Exp.# 12: A (Series pumps).

Purpose: To investigate the result on discharge and total head of operating pumps in
series.
Theory:
Centrifugal pumps are often used together to enhance either the flow rate or the
delivery pressure beyond that available from the single pump.
For some piping system designs, it may be desirable to consider a multiple pump
system to meet the design requirements.
Two typical options include parallel and series configurations of pumps which require
a specific performance criteria.
In serial operation the heads of the pumps are added and in parallel operation the
flow rates (capacities) of the pumps are added.
The experimental unit provides the determination of the characteristic behavior for
single operation and interaction of two pumps.
The apparatus consists of a tank and pipework which delivers water to and from two
identical centrifugal pumps.
A single pump may be insufficient to produce the performance required. Combining
two pumps
increases the pumping capacity of the system. Two pumps may be connected in
series, so that water
passes first through one pump and then through the second. When two pumps operate
in series, the
flow rate is the same as for a single pump but the total head is increased. The
combined pump headcapacity
curve is found by adding the heads of
the single pump curves at the same
capacity.

Setting the flow path:

The system may be configured to drive

flow using single, series or parallel
pumps. The system valves are as shown:
Valves should be set to configure the
system as follows. should also be set to the corresponding flow path to ensure that the
correct calculations are performed.

Single Pump:

Series Pumps:
Parallel Pumps:

The two pumps are motor-driven centrifugal pumps. On pump 1, the speed of the
motor is adjustable to give a range of 0 to 100%, allowing operation as a single pump
for pump performance analysis.

Pump 2 is an identical model but is run at its design speed,

which is equivalent to a setting of 80% on the variable-speed
pump for a 50Hz electrical supply, or 100% for a 60 Hz
supply.
Equipment Set Up:
If the equipment is not yet ready for use, proceed as follows:
1. Ensure the drain valve is fully closed.
2. If necessary, fill the reservoir to within 10cm of the top rim.
3. Check that both pumps are fitted with similar impellers (the impellers may be
viewed through the clear cover plate of each pump).
4. Ensure the inlet valve and gate valve are both fully open.
5. Set the 3-way valve for flow in series.
6.Ensure the interface device is connected to an appropriate mains supply, and switch
on the supply. Switch on the interface device.

Procedures:

1. Both pumps must be used at the same

setting in this experiment to ensure
identical performance. As the speed of
pump 2 is fixed at its design operational
point, pump 1 should be set to match -
select 80% for a 50Hz electrical supply, or
100% for 60 Hz.
2. Allow water to circulate until all air has
been flushed from the system.
3. If results are already available for a single pump across its full flow range, load
those results into the software now and jump to the section of this exercise using two
pumps.
If results are not available then proceed as follows:
(Figure 1)
Single pump performance:
Single pump performance:
a. Close pump 2 outlet valve and open pump 1 outlet valve.
b. record the sensor readings and pump settings on the results table .
c. Close the gate valve to reduce the flow by a small amount.
d. Continue to close the gate valve to give incremental changes in flow rate, recording
the sensor data each time.
e. After taking the final set of data, fully open the gate valve.
Series pump performance:
a. Create a new results sheet .
b. Open pump 2 outlet valve, close pump 1 outlet valve and wait for any air to
circulate out of the system.
d. record the sensor readings and pump settings on the results .
e. Close the gate valve to reduce the flow by a small increment.
f. Continue to close the gate valve to give incremental changes in flow rate, recording
the sensor data each time.
g. After taking the final set of data, fully open the gate valve again.

Pumps in parallel exercise may be performed immediately after this experiment ;

otherwise, save the results an
d ensure they are available for exercise when required.
It may also be advisable to save the results from this exercise before starting even if
continuing straight on, to ensure that the data is not lost in the event .
Results:
On a base of flow rate, plot a graph of total head gain for the single pump and for two
pumps connected in series. Calculate the difference between the total head gain for
single and series pumps.
Conclusion:
Does the total head gain for the two pumps in series match the theoretical prediction
of twice the
head gain for a single pump (assuming the two pumps used gave identical
performance)?

