Baku Higher Oil School

Stage 2

Chemical Engineering

Laboratory Report

Name Jale Hajiyeva

Group Number KM 15.1, 07

Experiment Title Determination of an operation point of

centrifugal pump
Date of
24.01.2017
Experiment

Demonstrator Fuad Valiyev

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Contents
Synopsis ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Theory ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Experimental details ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Procedure...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Discussion.................................................................................................................................................... 11
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 12
References .................................................................................................................................................. 13
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Synopsis
The experiment consists of only one part during which we worked with centrifugal pump
in HM 160.04 unit. During the experiment the value for speed was recorded from
potentiometer for speed. Also discharge pressure and time for certain amount of water to
fill the container were measured and written on the table. Volumetric flow rate of water
was calculated by using volume and time values. Static head was determined by dividing
the discharge pressure value to density and gravity constant value. By using head,
volumetric flow rate and efficiency values gotten from the previous experiment the pump,
system and efficiency curves were plotted on the same graph. The values we got from
previous experiment were used for plotting pump and curve, while the data we have from
this experiment was used in order to plot system curve. The duty point which is actually
the intersection point of pump and head curve was found. The volumetric flow rate and
head at duty point was observed graphically from the plotted graph. Also, the head and
volumetric flow rate at duty point were found analytically by equating pump and system
curve equations. The relative error was calculated by using head and flow rate values
determined by both analytical and graphical methods. Generally, the experiment was
carried out under normal conditions and all steps were considered.

Introduction
The main objective of the experiment is to plot pump characteristic curve, find the duty
point on it and find the efficiency corresponding to this duty point. A pump is a device
which moves liquids or gases by mechanical action. They move the fluid by consuming
energy to perform mechanical work. Energy sources of pumps are different, such as,
engines, electricity and wind power. There are 2 main types of pump: roto-dynamic and
positive displacement pumps. Positive displacement pumps run by varying filling a cavity
and after displacing certain amount of liquid. These kinds of pumps distribute a constant
liquid volume for each of the cycles, not depending on the discharge head or pressure.
Centrifugal pumps which we were working with are very simple equipment for any process
plant. It converts the energy of a prime mover firstly into speed or kinetic energy, then into
pressure energy of the liquid. The part of the device converting driver energy into kinetic
energy is the impeller. And the diffuser or volute is a part converting this kinetic energy
into pressure energy.
There are so many advantages of centrifugal pumps and the main one is that they are
very small in size and very simple. They deal with large amount of fluid with minimal
friction losses, also they have long service life. Direct connection to the power source is
also advantageous for these kind of pumps. Hazardous liquids are easily pumped using
centrifugal pumps with no noise and almost 100% efficiency. The leakage is prevented
due to absence of drive seal in the pump. There is a gap between the pump chamber and
motor which prevents heat transfer between them and does not allow fluid to seep into
the motor from the pump. Thanks to magnetic coupling that centrifugal pumps use, the
risk of damaging the motor is eliminated, as these couples break up on too big load.
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Centrifugal pumps can be applied in many different spheres, some of them are described
as follows. These type of pumps are mostly used at chemical and process industries for
chemicals, hydrocarbons, petrochemicals, paints, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage
production and etc. Centrifugal pumps also find their application at oil and energy
refineries and power plants, textile production, metal plating, pollution control. They are
widely used in building services for heating installations, fire protection sprinkler systems
and air conditioning purposes. In water and industry engineering centrifugal pumps are
utilized for water supply, drainage, also wastewater treatment. These pumps are
commonly used as metering pumps to pump some volume of liquids for water treatment.
When we deal with very high pressure or when great pressure head is required,
centrifugal pumps can be the best choice. Centrifugal pumps are widely used in every
sphere of industry, for example, these pumps are utilized by dairy farmers in order to keep
the product at the range of desired temperature, or cryogenics make use of them under
extremely cold conditions.
A centrifugal pump has a predictable and fixed performance curve at specified speed and
impeller diameter. The operation point of the pump depends on characteristics of the
system (system head curve) or the relationship between hydraulic losses of the system
and the flow. The friction losses alter as a square on the volumetric flow rate, so the
system head curve looks like a parabola. The static head is the vertical distance from
center line to the height of piping discharge in the tank. In order to choose a suitable pump
for a system, we should know both pump curve and system characteristics curve. Pump
curve is a diagram which shows the relationship between generated head and volumetric
flow rate. And system head curve demonstrates the pressure loss as a function of the
flow. The pump should operate within the pump curve and the system should operate
within the system curve. The duty point, where pump and the system operate together,
which was observed from pump’s characteristics curve, is the intersection point of system
and pump curves. At this duty point the pump operates with highest efficiency.

