ME 306 Fluid Mechanics II

Part 3
Turbomachinery

These presentations are prepared by

Dr. Cüneyt Sert
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Middle East Technical University
Ankara, Turkey
csert@metu.edu.tr

Please ask for permission before using them. You are NOT allowed to modify them.

3-1
 Fluid Machinery
• Fluid machinery is used to convert hydraulic energy to mechanical energy or vice versa.

Power absorbing Power producing

Work is done on the fluid Work is done by the fluid
Mechanical Energy → Hydraulic Energy Hydraulic Energy → Mechanical Energy

Pump Turbine
3-2
 Classification of Fluid Machinery
• Fluid machinery can be classified based on the motion of moving parts.
1 ) Positive Displacement Machines
• Fluid is directed into a closed volume.
• Energy transfer is accomplished by movement of the boundary of the closed
volume.
• Closed volume expands and contract, sucking the fluid in or pushing it out.

http://speakeasies.biz http://www.bicycleaccessories.us http://en.wikipedia.org

Human heart Water well pump Tire pump Gear pump

3-3
 Classification of Fluid Machinery (cont’d)
2 ) Turbomachines
• Turbo means ‘‘spin’’ or ‘‘whirl’’ in Latin.
• Turbomachines use rotating shafts with attached blades, vanes, buckets, etc.
• In ME 306 we’ll study turbomachines (mostly pumps) as black boxes, i.e. without
analyzing the details of flow fields inside them.

http://www.britannica.com http://www.noehill.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org nevada_county_california
/cal1012.asp

Kaplan type
Axial fan Centrifugal pump Pelton wheel hydraulic turbine
3-4
 Classification of Turbomachines
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump

• Pumps increase the pressure of a liquid without

changing its velocity considerably.
• Shown centrifugal (radial) pump is the most
common type.
• Visit www.standartpompa.com to get more
information on sizes and capacities.
3-5
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller

• Propellers are very similar to fans, but they are

used to generate thrust.
• Marine propellers work with incompressible
water water and aircraft propellers work with
compressible air.
• Pressure difference between the front and back
surfaces of the blades create the thrust.
3-6
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan

• The main difference between fans, blowers and

compressors is the pressure difference they
create.
• Fans create small pressure difference. Their main
purpose is to put high amount of fluid into
motion.
• Shown is axial fan of a wind tunnel.
3-7
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower

• Compared to compressors, blowers work with

higher amouts of fluid at lower pressure ratios.
• They are mostly centrifugal type.
• Shown is an industrial type blower.

3-8
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower Compressor

• Compressors work with smaller flow rates, but

create very high pressure ratios.
• Shown is a multi-stage axial compressor.
• Compressors are used in gas and steam turbines,
natural gas pumping stations, turbochargers, etc.

3-9
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower Compressor Pelton

wheel

• Pelton wheels are impulse type turbines

commonly used to generate electricity.
• They convert kinetic energy of a high speed
liquid into mechanical energy.
• Largest ones used at hydraulic power plants have
capacities up to 200 MW.
3-10
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower Compressor Pelton Hydraulic

wheel turbine

• Hydraulic turbines are used at dams to generate

electricity using high pressure water.
• Common types are Francis and Kaplan.
• Shown are the runner blades of the Francis
turbines used at Three Gorges Dam / China.
• Atatürk Dam has a capacity of 8 x 300 MW.
3-11
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower Compressor Pelton Hydraulic Steam

wheel turbine turbine

• Steam turbines are used at power plants to

generate electricity using high temperature and
high pressure steam.
• 80 % of world’s electricity is produced by steam
turbines.
• Afşin-Elbistan thermal power plant has a
capacity of 4 x 344 MW.
3-12
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower Compressor Pelton Hydraulic Steam Gas

wheel turbine turbine turbine

• Gas turbines are similar to steam turbines, but

they use high temperature and high pressure
combustion gases.
• A Boeing 777 is powered by 2 turbofan engines,
each generting a thrust of ~500 kN.
• To learn how a turbofan engine operates visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpklBS3s7iU
3-13
 Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Incompressible Compressible Incompressible Compressible

Pump Propeller Fan Blower Compressor Pelton Hydraulic Steam Gas Wind
wheel turbine turbine turbine turbine

• As of 2011 Turkey’s wind energy production is

1415 MW. (http://www.ruzgarenerjisibirligi.org.tr)
• World’s total wind energy capacity is 175 GW,
which is about 2 % of all electricity usage.
• There are wind turbines with more than 120 m
rotor diameter, producing 6 MW of electricity
(enough for 4500 homes)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQxp6QTjgJg)
3-14
 Another Classification of Turbomachines
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Uncased Cased Impulse Reaction

Axial Flow
Propeller

• Uncased turbomachines do not have a solid

casing around them.

