Pumps

1. A double suction centrifugal pump delivers 70 ft 3/sec of water at a head of 12 m and

running at 1250 rpm. What is the specific speed of the pump?

Solution:

𝑁√𝑄
𝑁𝑠 =
ℎ3/4

70 𝑓𝑡 3 7.481 𝑔𝑎𝑙 60𝑠𝑒𝑐

1250 𝑟𝑝𝑚 √ 2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 × × 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
1𝑓𝑡 3
𝑁𝑠 =
3.281 𝑓𝑡 3/4
(12 𝑚 × 1𝑚 )

𝑁𝑠 = 9968.34 𝑟𝑝𝑚

2. The pump centerline of a centrifugal pump is located 2.5 m above from the high tide
level. The sea water varies two meters from high tide to low tide level. If friction loss at
the suction is 0.8 m, determine the total suction head.

Solution:

ℎ𝑠 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑

ℎ𝑠 = 2.5 𝑚 + 2 𝑚 + 0.8 𝑚

ℎ𝑠 = 5.3 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

3. A centrifugal pump requires 40 ft head to deliver water from low level to higher level.
If pump speed is 1600 rpm, determine the impeller diameter of the centrifugal pump.

Solution:

Solve for velocity, v:

𝑣 = √2𝑔ℎ
 𝑚 1𝑚
𝑣 = √2 (9.81 2
) (40 𝑓𝑡 × )
𝑠𝑒𝑐 3.281 𝑓𝑡

𝑚
𝑣 = 15.466
𝑠𝑒𝑐

Solve for diameter of the impeller, D:

𝑣 = 𝜋𝐷𝑁

𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑣 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
15.466 = 𝜋𝐷 (1600 × )
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝐷 = 0.18461 𝑚 ≅ 184.61 𝑚𝑚

4. The suction pressure of a pump reads 2 in of mercury vacuum and discharge

pressure reads 130psi is use to deliver 100 gpm of water with specific volume of 0.0163
ft3/lb. Determine the pump work.

Solution:

101.325 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑃1 = −2 𝑖𝑛 𝐻𝑔 ×
29.92 𝑖𝑛 𝐻𝑔

𝑃1 = −6.773 𝑘𝑃𝑎

101.325 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑃2 = 130 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ×
14.7 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝑃2 = 896.071 𝑘𝑃𝑎

Solve for density of fluid, w:

1
𝑤=
𝑣

1
𝑤=
𝑓𝑡 3⁄
0.0163 𝑙𝑏
 𝑙𝑏 9.81 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚3
𝑤 = 61.35 3 ×
𝑓𝑡 62.4 𝑙𝑏⁄𝑓𝑡 3

𝑘𝑁
𝑤 = 9.645
𝑚3

Solve for pressure head, h:

𝑃2 − 𝑃1
ℎ=
𝑤

896.071 − (−6.773)
ℎ=
9.645

ℎ = 93.075 𝑚

Solve for pump work, P:

𝑃 = 𝑤𝑄ℎ

𝑘𝑁 𝑔𝑎𝑙 3.785 𝑙𝑖 1 𝑚3 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑃 = (9.645 3
) × (100 × × × ) × (93.075 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙 1000 𝑙𝑖 60𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑃 = 5.69 𝑘𝑊

5. A pump is to deliver 150gpm of water at a head of 120 m. If pump efficiency is 70%,

what is the horsepower rating of motor required to drive the pump?

Solution:

Solve for water power, Pw:

𝑃𝑤 = 𝑤𝑄ℎ

𝑚 𝑔𝑎𝑙 0.003785 𝑚3 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑃𝑤 = (9.81 ) × (150 × × ) × (120 𝑚)
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑃𝑤 = 11.139 𝑘𝑊

Solve for Brake Power, BP:

 𝑃𝑤
𝐵𝑃 =
𝜂𝑝

11.139 𝑘𝑊
𝐵𝑃 =
70 %

𝐵𝑃 = 15.913 𝑘𝑊 ≅ 21.33 𝐻𝑃

6. A motor is used to drive a pump having an efficiency of 85% and 70% respectively.
What is the combined efficiency of pump and motor?