Theory
The centrifugal pumps which we were learning during two experiments convert kinetic
energy of rotation into hydrodynamic flow energy and therefore, transport the liquid. This
energy of rotation usually comes from electric motor or an engine. These pumps
commonly use petroleum, water, sewage and petrochemical pumping.

The main aim of the experiment was to plot the graph of 3 different curves and to
determine the values for head and flow rate at its duty point. The duty point is the
intersection point of system and pump curves at the Q-H curve. In order to choose suitable
pump we need to know both pump curve and system characteristics. Below are the
formulas used in calculations of this experiment.
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1) Q=V/t Volumetric flow rate

V- volume of the water (m^3)
t- time for this volume of water to fill the tank (s)
Example: Q= 4.5L*10^(-3)/(22s/3600)=0.7364m^3/h

2) Hstatic=P/ρ/g System head

P- pressure (Pa)
ρ – water density (998kg/m^3)
g- gravitational constant (9.81m/s^2)
Example: 2.5bar*10^5/998kg/m^3/9.81m/s^2=25.5353m

Here is the formula for pump efficiency used in previous experiment

Phyd
3) P  Pump efficiency
Ped m

Ped- electric drive power

ɳm- motor efficiency (0.92)
Example: ɳp=8.7056W/289W/0.92*100%=3.2743%

The delivery head which was determined in previous experiment and is used in this
experiment as a pump curve is calculated as follows

pds  pis 2
cds  cis2
4) H   y Delivery head
g 2g

Pds –delivery pressure (Pa)

Pis – intake pressure (Pa)
g- gravitational constant (9.81m/s^2)
ρ- water density (998 kg/m^3)
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y- height difference of the two manometer (0.18 m)

cds,cis – flow speeds (m/s)
Example: H=(1.6+0.1)*10^5Pa/9.81m/s^2/998kg/m^3+0.18m+0=17.5440m

The pump head plotted in our graph is a head developed by the pump. As volumetric flow
rate rises, this head drops. One pump can only operate on the pump head curve. the
equation below is a quadratic equation for pump head curve.

5) HP = a + bQ +cQ2
a, b, c- factors of the pump determined graphically.
System characteristic curve for laminar flow has a formula of straight line with a slope
actan A

6) Hsys = Hst + AQ
For turbulent flow this formula looks like a quadratic equation

7) Hsys = Hst + AQ2

8) relative error=|𝐡(𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥) − 𝐡(𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥)|/𝐡(𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥)

h(analytical)- head calculated analytically by equating pump and system curve

equations (m),

h(graphical)- head at duty point (m).

The equations that we got for pump and system curves are as follows:

Hpump=-1.1851Q^2-3.1473Q+17.894

Hsystem=22.136Q^2+25.975Q-5.0651
By equating these two equations we got:

23.3211Q^2+29.1223Q-22.9591=0

And we found out that the only positive root for this equation was Q=0.547939. Knowing
this, head and efficiency values were easily calculated and written in Result part.
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Experimental details
There are two types of pumps which are positive displacement and roto-dynamic or so
called centrifugal pumps. The pump type which we used during this experiment is
centrifugal pump which uses centrifugal force to increase the pressure of the liquid or to
move the fluid. Centrifugal pumps include axial, radial and mixed flow units. They provide
a flow and a head by raising the flow speed with the help of the rotating vane impeller.
The main part of this device is the impeller which lies at the heart of the pump. It has
curved vanes fixed inside the shroud plates. The impeller which is provided with water
rotates and therefore, the fluid around it also rotates. The pump pushes the fluid outward
from the impeller eye where it arrives at the casing. The generated centrifugal force
channels the liquid through outlet discharge point. The negative pressure observed in the
eye is due to the displaced liquid at the suction side and this negative pressure helps to
continue the process by providing water stream into the system again. Also, it is important
to mention that in order to supply the centrifugal pump with water, another, submersible
pump was used. Submersible pump raised the fluid to the level of centrifugal pump by
making it ready to start. Below in the picture 1, the device HM 150.04 is shown in details.

 Picture1
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1- asynchronous motor 8- alteration switch

2- rear panel 9- on-off switch
3- ball valve 10- potentiometer for speed
4-manometer, delivery 11- master switch
5-manometer, intake 12- emergency-off switch
6- display of the switch 13- centrifugal pump
7- digital display 14- frame

At this experiment the part of the device number 10- potentiometer for speed was used
in order to alter the flow speed at each of 5 stages.

Procedure
Before starting the experiment, plug in the device and check whether outlet and inlet
valves are closed in order to prevent hydrostatic shock. Fill the pump with the water flow
in order to start the pump.
 Switch on the main switch and start the pump.
 Slightly open inlet valve so the pressure rises
 Open ball valve and wait for a few seconds.
 Now, switch off the main valve
 Make speed 2800 revolutions per minute by using potentiometer for speed.
 Close ball valve so that the discharge pressure becomes 2.5 bar.
 Note down the values for both the speed and discharge pressure, after, measure
the time for certain amount of water to fill the container.
 Change the flow speed 5 times by using the potentiometer for speed and each
time record the discharge pressure and time.
 Switch the pump off and plug off the device.
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Results
During the experiment speed, pressure, volume and time values were measured and
using these values volumetric flow rate and static head was calculated. All of these
measured values are shown below in Table 1

Speed n pds V t Q Hsts

in min−1 in bar in L in s in m^3/h in m
1 2800 2.5 4.5 22.00 0.7364 25.5353

2 2500 2.1 4.5 25.42 0.6373 21.4496

3 2000 1.3 4.5 32.49 0.4986 13.2783

4 1600 0.8 4.5 40.70 0.3980 8.1713

5 1100 0.3 4.5 65.00 0.2492 3.0642

 Table 1

The values for volumetric flow rate, head and efficiency shown in the Table 2 are gotten
from the previous report table in order to plot the pump curve

Q,m^3/h 0.1836 0.7668 1.2672 1.5444 1.6704 1.7892 2.3832

H,m 17.5440 13.9690 12.4370 10.9050 9.3727 7.8406 4.7763

P,%
3.2743 10.8360 15.8240 16.6780 15.1400 13.5080 10.8590

 Table 2
Using the data above the Graph 1 was plotted, where the right ordinate stands for pump
and system curve, while right ordinate is for efficiency and abscissa for volumetric flow
rate. The head data we got from this experiment was used in order to plot the system
head curve, while the head from the previous experiment was for pump curve.
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 Graph 1

At the above graph the intersection point of system and pump curves is called duty point.
We found the head and efficiency values graphically using this point and write down in
the Table 3. As seen from the Graph 1, the equations for the 3 curves are determined. By
equating the system and pump equations we found out the roots for the quadratic
equation and chose the positive one as a volumetric flow rate value.
Obtained equation: 23.3211Q^2+29.1223Q-22.9591=0
Knowing the flow rate, the head and efficiency values were easily found analytically and
written in the table. Table 3 also shows the relative error calculated using the graphical
and analytical values.

