type shown in Figure 4 are very important to the engineer responsible
for the selection of pumps for a particular flow system.
APPARATUS

HM360 Multi-Pump Test Rig, stop watch and hand-held tachometer

Figure 5: HM 360 Multi-Pump Test Rig

Figure 6 Multi- Stage Pump Diagram

Figure 7: Centrifugal compressor Figure 8: Pressure bar 1

figure 9: Pressure bar 2 Figure 10: Meter gauge

PROCEDURES

A. System Characteristic (Refer Table 1)

1. the ball cock 8 is opened and all other ball cock closed (9-13).

2. The water meter with three-way ball cock (7) is switched to rest position.

3. A starting value of water meter V1 is recorded.

4. The stopwatch is set to zero.

5. pump 1 is switched.

6. The tachometer is hold vertically over the hole in the coupling guard. The
potentiometer on the switch cabinet is adjusted until the rotational speed of the
pump, n = 600 rpm. The rotational speed checked using hand-held tachometer.

7. Switch over three-way ball-cock and at the same time start the stop watch. Sixty
seconds (60) is a reasonable measuring period.

8. Three-way ball-cock is reset to rest, and stop the watch.

9. The stop watch time and end value of water meter V2 is recorded

10. Inlet pressure p1 and outlet pressure p2 is recorded

11. Step 3 until 10 is repeated with increasing the rotation speed from measuring point to
measuring point by 200 rpm up to 1800 rpm.

12. The readings is recorded into Table 1. Use equation (1) to calculate V and equation
(4) for H.
B. Pump Characteristic for one pump (Refer Table 2)

1. Instruction 1 to 11 in part A is followed, but this time fix the rotational speed, n, of
the pump to 1200 rpm and adjust ball-clock 8 position to 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90
(shut).
2. The readings are recorded into the Table 2. Use equation (1) to calculate V and
equation (4) for H.
3. a graph of H versus V (system characteristic (Table 3)) and pump characteristic
(Table 4) is plotted onto one graph.

FORMULA FOR CALCULATION

2 1
Volume flow rate, = (1)

Pipe diameter at suction side (inlet), 1 = 50

Pipe diameter at delivery side (outlet), 2 = 32

Velocity at suction side, 1 = (2)
1

Velocity at delivery side, 2 = (3)
2

Height difference between the pressure transducers, = 0.2

Delivery head for one pump, (4)

EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Table 1: system characteristic

Rotational 1 2 Inlet Outlet
speed, n pressure, pressure,
(rpm) (3 ) (3 ) (s) 1 2
(bar) (bar)
600 406.6115 406.6747 60 -0.12 0
800 406.6747 406.7632 60 -0.15 0
1000 406.7632 406.8720 60 -0.18 0
1200 406.8720 407.0077 60 -0.24 0

Table 2: pump characteristic for one pump at rotation speed 1200 rpm
Position 1 2 Inlet Outlet
Ball-clock 8 pressure, pressure,
(3 ) (3 ) (s) 1 2
(bar) (bar)
0 407.0077 407.1254 60 -0.24 0
30 407.1254 407.2446 60 -0.21 0
45 407.2446 407.3499 60 -0.15 0.1
60 407.3499 407.3869 60 -0.1 0.2
75 407.3869 407.3918 60 -0.09 0.25
90 407.3918 407.3918 60 -0.05 0.3

EXPERIMENTAL RESULT

Table 3: system characteristic

Rotational speed, n Volume flow Inlet pressure, Outlet pressure, Delivery head,
(rpm) rate, V 1 2 H
3 (bar) (bar) (m)
( )

600 1.053 x 103 -0.12 0 1.49
800 1.475 x 103 -0.15 0 1.87
1000 1.813 x 103 -0.18 0 2.25
1200 2.262 x 103 -0.24 0 2.98
Table 4: pump characteristic for one pump at rotation speed 1200 rpm
Position Volume flow Inlet pressure, Outlet pressure, Delivery head,
Ball-clock 8 rate, V 1 2 H
3 (bar) (bar) (m)
( )

0 1.962 x 103 -0.24 0 2.89
30 1.987 x 103 -0.21 0 2.60
45 1.755 x 103 -0.15 0.1 2.95
60 6.167 x 104 -0.1 0.2 3.28
75 8.167 x 105 -0.09 0.25 3.66
90 0 -0.05 0.3 3.77

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Area, 1
= 2
= (0.025)2
= 1.964 x 103 2
Area, 2
= 2
= (0.016)2
= 8.042 x 104 2
SYSTEM CHARACTERISTIC
Volume flow rate, V
- 600rpm
2 1
=
406.6747406.6115
= 60

3
= 1.053 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 1.053 x 103

1 =
1

1.053 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.536

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 1.053 x 103

2 =
2

1.053 x 103
= 8.042 x 104

2
2 = 1.309

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.536
2
2 = 1.309
1 = -0.12 = -12 kpa
2 = 0

2 1 22 12
= ++
2

0(12 ) 1.309 2 0.5362

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 1.49 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 800rpm
2 1
=
406.7632406.6747
= 60

3
= 1.475 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 1.475 x 103

1 =
1

1.475 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.751

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 1.475 x 103

2 =
2

1.475 x 103
=
8.042 x 104

2
2 = 1.834

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.751
2
2 = 1.834
1 = -0.15 = -15 kpa
2 = 0

2 1 22 12
= ++
2

0(15 ) 1.834 2 0.7512

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 1.87 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 1000rpm
2 1
=
406.8720406.7632
= 60

3
= 1.813 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 1.813 x 103

1 =
1

1.813 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.933

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 1.813 x 103

2 =
2

1.813 x 103
=
8.042 x 104

2
2 = 2.254

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.923
2
2 = 2.254
1 = -0.18 = -18 kpa
2 = 0