Solution:

𝜂𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 = 𝜂𝑝 𝜂𝑚

𝜂𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 = 0.85(0.70)

𝜂𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 = 59.50 %

7. In a boiler feed pump, the enthalpy at the entrance is 765 kJ/kg. If pump has a head
of 900 m, what is the exit enthalpy of the pump?

Solution:

𝑚(ℎ2 − ℎ1 ) = 𝑚 × ℎ × 0.00981

ℎ2 − 765 = 900(0.00981)

𝑘𝐽
ℎ2 = 773.83
𝑘𝑔

8. A submersible pump delivers 350 gpm of water to a height of 50 ft from the ground.
The pump were installed 120 ft below the ground level and a draw down of 8 ft during
the operation. If water level is 25 ft above the pump, determine the pump power.

Solution:

Solve for head, h:

ℎ = 5 𝑓𝑡 + 120 𝑓𝑡 − (25 𝑓𝑡 − 8 𝑓𝑡)

 1𝑚
ℎ = 108 𝑓𝑡 ×
3.281 𝑓𝑡

ℎ = 32.916 𝑚

Solve for water power, Pw:

𝑃𝑤 = 𝑤𝑄ℎ

𝑘𝑁 𝑔𝑎𝑙 0.003785 𝑚3 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑃𝑤 = (9.81 3 ) × (350 × × ) × (32.916 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑃𝑤 = 7.25 𝑘𝑊

9. Determine the number of stages needed for a centrifugal pump if it is used to deliver
400 gpm of water and pump power of 15 Hp. Each impeller develops a head of 38 ft.

Solution:

𝑃𝑤 = 𝑤𝑄ℎ

0.746 𝑊 𝑘𝑁 𝑔𝑎𝑙 0.003785 𝑚3 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

15 𝐻𝑝 × = (9.81 3 ) × (400 × × ) × (ℎ)
1 𝐻𝑝 𝑚 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐

3.281 𝑓𝑡
ℎ = 45.20 𝑚 ×
1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

ℎ = 148.317 𝑓𝑡

Solve for number of stages:

148.317 𝑓𝑡
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 =
38 𝑓𝑡

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 = 3.903 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 = 4 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠

10. A boiler feed pump receives 50 li/sec of water with specific volume of 0.00112 m 3/kg
at a head of 750 m. What is the power output of driving motor if pump efficiency is 65%?
Solution:

Solve for water power, Pw:

𝑃𝑤 = 𝑤𝑄ℎ

1
𝑃𝑤 = ( ) × (0.050) × (750)
0.00112 × 0.00981

𝑃𝑤 = 328.46 𝑘𝑊

Solve for Brake Power, BP:

𝑃𝑤
𝐵𝑃 =
𝜂𝑝

328.46 𝑘𝑊
𝐵𝑃 =
65 %

𝐵𝑃 = 505.32 𝑘𝑊

11. What power can a boiler feed pump can deliver a mass of 35 kg/s water at a head of
500 m?

Solution:

𝑃 = 𝑚 × ℎ × 0.00981

𝑃 = 35 × 500 × 0.00981

𝑃 = 171.675 𝑘𝑊

12. A pump running at 100 rpm delivers water against a head at 30 m. If pump speed
will increased to 120 rpm, what is the increase in head?

Solution:

ℎ2 𝑁2 2
=( )
ℎ1 𝑁1
ℎ2 120 2
=( )
30 100

ℎ2 = 43.2 𝑚

𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 43.2 − 30

𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 13.2 𝑚

13. A pump is used to deliver 50 li/sec of sea water at a speed of 120 rpm. If speed will
increased to 135 rpm, determine the increased in pump capacity.

