FLUID MACHINERY

Chapter 1
PUMPS AND PUMPING
Part II
 Pump Power

The power of a pump is defined as the energy imparted by the pump to

the fluid flow per second

N = Q ρ gH , [W]

Like any other driven machine, a pump consumes more power than it
gives off. The ratio of the actual power developed by the pump to the
power supplied by the pump (shaft power) gives the efficiency of the
pump:
N
η=
N0

Q ρ gH
=N0 T ω ⇒ η=
Tω

2
The Basic Equation of Centrifugal Pumps

Schematic

  
v= u + w − velocity summation in complex motion
3
 The Basic Equation of Centrifugal Pumps

Basic assumptions

1. The impeller consists of an infinite number of uniform vanes of zero

thickness (z = ∞, δ = 0). This means that we assume such flow in the passages
between the vanes in which the geometry of all the stream tubes in the
relative motion is identical and corresponds exactly to the vane geometry,
and that the velocities depend only on the radius and are the same on a circle
of given radius. This is possible in the case when each differential stream tube
is guided by its vane.
2. The pump efficiency is unity (η = 1), i. e., there are no energy losses in the
pump and shaft power is converted completely into output liquid power. This
is possible in the case of an ideal fluid, no leakage in the pump and no
mechanical friction in packings and bearings.

∞, η =1
z= → ideal pump

4
 Equations of Power and Torque

Power equation

=
N 0 ω Q ρ gH=
T= t∞ Qγ H t∞

H t∞ − head of theoretical idealized pump

Equation of moments

The torque acting on the pump shaft is equal to the increase in the angular
momentum of the fluid in the impeller per second:

Qγ
=T ( v2 r2 cos a2 − v1r1 cos α1 )
g

=
As usual: α1 90
= o
, cosα1 0

5
 The idealized Pump Head

ω u2 v2u
=H t∞ = v2 r2 cos α 2
g g

u2 ω r2 − peripheral velocity at vane exit

=

v2u − projection of the absolute exit velocity

onto direction of peripheral velocity, i.e., the tangential component of v2

For a centrifugal pump to deliver a high head the peripheral velocity must
be great and, secondly, the vector v2u must be large enough, i. e., sufficient
whirl should be imparted to the fluid. The former is achieved by increasing
the speed of rotation and impeller diameter, the latter is attained by
providing a sufficient number of vanes of suitable size and shape.

6
Another Form of Basic Pump Equation

Output velocity triangle

v2=
u u2 − v2 r cotβ 2

Q
Q = 2π r2 b2 v2 r v2 r =
2π r2 b2
Q
v2= u2 − cot β 2
2π r2 b2
u

u2  Q cot β 2 
=
H t∞  2
u − 
g  2π r2 2 
b
7
 Ideal Pump Characteristic

u2  Q cot β 2 
=
H t∞  2
u − 
g  2π r2 2 
b

1. Angle β2 < 90°. In this case cot β2 is positive and the head Ht ∞ decreases
with the discharge increasing.
2. Angle β2 = 90°, cot β2 = 0 and Ht ∞ does not depend on the discharge and is
equal to u2/2g .
3. Angle β2 >90°, cot β2 is negative and the head Ht ∞ increases with the
discharge.
8
 Vane Angle

Backward-curved vanes radial vanes Forward-curved vanes

The backward-curved vanes impellers are found to be the most efficient.

( usually β ~ 300 )
9
 Degree of Reaction

p2 − p1 v22 − v12 H=
t∞ H p + Hv
=
H t∞ +
γ 2g
reactive active
Ideal pump head equals the increase in pressure and velocity head (specific
pressure energy and specific kinetic energy) in the impeller.
v22 − v12 = v22u + v22r − v12u − v12r

v1r = v2 r , v1u = 0 ⇒ v22 − v12 ≈ v22u

Hp v22u v 1 v2 r 
= =
1 − 2u =1 +  Degree of reaction
H t∞ 2 gH t∞ 2u2 2  u2 tan β 2 

The more the vane angle β2 the less the degree of reaction and (for real pump ) the
less is efficiency due to the loss in the volute casing.

1 Hp Hp 1 Hp Hp 1
β 2 < 90 : <
0
β 2 90 : = ;
< 1; = 0
β 2 > 90 :
0
<
2 H t∞ H t∞ 2 H t∞ H t∞ 2
10
Impeller with Finite Number of Vanes

Flow template in a vane channel

Change in the velocity triangle at the impeller exit

u v′
H tz = 2 2u
g
H tz v2′ u vane-number coefficient
= µ =
H t∞ v2u
u2 v2u
H tz µ=
= H t∞ µ
g
11
 Hydraulic Loss in the Pump