3-15
 Another Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Uncased Cased Impulse Reaction

Axial Flow Axial

Propeller

Out
• Fluid enters an axial flow turbomachine parallel
to the axis of rotation.
• Fluid leaves the machine also in axial direction.

In
3-16
 Another Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Uncased Cased Impulse Reaction

Axial Flow Axial Radial

Propeller

In • In radial flow machines fluid intake is parallel to

Out the axis of rotation.
• Rotating impeller blades push the fluid in radial
direction.
• Fluid leaves the machine perpendicular to the
rotation axis.
3-17
 Another Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Uncased Cased Impulse Reaction

Axial Flow Axial Radial Mixed Pelton Wind Axial

Propeller wheel turbine (Kaplan)

• Kaplan turbines are axial flow machines.

• They are preferred for low head and high flow
rate configurations.
• Their capacities are less than Francis type, less
than 200 MW.
• They can provide efficiencies higher than 95 %.
3-18
 Another Classification of Turbomachines (cont’d)
Turbomachines

Power absorbing Power producing

Uncased Cased Impulse Reaction

Axial Flow Axial Radial Mixed Pelton Wind Axial Radial Mixed
Propeller wheel turbine (Kaplan) (Banki) (Francis)

• Francis turbines are the most widely used

turbomachines for hydropower.
• They are of mixed flow type.
• They can provide more than 800 MW power.
• For more information
http://www.voithhydro.com
3-19
 Parts of a Centrifugal Pump
• Centrifugal pump is the most commonly used type of turbomachine.
• They are responsible for ~5% of all electricity comsumption of USA.

http://pdf.directindustry.com
3-20
 Parts of a Centrifugal Pump (cont’d)
• For centrifugal pump details watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nL1XhKm9q8 (Principles and parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq3hEe5jzSM (Pump Parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrChdDwHybY (Impeller animation)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvOzKhUDmJM (Computer aided blade design)

• Most important part is the impeller. It may have different designs such as
• Backward-curved, radial or forward-curved
• Closed (shrouded) or open
Open, radial Closed (Shrouded)
Open

Called backward Called forward

curved if rotates curved if rotates
in this direction in this direction 3-21
 Pump Head (ℎ)
𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑄 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑝𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑉𝑖𝑛 𝑄
𝑧
𝐴𝑖𝑛
Datum

• Consider the BE between the inlet (suction) and outlet (discharge) of a pump.
2 2
𝑝𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡
+ + 𝑧𝑖𝑛 = + + 𝑧𝑜𝑢𝑡 − ℎ𝑠
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

Pump head
• Pump head is the difference between the total heads at
pump inlet and outlet.

• Pump head is a positive quantity with units of length.

3-22
 Pump Head (cont’d)
• Elevation difference between inlet and outlet is generally negligibly small.
• If suction and discharge pipe diameters are the same → 𝑉𝑖𝑛 = 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡
• For this simplified case
𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑝𝑖𝑛 ∆𝑝
ℎ𝑠 = =
𝜌𝑔 𝜌𝑔
i.e. pump head is the pressure rise across the pump expressed as a head.

• Pump head is directly related to the power delivered to the fluid, known as water
horsepower
𝒫𝑓 = 𝜌𝑔𝑄 ℎ𝑠

𝑓 for fluid Weight

flow rate

• Pump head can be defined as the power delivered to the fluid per weight of the fluid
flowing through the pump in unit time (weight flow rate).
3-23
 Pump Efficiency (cont’d)
• Power necessary to run the pump, known as brake horsepower (bhp), is larger than
power delivered to the fluid due to
• mechanical and fluidic frictional losses
• flow separation on impeller blade surfaces
• misalignment of inlet flow velocity with impeller blade geometry
• internal leakage, etc.

𝒫𝑝 = 𝑇𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 𝜔 > 𝒫𝑓

𝑝 for pump Rotational speed

Torque supplied to of the pump
the pump shaft

• Efficiency of the pump is defined as (see the distributed handout for more details)
𝒫𝑓
𝜂𝑝 = < 1
𝒫𝑝
3-24
 Performance of Turbomachines
• Important quantities of interest for a turbomachine are
• Volumetric flow rate (discharge, capacity) 𝑄
• Head ℎ
• Size of the machine 𝑑
• Rotational speed 𝑁 or 𝜔
• Power consumption or generation 𝒫
• Efficiency 𝜂

• For a pump, fundamental characteristic (performance curve) is a plot of ℎ vs. 𝑄 at a

given rotational speed 𝜔. It is customary to plot 𝒫 and 𝜂 on the same figure.