Solution:

𝑄2 𝑁2
=
𝑄1 𝑁1

𝑄2 135
=
50 120

𝑙𝑖
𝑄2 = 56.25
𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 56.25 − 50

𝑙𝑖
𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 6.25
𝑠𝑒𝑐

14. A 15 kW motor running at 350 rpm is used to drive a pump. If speed will changed to
370 rpm, what is the increased in power?

Solution:

𝑃2 𝑁2 3
=( )
𝑃1 𝑁1

𝑃2 370 3
=( )
15 350

𝑃2 = 17.72 𝐾𝑤
𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 17.72 − 15

𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 2.72 𝑘𝑊

15. A pump delivers 500 gpm of water against a total head of 200 ft and operating at
1770 rpm. Changes have increased the total head to 375 ft. at what rpm should the
pump be operated to achieve the new head at the same efficiency?

Solution:

ℎ2 𝑁1 2
=( )
ℎ1 𝑁2

200 1770 2
=( )
375 𝑁2

𝑁2 = 2424 𝑟𝑝𝑚

16. A centrifugal pump delivers 80 liters per second of water on test. Suction gage
reads 10 mm Hg vacuum and 1.2 meters below pump centerline. Power input is 70 kW.
Find the total dynamic head in meters.

Solution:

80
𝑄=
1000

𝑚3
𝑄 = 0.08
𝑠𝑒𝑐

Using the typical pump efficiency of 74%

𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑃𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 =
𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

(9.81)(0.8)ℎ
70 =
0.74

ℎ = 66 𝑚
17. A vacuum pump is used to drain a flooded mine shaft of 20°C water. The pump
pressure of water at this temperature is 2.34 kPa. The pump is incapable of lifting the
water higher than 10.16 m. What is the atmospheric pressure?

Solution:

Using Bernoulli’s Theorem

𝑃1 𝑉1 2 𝑃2 𝑉2 2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
𝑤 2𝑔 𝑤 2𝑔

𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑉2 2 − 𝑉1 2
= + + (𝑧2 − 𝑧2 )
𝑤 𝑤 2𝑔

𝑃1 2.34
= + 0 + (10.16)
9.81 9.81

𝑃1 = 101.9 𝑘𝑃𝑎

18. It is desired to deliver 5 gpm at a head of 640 m in a single pump having specific
speed not to exceed 40. If the speed is not to exceed 1352 rpm, how many stages are
required?

Solution:

𝑁√𝑄
𝑁𝑠 =
ℎ3/4

1352√5
40 =
ℎ3/4

ℎ = 319.54 𝑓𝑡 (ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒)

Solve for number of stages:

640 𝑓𝑡
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 =
319.54 𝑓𝑡

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 = 2 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠

19. A pump driven by an electric motor moves 25 gpm of water from reservoir A to
reservoir B, lifting the water to a total of 245 feet. The efficiency of the pump and motor
are 64% and 84% respectively. What size of motor (HP) is required?

Solution:

Solve for water power, Pw:

𝑃𝑤 = 𝑤𝑄ℎ

𝑙𝑏 𝑔𝑎𝑙 1 𝑓𝑡 3 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
(62.4 ) × (25 (245 𝑓𝑡)
𝑚𝑖𝑛 7.481 𝑔𝑎𝑙 × 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐 ) ×
×
𝑓𝑡 3
𝑃𝑤 =
𝑓𝑡 − 𝑙𝑏
550 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑃𝑤 = 1.548 𝐻𝑝

Solve for size of motor:

1.548
𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 =
0.64

𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 = 2.42 𝐻𝑝

Therefore, use 3 Hp motor

20. A fuel pump is delivering 10 gpm of oil with a specific gravity of 0.83. The total head
is 9.14 m, find how much energy does the pump consumes in kJ per hour.

Solution:

𝑔𝑎𝑙 3.785 𝑙𝑖 1 𝑚3 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑄 = 10 × × ×
𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙 1000 𝑙𝑖 60𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑚3
𝑄 = 2.271
ℎ𝑟

𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = (0.83 × 9.81)(2.271)(9.14)

𝑘𝐽
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 169
ℎ𝑟