Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)

Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Experiment 6
Multi Pump Test Rig
Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Objectives
- Determine the operating characteristic of Positive Displacement Plunger
Pump in a contained unit.
- Understand the Positive Displacement Plunger Pump in principle and
design, and the selection of the appropriate pump for a particular
application for optimal operation.

Overview
Pumps are of a major concern to most engineers and technicians. The types of
pump vary considerably in principle and design, and the selection of the
appropriate pump for a particular application is essential for satisfactory
operation. This experiment allows students to measure the operating
characteristic of different pumps in a contained unit. This training unit
incorporates appropriate pipe work and tanks to make the operation self-
contained. The manually operated valves and pipe work are arranged for rapid
and safe selection of any one-test pump. All necessary instrumentation for
measurement of flow, pump head, speed and power are included. In the
experiments, students are able to operate three types of pump namely a
Horizontal Single Stage Centrifugal Pump, a Positive Displacement Plunger
Pump and a Positive Displacement Gear Pump.
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

General Start - Up Procedures

Before conducting any experiment, it is necessary to do the following checking to

avoid any misuse and malfunction of equipment.

1. Make sure that the water tank is filled with water up to at least 50%.

2. Make sure that the oil tank is filled with oil up to at least 50%.

3. Make sure that the RS 232 data cable is connected to the computer.

4. Switch on the main power supply located on the control panel. The
instruments should light up.

5. Select the appropriate pump and flow meter according to the following
combination.

6. Switch on the computer and monitor if you are using them to collect data
and generate the characteristic curve.

Pump Indication Flow Flow rate Diff. Pump

Meter Pressure Head
P1/P2 0 -100% FT 1 0 – 113.56 DPT 1 0 – 3 bar
L/min

Types of Pump Process Hand Valve Hand Valve

Pump Selection Selection OPEN CLOSE
Switch Switch
Horizontal
Single P1 Water HV2, HV3, HV4 HV1, HV5, HV6,
Stage Pump HV7, HV8
Plunger P2 Water HV2, HV5, HV6 HV1, HV3, HV4,
Pump HV7, HV8
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Important:

i. Never operate the pumps when there is no liquid in the pipeline. It

will cause serious damage to the pumps.
ii. Always watch out for the direction of the motor impeller, it should
follow the direction of the arrow on the pump.

Data Acquisition System

1. Power the pump Test Rig first.

2. Ensure that the cable between the computer and the Pump Test Rig is
correctly connected.

3. Switch on the power to the computer.

4. Under Windows click on the Pump Test Rig icon. The program wills
startup automatically.

5. The table consists of fifteen entries and a final entry at the bottom labeled
'live'- this is the live reading at that moment in time (online data).

6. During an experiment, if you wish capture these data, click on the 'Record'
button.

7. The recording mechanism will capture at maximum 15 entries. After

which it will try to replace the closest old entry found.

8. These captured data could be saved in the form of a file. It could also be
loaded later for review or to add a new entry.

9. It is important that the user selects the correct pump before recording the
data, as live data will be represented differently for each pump.
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Experimental Procedures

Experiment 1 : Rotational Speed Vs Output Pressure

Performance Curve for a Positive Displacement
Pump

Experimental Procedures 1 for P2

Please refer to the general start-up procedures before conducting this

experiment.

1. Press the START push button to start the pump.

2. Adjust the potentiometer beside the speed indicator, set the motor speed
to its maximum (i.e. About 950 rpm)

3. Slowly adjust the HV2 so that the pump head (pressure) is at 90%.

4. Record the flow rate once the readings are stable.(Refer Table 3)

5. Repeat steps 2 and 4 for the following motor speed readings of P2 = 950,
900, 850, 800, 750, 700, 650, 600, 550 rpm.

6. The data you have collected will enable you to plot the following
characteristic curve.

i. Rotational Speed (N) Vs. Volume Flow Rate (Q)

Note:

i. Please turn off the pump by pressing the stop push button at the end of
experiment.
ii. Adjust the potentiometer to its minimum setting (fully anti clockwise).

Warning: Do not close the HV2 completely when P2 is running. This may cause
serious damage to the instrument.
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Experiment 2 : Other Performance Curve for a Positive

Displacement Pump

Experimental Procedures 2 for P2

Please refer to the general start-up procedures before conducting this

experiment.