• For a turbine, fundamental characteristic is a plot of 𝒫 vs. 𝜔 at a given head of ℎ. It is

customary to plot 𝑄 and 𝜂 on the same figure.
3-25
 Performance Curve of a Centrifugal Pump
• ℎ − 𝑄 curve of a pump is known as its performance (characteristic) curve.
• For steady conditions, a pump can operate only on its performance curve.
• At a given rotational speed (𝜔) a typical centrifugal pump performance curve is

Shutoff head Shape of the curve may change

ℎ depending on the geometrical
• Outlet of the pump details of the pump.
is blocked and
𝑄 = 0.
Free delivery
• Pump is not doing
any useful work. • There is no load
on the pump and
ℎ = 0.
• Pump is not doing
any useful work
Note : This curve is for a
given rotational speed.
𝑄
3-26
 Best Efficiency Point (BEP)
• The exact operation point of a pump depends on the system it is working in.
• Pumps are designed to work at their maximum efficiency, but this is not always
possible.
Best Efficiency Point (BEP)
ℎ, 𝒫, 𝜂
(or design point)

Head (ℎ) Efficiency (𝜂)

ℎ for maximum
efficiency Power (𝒫𝑝 )

Note that all these

curves are for a
𝑄
given rotational
speed 𝜔.
𝑄 for maximum efficiency
3-27
 Similarity Laws for Pumps
• Similitude analysis for a pump is useful
• to predict the performance of geometrically similar pumps with different sizes, i.e.
with different impeller diameters.
• to predict the performance of a pump working at different speeds.

• Perform a Buckingham-Pi analysis with the following parameters

𝑄 , 𝑔ℎ , 𝐷 , 𝒫𝑝 , 𝜔 , 𝜌 , 𝜇
to get the following non-dimensional groups

𝑄 𝑔ℎ
Flow coefficient : 𝜋𝑄 = Head coefficient : 𝜋ℎ =
𝜔𝐷 3 𝜔2 𝐷2

𝒫𝑝 𝜇 1
Power coefficient : 𝜋𝒫 = Reynolds number : 𝜋𝜇 = 2
=
𝜌𝜔 3 𝐷 5 𝜌𝜔𝐷 𝑅𝑒
3-28
 Similarity Laws for Pumps (cont’d)
• In most pump applications similarity of viscous forces are not as important as the
other 𝜋 groups.
• Two geometrically similar pumps are said to be operating under similar conditions if
the remaining three 𝜋 groups are equal.
𝜋𝑄 1 = 𝜋𝑄 2 , 𝜋ℎ 1 = 𝜋ℎ 2 , 𝜋𝒫 1 = 𝜋𝒫 2

where 1 and 2 refer to two different operating conditions of similar pumps.

• These three equalities are known as affinity laws.

Exercise : Show that when affinity laws are satisfied, efficiencies of two similar
operating points (homologous points) are equal.

Exercise : How do nondimensional performance curve (𝜋ℎ vs. 𝜋𝑄 ) of two

geometrically similar pumps compare with each other? What about 𝜋𝒫 vs. 𝜋𝑄 and
𝜂 vs. 𝜋𝑄
3-29
 Similarity Case 1 – Different Rotational Speeds
• Consider a pump with a known performance. We want to determine its operation at a
different speed.

Rotating at 𝜔1 Rotating at 𝜔2
Delivering 𝑄1 and ℎ1 Delivering 𝑄2 and ℎ2
Using 𝒫𝑝1 Using 𝒫𝑝 2

• Pump sizes are the same and size parameter 𝐷 drops from nondimensional groups,
resulting in the following simplified affinity laws
𝑄1 𝑄2 ℎ1 ℎ2 𝒫𝑝1 𝒫𝑝 2
= , 2 = 2 , =
𝜔1 𝜔2 𝜔1 𝜔2 𝜔13 𝜔23

3-30
 Similarity Case 1 (cont’d)
• According to the affinity laws, for case 1 similarity
• 𝑄 is proportional with 𝜔.
• ℎ is proportional with the square of 𝜔.
• 𝒫𝑝 is proportional with the cube of 𝜔.

Exercise : What determines the operation speed of a pump? Is it something

adjustable or should a pump be always run at the same speed? Do a search on
varible speed pump technology.