Exp.# 13: B (Parallel pumps)

Purpose: To investigate the result on discharge and total head of operating pumps in
parallel.

Theory:

Centrifugal pumps are often used together to enhance either the flow rate or the
delivery pressure beyond that available from the single pump.
For some piping system designs, it may be desirable to consider a multiple pump
system to meet the design requirements.
Two typical options include parallel and series configurations of pumps which require
a specific performance criteria.
In serial operation the heads of the pumps are added and in parallel operation the
flow rates (capacities) of the pumps are added.
The experimental unit provides the determination of the characteristic behavior for
single operation and interaction of two pumps.
The apparatus consists of a tank and pipework which delivers water to and from two
identical centrifugal pumps.
A single pump may be insufficient to produce the performance required. Combining
two pumps
increases the pumping capacity of the system. Two pumps may be connected in
parallel, so that half
the flow passes through one of the pumps and the other half through the second pump.
When two
pumps operate in parallel, the total head increase remains unchanged but the flow rate
is increased.
The head-capacity curve is found by adding the capacities of the single pump curves
at the same head.

The system may be configured to drive flow using single, series or parallel pumps.
The system valves are as shown:

Valves should be set to configure the system as follows. should also be set to the
corresponding flow path to ensure that the correct calculations are performed.

Single Pump:
Series Pumps:

Parallel Pumps:

The two pumps are motor-driven centrifugal pumps. On pump 1, the speed of the
motor is adjustable to give a range of 0 to 100%, allowing operation as a single pump
for pump performance analysis.
Pump 2 is an identical model but is run at its design speed, which is equivalent to a
setting of 80% on the variable-speed pump for a 50Hz electrical supply, or 100% for a
60 Hz supply.

Equipment Set Up:

If the equipment is not yet ready for use, proceed as follows:
1. Ensure the drain valve is fully closed.
2. If necessary, fill the reservoir to within 10cm of the top rim.
3. Check that both pumps are fitted with similar impellers (the impellers may be
viewed through
the clear cover plate of each pump).
4. Ensure the inlet valve and gate valve are both fully open.
5. Set the 3-way valve for flow in parallel.
6. Fully open the pump 1 outlet valve and pump 2 outlet valve. Opening both valves
fully ensures
that the outlet pressure on both pumps is equal.
7. 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.
8. Ensure the interface device is connected to an appropriate mains supply, and switch
on the
supply. Switch on the interface device.
9. Run the software. Check that 'IFD: OK' is displayed in the bottom right corner of
the screen and
that there are values displayed in all the sensor display boxes on the mimic diagram.
10. In the software, on the mimic diagram, set the "Mode" to "parallel" by selecting
the appropriate
Procedures:
1. Both pumps must be used at the same setting in this experiment, to ensure identical
performance. As the speed of pump 2 is fixed at its design operational point, pump 1
should be
set to match - select 80% for a 50Hz electrical supply, or 100% for 60 Hz.
2. Allow water to circulate until all air has been flushed from the system.
3. Exercise A should be performed before this experiment, and the results loaded into
the software
if the software is not still open from that exercise.
If the software is still open from exercise A,
then create a new results sheet by selecting the (New) icon. Rename the current
(blank) results
sheet to 'Parallel'.
4. Select the (Go) icon to record the sensor readings and pump settings on the results
table of the
software.
5. Close the gate valve to reduce the flow by a small increment.
Select the (Go) icon again.
6. Continue to close the gate valve to give incremental changes in flow rate, recording
the sensor
data each time.
7. After taking the final set of data, fully open the gate valve.
Set Pump 1 to 0% and switch off both pumps.
Results:

On a base of flow rate, plot a graph of total head gain for the single pump and for two
pumps
connected in parallel. Calculate the difference between the capacity for single and
parallel pumps.
Conclusion:
Does the total head gain for the two pumps in parallel match the theoretical prediction
of twice the
capacity of a single pump (assuming the two pumps used gave identical
performance)?
Compare the graphs for pumps in series and pumps in parallel, and describe the
similarities and
differences.