2 1 22 12
= ++
2

0(18 ) 2.254 2 0.9232

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 2.25 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 1200rpm
2 1
=
407.0077406.8720
= 60

3
= 2.262 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 2.262 x 103

1 =
1

2.262 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 1.152

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 2.262 x 103

2 =
2

2.262 x 103
=
8.042 x 104

2
2 = 2.813

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 1.152
2
2 = 2.813
1 = -0.24 = -24 kpa
2 = 0

2 1 22 12
= ++
2

0(24 ) 2.813 2 1.1522

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 2.98 m
PUMP CHARACTERISTIC
Volume flow rate, V
- 0
2 1
=
407.1254407.0077
= 60

3
= 1.962 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 1.962 x 103

1 =
1

1.962 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.998

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 1.962 x 103

2 =
2

1.962 x 103
= 8.042 x 104

2
2 = 2.439

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.536
2
2 = 1.309
1 = -0.24 = -24 kpa
2 = 0
2 1 22 12
= ++
2

0(24 ) 1.309 2 0.5362

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 2.89 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 30
2 1
=
407.2446407.1254
= 60

3
= 1.987 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 1.987 x 103

1 =
1

1.987 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 1.012

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 1.987 x 103

2 =
2

1.987 x 103
= 8.042 x 104

2
2 = 2.471

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 1.012
2
2 = 2.471
1 = -0.21 = -21 kpa
2 = 0
2 1 22 12
= ++
2

0(21 ) 2.471 2 1.0122

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 2.60 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 45
2 1
=
407.3499407.2446
= 60

3
= 1.755 x 103

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 1.755 x 103

1 =
1

1.755 x 103
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.894

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 1.755 x 103

2 =
2

1.755 x 103
=
8.042 x 104

2
2 = 2.182

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.894
2
2 = 2.182
1 = -0.15 = -15 kpa
2 = 0.1 = 10 kpa
2 1 22 12
= ++
2

10(15 ) 2.182 2 0.8942

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 2.95 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 60
2 1
=
407.3869407.3499
= 60

3
= 6.167 x 104

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 6.167 x 104

1 =
1

6.167 x 104
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.314

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 6.167 x 104

2 =
2

6.167 x 104
=
8.042 x 104

2
2 = 0.767

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.314
2
2 = 0.767
1 = -0.1 = -10 kpa
2 = 0.2 = 20 kpa
2 1 22 12
= ++
2

20(10 ) 0.767 2 0.3142

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 3.28 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 75
2 1
=
407.3918407.3869
= 60

3
= 8.167 x 105

Velocity at suction side, 1

3
V = 8.167 x 105

1 =
1

8.167 x 105
= 1.964 x 103

2
1 = 0.042

Velocity at delivery side, 2

3
V = 8.167 x 105

2 =
2

8.167 x 105
= 8.042 x 104

2
2 = 0.106

Delivery head for one pump, H

2
1 = 0.042
2
2 = 0.106
1 = -0.09 = -9 kpa
2 = 0.25 = 25 kpa
2 1 22 12
= ++
2

25(9 ) 0.106 2 0.0422

= + 0.2 +
9.81(1000) 2(9.81)

= 3.66 m
Volume flow rate, V
- 90
2 1
=
407.3918407.3918
= 60

3
=0

Velocity at suction side, 1

V=0

1 =
1

=0
Velocity at delivery side, 2
V=0

2 =
2

2 = 0
Delivery head for one pump, H
1 =0
2 =0
1 = -0.05 = -5 kpa
2 = 0.3 = 30 kpa
2 1 22 12
= ++
2

30(5 )
= + 0.2 + 0
9.81(1000)

= 3.77 m
DISCUSSION
1. Based on the plotted graph, determine the value of operating point for this pump.

OPERATING
POINT

2. The pump performance data when operating at n = 1400 rpm are shown in table 5 below.
Plot the performance curves of the pump and identify the best efficiency point. Is the is
operating point reasonable? Explain your answer.
Explanation
- The best efficiency point (BEP) cannot be determined in the plotted graph because
there is some error in the rotational speed where the maximum rotational speed in
this experiment is 1200 rpm. Meanwhile the data in this discussion is 1400 rpm.
 3. What is the important of knowing the pump operating point to industry?

- Pump operating point is the intersection of the pump characteristic and the system
characteristic curve. It is important to know the pump operation point because it is
where the flow rate and the head(pressure) for the pump are identical, so the
efficiency and the required power can be determined. In industry, the pump
operating point as used to set the limit for the pump operating range and become
very important under accident condition especially in nuclear power plant.

CONCLUSION
From this experiment, it can be concluded that in order to get the pump operating point
the pump characteristic and system characteristic curve is needed. It is because the pump
operating point is at the intersection of the both curve. Then, the best efficiency point (BEP)
also can be determined by using the plotted graph. But, in this experiment, the BEP cannot be
determined because of the speed of the motor cannot exceed 1400 rpm. So, there will be a
mismatch and error in the plotted graph. According to the table, the, rotational speed influenced
the volume flowrate and the head which is the higher the speed, the volume flowrate and
pressure head increase. The pressure head value can be calculated by the Bernoulli equation.
So, the objective of the experiment has been achieved.

REFERENCES

1. Bruce R. Munson, D. F. (2006.). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics, 5th Edition. Asia: John
Wiley & Sons.

2. Frank M. White. (2003). Fluid Mechanics, 5th Edition. New York, USA: Mc Graw Hill.

3. John F. Douglas, J. M. (2001). Fluid Mechanics, 4th Edition. Scotland: Pearson Prentice Hall.