= H tz − ∑ hpump
H pump Actual pump head

ηh =
H pump
= 1−
∑ hpump Hydraulic efficiency of the pump
H tz H tz

H=
pump η=
h H tz η h µ H t∞

∑ hpump= h1 + h2

h1 = k1Q 2 Ordinary hydraulic loss

k1 = const (depends on the hydraulic efficiency and the pump size)

h2 k2 ( Q − Q0 )
2
= Vortex formation loss
k2 const , Q0 − flow rate at which there are no vortex formation at the impeller inlet
and volute casing
12
Rated Characteristic Curve
Rotational speed (n) is constant

H t∞
H tz
= H tz − ∑ hpump
H pump
H pump
pump
The characteristic are
commonly plotted by
direct experiment, i.e., in
testing a pump.

pump
It follows from the characteristic that for
centrifugal pump at Q=0 the pressure is
not too high, so there are no need in relief
valve.
13
 Volumetric and Mechanical Losses

Q=′ Q + q

Q’ − flow rate through the impeller

q− internal leakage

Q
ηV = Volumetric efficiency
Q+q

N0 − Nm
ηm = Mechanical efficiency
Nm

Nm− mechanical loss (mainly due to friction in bearings and

liquid friction) 14
 Pump Efficiency

N h =N 0 − N m =(Q + q )γ H tz Hydraulic power

Qγ H pump
η=
N0
Qγ H pump Nh
η=
N0 ( Q + q ) γ H tz

H pump Q N h
=η = ηhηV ηm
H tz Q + q N 0

The overall efficiency of a pump is equal to the product of its hydraulic,

volumetric and mechanical efficiencies.

15
 Similarity of Pumps

Theoretical considerations are giving only qualitative results. The more realistic results is
possible to get by making pump model tests, especially in designing a new pump. From
the test results the pump similarity rules are used for calculating parameters of the pump
under construction. The theory of similarity is based on the rules of hydraulic modeling.
Geometric similitude – measures and shape of the model and pump should be in scale.
Kinematic similitude – velocities should be in scale.

u2 w2 v2 π D2 n u2 D2 n  n 
= = u= = = ml   ml − length scale
u2 m w2 m v2 m 60 u2 m D2 m nm  nm 

Q′ π D2 b2 v2 sin α 2 3 n 
Q ′ = π D2 b2 v2 sin α 2 = = ml  
Qm′ π D2 m b2 mv2 m sin α 2  m
n
2
H pump ηh µ v2 u2 cos α 2 2 n 
= = m=
l   , ηh µ ηhm µm
H pump , m η hm µm v2 m u2 m cos α 2  nm 
=N h N hm (=
ργ H pump ) ( ργ H pump ,m ) ml5 ( n nm )
3

16
 Dynamic Similitude

Ratio of frictional, inertial forces, gravity forces, and inertial forces in the model
and pump should be the same.

Reynolds number is characterizing the ratio of frictional and inertial forces

Re
vD2
ν=
=ν m ⇒ vD vm Dm From the experimental research the Re
ν number is not important when Re ≥ 5· 104.

Different roughness of the pump and model impellers will cause difference in efficiency.
Efficiencies are connected by the formula
a
1 − η  Dm  a = 0, when the roughness is modeled,
=
1 − η m  D  and a = 0.2, when the roughnesses are equal.

Froude number is characterizing the ratio of gravity- and inertial forces:

v2
=Fr = , Fr Frm
gD
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 Special case of Natural Model size

ml = 1
2 3
u1 n1 Q1 n1 H pump1 n  N h1  n1 
= = = 1  = 
u2 n2 Q2 n2 H pump 2  n2  N h 2  n2 

n1 Q1 H pump1 N h1
= = = 3
n2 Q2 H pump 2 Nh2

The rate of pump flow where the operating conditions are equal is therefore proportional
to its speed, the heads behave as the square of its speeds, the required motor power
output changes with the cube of its speed. In case the pump speed is increased in 2
times, the flow rate is increasing 2 times, head 4 times and necessary power 8 times.
The hydraulic efficiencies are equal, the pump efficiencies reduce slightly with speed.
18
 Specific Speed of Pump

Definition: The specific speed ns of a centrifugal pump is the required speed of

one of the present pumps which are geometrically similar in all parts, which
delivers a flow rate of 1 m3/s at a head of 1 m.
The term is used for comparing different centrifugal pumps. This is a variable
obtained from the service data which has great practical significance for the
design and choice of pumps.
2
Q 3 n H 2 n 
= m=l ; ml  
Qs ns Hs  s
n

1 3
Qns H pump n  Q  H pump , s
2 4
ml = 3 = ⇒ ns = n    
Qs n H pump , s ns 
 Qs   H pump 

Q1 2
=
Qs 1 m / s, 3
H=
pump , s 1m ⇒ ns = n 3 4
H pump
19
Impeller Shapes and Specific Speed

N N N N N

N
N N
N N

Radial flow Mixed flow Axial flow

20