Exercise : Performance data of a centrifugal pump, running at 750 rpm is given in the
following table. We want to predict the performance of the same pump when it is
running at a speed of 900 rpm.
1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F 1G 1H
𝑄(𝑚3 /𝑠) 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
ℎ (𝑚) 40 41 41 40 38 34 26 15
𝒫𝑝 (𝑘𝑊) 0 114.9 134.1 152.9 175.4 196.2 204.1 187.3
𝜂 0 0.35 0.60 0.77 0.85 0.85 0.75 0.55 3-31
 Similarity Case 1 (cont’d)
Exercise : Head and efficiency of a centrifugal pump running at 1500 rpm are given as
ℎ = 50 – 200 𝑄 – 24000 𝑄2
𝜂 = 60 𝑄 – 1200 𝑄2
It is desired to deliver 0.03 m3/s of water against a head of 36 m. Determine
a) speed of the pump
Point 2
b) efficiency of the pump
60 (desired
c) power consumption operating point)
of the pump 50
𝑄2 = 0.03 𝑚3/𝑠
40
ℎ2 = 36 𝑚
Point 1 ℎ [𝑚] 30 𝑁2 = ?
(a point similar to 20
point 2)
10
𝑄1 = ?
ℎ1 = ? 0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
𝑁1 = 1500 𝑟𝑝𝑚 𝑄[𝑚3 /𝑠] 3-32
 Similarity Case 2 – Different Sizes (Impeller Diameters)
• Consider a pump with a known performance. We want to determine the operation of
a gemoetrically similar pump with a different size rotating at the same speed.

Size is 𝐷1 Size is 𝐷2
Delivering 𝑄1 and ℎ1 Delivering 𝑄2 and ℎ2
Using 𝒫𝑝1 Using 𝒫𝑝 2

• Rotating speeds are the same. 𝜔 drops from nondimensional groups, resulting in the
following simplified affinity laws
𝑄1 𝑄2 ℎ1 ℎ2 𝒫𝑝1 𝒫𝑝 2
3 = 3 , 2 = 2 , =
𝐷1 𝐷2 𝐷1 𝐷2 𝐷15 𝐷25

3-33
 Similarity Case 2 (cont’d)
Exercise : Characteristic curve of a centrifugal pump is given as
ℎ = 100 – 1000 𝑄2
It is desired to deliver 0.1 m3/s of water against a head of 70 m. For these
requirements it is thought that using a similar pump with a smaller impeller would be
more efficient.
a) Determine the required percent reduction in impeller diameter.
b) Determine the percent decrease in power consumption.
120
Point 2
100
Point 1 (desired
(a point similar to 80 operating point)
point 2)
ℎ [𝑚] 60 𝑄2 = 0.1 𝑚3/𝑠
𝑄1 = ? 40 ℎ2 = 70 𝑚
ℎ1 = ? 20 𝐷2 = ?
𝐷1 = ?
0
0 0.1 𝑄[𝑚3 /𝑠] 0.2 0.3 3-34
 Similarity – Combined Case 1 and 2
Exercise : A pump manufacturing company produces a water pump (called pump A)
with an impeller diameter of 6 𝑐𝑚. Its performance data at 𝑁 = 1725 𝑟𝑝𝑚 is shown
below.
Marketing department of the company is recommending the design of a new larger
pump (called pump B) that will be used to pump refrigerant R-134a at room
temperature. Pump B should be designed such that its BEP occurs as close as
possible to a flow rate of 2400 𝑐𝑚3 /𝑠 at a head of 450 𝑐𝑚.
Perform a preliminary similarity analysis to Data for pump A
determine if a scaled-up version of pump A will 𝑄(𝑐𝑚3 /𝑠) ℎ (𝑐𝑚) 𝜂
be suitable or not.
100 180 0.32
a) Plot performance curves of pump A using 200 185 0.54
both dimensional and nondimensional 300 175 0.70
parameters.
400 170 0.79
b) Calculate the required diameter, rotational 500 150 0.81
speed and power for pump B operating at
600 95 0.66
its BEP.
700 54 0.38
3-35
 System Characteristic
• A pump works at an operating point on its characteristic curve.
• But this operating point depends on the system that the pump is installed in.
• Following pump works between a suction reservoir (𝑠𝑟) and a discharge reservoir (𝑑𝑟).

• BE between points 𝑠𝑟 and 𝑝𝑟

𝑝𝑑𝑟
2
𝑝𝑠𝑟 𝑉𝑠𝑟2 𝑝𝑑𝑟 𝑉𝑑𝑟
+ + 𝑧𝑠𝑟 = + + 𝑧𝑑𝑟 − ℎ + ℎ𝑓
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔
ℎ𝑔𝑡
Total major and
minor losses
𝑝𝑠𝑟 Pump
• If 𝑝𝑠𝑟 = 𝑝𝑑𝑟 = 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 and 𝑉𝑠𝑟 = 𝑉𝑑𝑟 = 0

ℎ = ℎ𝑔𝑡 + ℎ𝑓

Total geometric head (= 𝑧𝑑𝑟 − 𝑧𝑠𝑟 )

3-36
 System Characteristic (cont’d)
• ℎ𝑓 consists of major and minor losses calculated as
Actual or equivalent pipe length

𝐿𝑖 𝑉𝑖2 𝑉𝑖2
ℎ𝑓 = 𝑓𝑖 + 𝑘𝑖
𝐷𝑖 2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑖 