2014

Viscosity effects on
Centrifugal pump
performance
&
Viscosity correction

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 1

Factors affecting pump performance
1-Effect of density or specific gravity “SG” :
a) No change in head of the pump, but the
pressure will be proportional to the liquid Sp.
Gravity
b) No change in discharge but the weight rate will
be proportional to Sg.
c) No change in pump efficiency

d) Power will changes and it is proportional to Sg

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 2

 P   gH

W w=weight of water

 gHQ
PSh 


11/26/14 NDU / ASME 3

• Pumps’ manufacturers test their pumps by water
at normal temperature,
• For viscous liquids such as oil, the friction and
other losses inside the pump lead to drop in
pump’s head, discharge and efficiency.
• Viscosity correction is necessary when pumping
viscous liquid using the nomogram presented in
corresponding figure .

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 4

 – VISCOUS PERFORMANCE
FROM WATER
, (Courtesy of Hydraulic Institute
(Edition 1994
If you need very accurate information you will use the
following chart only as a guide and then conduct your
. own test with your specific fluid

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 5

 :Effect of viscosity on the pump performance are

.The brake horsepower requirement will increase-1

You will notice a reduction in the head the pump will-2
.produce
Some reduction in capacity will occur with moderate-3
.and high viscosities
.The pump's efficiency will decrease-4

Since Pumps’ manufacturers test their pumps by water at

normal temperature, pumping oil correction have to be applied
.to the pump performance
The attached chart is typical of the charts supplied by the hydraulic
.Institute and other similar publications

. Viscosity means resistance to pouring

11/26/14
The thicker the fluid the higher viscosity
NDU / ASME 6
Recommended Operating range: 60-120% of Q @ Bep
Excessive Noise & vibrations at lower flows
Cavitation expected at higher flows

100%QBep
Shaft power kW

Recom. Range
Shaft power

Best Eff. Point Bep

60%QBep 7 120%QBep
The following equations are used for
determining the viscous performance when
. water performance of the pump is known

To get the corresponding value Qo , Ho &  o for

viscous liquid , multiplied the correction factors
from chart with Qw , Hw &  w as following:

Qo=CQxQw
Ho= CH x Hw
 o=C x  w

:Where
.CQ Capacity correction factor
.CH Head correction factor
.C Efficiency correction factor
Qnw Water capacity at which maximum
efficiency is obtained
CQ , CH and C  are determined from the
NDU / ASME 8
correction chart which is based on water
performance
11/26/14 NDU / ASME 9
 VISCOSITY CORRECTION FACTORS a) From required flow Qw
(Courtesy of Hydraulic Institute, 1994 Edition( move up to Head Hw
b) From there - move over to
Viscosity
c) Then- move up to read
Coefficients Cn, CQ, CH
Viscosity
@ 0.6 QNW ,
0.8 QNW , 1.QNW
Head
And 1.2 QNW

Poise =0.1 Ns/m2=0.1Pa.S

Stoke =10-4 m2 /s
11/26/14 NDU / ASME Flow 10
 CH
How to read
The chart

For Example
CQ
Commence at
horizontal axis with
Cn Q= 750 gpm @ (BEP),
vertically up to
intersect 100 ft head
line, then horizontally
across to 1000SSU
viscosity line ,then
vertically up to
.correction factors
:We get
CQ=0.95
CH=0.92 @ 1.QNW

11/26/14 NDU / ASME

Cn=0.635
11
 Given

Calculated
BEP

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 12

 O.P
Water Q-H
Curve
Oil Q-H
Curve O.P
water
.
Power
curve
oil
Power
curve

Water Eff.
curve
oil Eff.
curve

11/26/14 Change NDU

in the
/ ASMEoperating point when 13

water was replaced by oil

Example

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 14

15
 PRACTICAL MAXIMUM VISCOCITY FOR
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

Where to stop?
If we say that after a pump efficiency is reduced in half as a limiting rule, then
from the chart it follows that:

The practical maximum viscosity limit for centrifugal

pumps is approximately 500 centistokes

Note: POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS CAN HANDLE MUCH HIGHER VISCOSITIES

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 16

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS CAN
HANDLE HIGH VISCOSITIES
High viscosity fluids are better handled with positive
displacement pumps that are affected differently than
:centrifugal pumps by a change in fluid viscosity

At a constant speed, changes in viscosity will have very little - 1

.affect on capacity
The total head will probably increase with viscosity because of -2
.higher system resistance
.The brake horsepower (kilowatts) will increase with capacity -3
The efficiency probably will not be affected because of less -4
leakage through the internal pump clearances. In some cases the
efficiency will increase

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 17

 End of lecture-2

11/26/14 NDU / ASME 18