Graphical Analytical Relative error

Q,m^3/h 0.53 0.5479 3.2739
H,m 15.30 15.8137 3.2482
P,% 8.85 8.9223 0.8107
 Table 3
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Discussion
Our objective in this experiment was to plot pump’s characteristics curve and to determine
the duty point which is the intersection point of system and pump curves. Also, efficiency
curve was plotted and its value at duty point was found both analytically and graphically.
Analytically, we compared the equations for pump and system curve and by solving the
quadratic equation we found a positive root which actually was our volumetric flow rate.
Knowing it, head and efficiency values were easily found. For system curve we used static
head calculated after the experiment and flow rate, for pump curve we used delivery head
from the previous experiment versus flow rate and finally, the graph of efficiency versus
flow rate was plotted making use of the data from previous experiment. We can observe
from Table 1, 2 that maximum head value for the pump and system was at the first step
of the experiment where volumetric flow rate was the highest. The pumps used in different
processes for various purposes should operate at its highest efficiency. Efficiency values
we got both graphically and analytically fluctuates between 8.85-8.92% which is not quite
a good result. When system curve head, pump curve head and efficiency values were
found both analytically and graphically, we calculated the relative error which is in the
range of 0.81-3.27%. Although, the relative errors were minor, there are still some
reasons due to which these curves differ from theoretical one.
 Stop watch. Again, in this experiment it was important to record time very carefully
as it was used in volumetric flow rate calculations further used in plotting the head
curves. That’s why only one person should have been done the time measurement
with the help of other person telling the moment when the desired volume was
reached.
 Water density. The density of water used in our calculations was taken from
appendix part which actually is the density of distilled water. However, we should
have recorded the density before starting the experiment and the factor such as
temperature should be considered.
 Impeller and pump casing losses. Some hydraulic and mechanical losses
appeared in pump casing and the impeller. As fluid travels through the pump some
losses such as, fluid shock loss at the inlet, fluid’s velocity and direction, diffusion
loss due to convergence or divergence, mixing and eddying losses arise. Friction
losses also should be taken into account. All of these issues led to decrease in
pump efficiency. In order to eliminate such kind of deviations, the suitable impeller
size should be chosen very carefully.
 System losses. System has some losses as well as the pump itself. For example,
the reasons for friction losses to arise are valves, piping and the fittings. Pipe
losses mainly depend on hydraulic pipe diameter, inner surface roughness and
length.
In order to eliminate such kind of deviations the experiment should be held several
times until the optimal results are gotten.
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Conclusion
To conclude, the experiment was successfully completed and the main objective which
was to find the duty point was achieved. Volumetric flow rate and static head were
calculated using the values we measured during the experiment. This static head was
used in plotting the graph for system head curve. The data for delivery head and efficiency
taken from previous experiment was also used in plotting the pump and efficiency curves.
After plotting these three curves in one graph we determined the duty point which is the
intersection point of pump and system curves. Efficiency value was also found from the
graph at the duty point. These determinations were all graphically. Then, by using the
quadratic equations for pump and head curves we found the positive root which is actually
volumetric flow rate and equals to 0.5479m^3/h and corresponding heads and efficiency
were easily calculated analytically. The highest efficiency value is equal to 8.92% which
is not the most optimal one. Finally, by comparing the results we got both analytically and
graphically, we determined the relative error which was around 0.81-3.27%. The
advantages of the pump as well as its applications were discussed in Introduction part.
Also, general view of system and pump head curves and duty point were discussed.
There were some deviations in curves from theoretical ones which were widely discussed
and possible reasons for them to arise were written. Generally, the experiment was
carried out under normal conditions and all the steps were taken into account.
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References
 “Pump Handbook” , Third Edition , Igor j. Karassik , Joseph P.Messina , Paul
cooper Charles C.Heald
 “Centrifugal Pumps for General Refinery Services”, Refining Department, API
Standard 610, 6th Edition, January 1981
 Gülich, Johann Friedrich (2010). Centrifugal Pumps (2nd ed.)
 Appendix to HM 150.04
 Karassik I., Carter R., Centrifugal pumps, McGraw-Hill, 1976.