Centrifugal pump

Purpose:

To create head, power and efficiency characteristic curves for a centrifugal pump.

Apparatus:

1. Centrifugal pump demonstration unit (Figure 1).

2. Interface device.

3. PC with a suitable software installed.

Introduction:

Pumps fall into two main categories: positive displacement pumps and rot dynamic
pumps. In a positive displacement pump, a fixed volume of fluid is forced from one
chamber into another. The centrifugal pump is, by contrast, a rot dynamic machine.
Rot dynamic (or simply dynamic) pumps impart momentum to a fluid, which then
causes the fluid to move into the delivery chamber or outlet. Turbines and
centrifugal pumps all fall into this category.

The centrifugal pump converts energy supplied from a motor or turbine, first into
kinetic energy and then into potential energy.
 The motor driving the impeller imparts angular velocity to the impeller. The impeller
vanes then transfer this kinetic energy to the fluid passing into the center of the
impeller by spinning the fluid, which travels outwards along the vanes to the
impeller casing at increasing flow rate. This kinetic energy is then converted into
potential energy (in the form of an increase in head) by the impeller casing (a volute
or a circular casing fitted with diffuser vanes) which provides a resistance to the flow
created by the impeller, and hence decelerates the fluid. The fluid decelerates again
in the outlet pipe. As the mass flow rate remains constant, this decrease in velocity
produces a corresponding increase in pressure as described by Bernoulli’s equation.

Theory:

The change in total head produced as a result of the work done by pump can be
calculated as:

∆𝑃
𝐻=
𝜌𝑔

𝜌𝑔𝐻𝑄
𝜂=
ΙV
ρ=998 kg/m3 g=9.81m/s²

Where
Q is the volume flow rate in m3/s

Hs = Change in pressure head

Equipment set up:

1. Ensure the drain valve is fully closed.

2. If necessary, fill the reservoir to within 20cm of the top rim.

3. Ensure the inlet valve and gate valve are both fully open.

4. Ensure the equipment is connected to the interface device and the interface
device is connected to a suitable PC. The red and green indicator lights on the
interface device should both be illuminated.

5. Ensure the interface device is connected to an appropriate mains supply, and

switch on the supply.

6. Run the software.

Procedures:

1. Switch on the interface device, then switch on the pump within the software using
the pump on/standby button.

2. Using the software, set the speed to 80%. The interface will increase the pump
speed until it reaches the required setting. Allow water to circulate until all air has
been flushed from the system. Slightly closing and opening the inlet valve and gate
valve a few times will help in priming the system and eliminating any bubbles caught
within the valve mechanism. Leave the inlet valve fully open.

3. Close the gate valve to give a flow rate Q of 0. (Note that the pump will not run
well with the gate valve closed or nearly closed, as the back pressure produced is
outside normal operating parameters. The pump should begin to run more smoothly
as the experiment progresses).

4. Select the (Go) icon to record the sensor readings and pump settings on the
results table of the software.

5. Open the gate valve to allow a low flow rate. Allow sufficient time for the sensor
readings to stabilize then select the (Go) icon to record the next set of data.

6. Increase the flow in small increments, allowing the sensor readings to stabilize
then recording the sensor and pump data each time.

7. Switch off the pump within the software using the power on/standby button, then
switch off

Results:

Using the graph facility, plot a graph of head against flow rate. On the secondary axis
plot a graph of mechanical power and efficiency against flow rate.

Alternatively, the results sheet may be exported to an alternative spreadsheet

program (or results may be manually plotted on graph paper) to produce a chart.

rpm 166

Q ∆p ( kpa) V (v) I (A) H (m) Q ( m3/s ) η

(L/min)
26 13.8 163.4 0.38 1.409547 0.00043333 0.096309
24 20 163.4 0.41 2.042822 0.0004 0.119414
22 26.2 163.4 0.43 2.676096 0.00036667 0.136726
20 33.8 163.4 0.47 3.452369 0.00033333 0.146705
18 40.7 163 0.51 4.157142 0.0003 0.146878
16 46.9 161.7 0.54 4.790417 0.00026667 0.143231
14 53 161.5 0.58 5.413477 0.00023333 0.132024
12 57.9 161.6 0.63 5.913969 0.0002 0.113744
10 68.9 161.9 0.68 7.037521 0.00016667 0.104307
8 76.5 161.8 0.74 7.813793 0.00013333 0.08519

166 rpm

0.16

0.14

0.12

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
12 10 8 6 4 2 0

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Q
 250rpm

Q ∆p ( V (v) I (A) H (m) Q ( m3/s ) η

(L/min) kpa)
28 12.4 252.2 0.7 1.266549 0.000466667 0.032778
26 20.7 257.1 0.7 2.11432 0.000433333 0.049842
24 25.6 257.3 0.7 2.614812 0.0004 0.056854
22 35.2 257.4 0.7 3.595366 0.000366667 0.071632
20 44.1 257.8 0.7 4.504422 0.000333333 0.081458
18 53.8 257.5 0.72 5.49519 0.0003 0.087055
16 63.4 257.4 0.74 6.475745 0.000266667 0.08876
14 73.8 257.7 0.76 7.538012 0.000233333 0.087924
12 89.6 257.4 0.78 9.151841 0.0002 0.089255
10 105.5 257.2 0.81 10.77588 0.000166667 0.084401
8 117.2 257.8 0.84 11.97093 0.000133333 0.072161
6 136.5 257.3 0.87 13.94226 0.0001 0.060978

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

16

14

12

10

0
0.0005 0.00045 0.0004 0.00035 0.0003 0.00025 0.0002 0.00015 0.0001 0.00005 0
Conclusion:

Examine and describe the shapes of the graphs obtained, relating this to the
changing performance of the pump as the flow rate changes. Locate the point of
maximum efficiency and the flow rate at which it occurs.