1. Press the START push button to start the pump.

2. Adjust the potentiometer beside the speed indicator, set the motor speed
to its maximum (i.e. About 950 rpm).

3. Slowly adjust the HV2 so that the pump head (pressure) is at 90%, record
the flow rate, differential pressure, power and speed once the readings are
stable (Refer Table 4).

4. Repeat step 3 with the following pump head readings of P2 = 80%, 70%,
60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%. You can try any other intermediate
reading but never try to close the HV2. This is to ensure that the existing
pressure develop in the pipeline doesn’t exceed the limit.

5. The data you have collected will enable you to plot the following
characteristic curve;

i. Motor Input Power (PMi) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)

ii. Volume Flow (Q) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
iii. Pump Power Output (Po) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
iv. Pump Power Input (Pi) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
v. Pump Efficiency (ETA) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
vi. Overall Efficiency (ETAgr) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)
vii. Volumetric Efficiency (ETAv) Vs Output Pressure (Pr)

Note:

i. Please turn off the pump by pressing the stop push button at the end of
experiment.
ii. Adjust the potentiometer to its minimum setting (fully anti clockwise).
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Warning: Do not close the HV2 completely when P2 is running. This may cause
serious damage to the instrument.

Results

Record the data collected for experiment 1 in the table below.

Table 1: Rotational Speed and Differential Pressure for P2

Speed (RPM) Flow Rate (%)

950
900
850
800
750
700
650
600
550

Record the data collected for experiment 2 in the table below.

Table 2: Pressure, Flow rate, Speed and Power for P2

Pressure Flow rate Speed Power

% % RPM kW
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

List of Abbreviation

Symbol Description Constant Unit

Value
N Rotational Speed RPM
PMI Motor Input Power W
H Pump Total Head m
3
Q Volume Flowrate m /hr
Pi Pump Power Input W
Po Pump Power Output W
Pm Pump Mechanical Power W
Zc1 Inlet Distance From Datum (water) 180 mm m
Zc2 Outlet Distance From Datum (water) 860 mm m
ETA Pump Efficiency %
ETAgr Overall Efficiency %
ETAv Volumetric Efficiency %
w Density of Water 1000 kg/m
3

oil Density of Oil 910 kg/m

3

DP Differential Pressure %
Pr Pressure %
2
g Gravity 9.81 m/s
Pp1min Pump 1 Power at No Load (50 Hz) 70 W
Pp2min Pump 2 Power at No Load (50 Hz) 60 W
Pp3min Pump 3 Power at No Load (50 Hz) 50 W
-6 3
Vigar Volume Displacement for Gear Pump 6.309 x 10 m /rev
-5 3
Vipiston Volume Displacement for Plunger Pump 2.09 x 10 m /rev
ZG1 Inlet Distance From Datum (oil) 64 mm m
ZG2 Outlet Distance From Datum (oil) 380 mm m
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Formula for Calculation of Variables

Horizontal Single Stage Centrifugal Pump/ Plunger Pump

 113.56 x 60 
3
Volumetric flow rate, m /hr Q = (q/100) x  1000 
 
  DP   3 x 10.2 x 10 4 
Pump Total Head, m H = (Zc 2- Zc 1) +   

 x


 100   w g 
Pump Power Output, W Po = (wg HQ) / 3600

Pump Power Input, W Pi = (PMI – P1min) or (PMI – P2min)

P
Pump Efficiency, % ETA = Po x100
i

P
Overall Efficiency, % ETA gr= Po x100
MI

* For Plunger Pump Only

ETAv = Q x 100
Volumetric Efficiency, %
V x N x 60
i
Note: 1 GPM = 3.7854 LPM
1 bar = 10.2 mH2O

Discussion

Plot all the characteristic curves which have been stated in all the experiment
conducted. Comments the plotted graphs in terms of their relationships between
the y – axis and the x – axis
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 Fluid Mechanics (CLD 10603)
Experiment 6: Positive Displacement Plunger Pump

Tutorial
1. Define pump.

2. What is the difference between dynamic pump and positive

displacement pump?

3. List down three factors which influence the choice of pump for
a particular operation.

Conclusion

References
th
1. White, F.M. Fluid Mechanics 4 Ed. McGraw Hill
2. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C and Harriot Unit Operations of
th
Chemical Engineering 5 Ed. McGraw Hill
3. Anthony Esposito. Fluid Mechanics with Applications. Prentice
Hall International Inc.
4. Debler, W.R. Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals. Prentice Hall International
Inc.
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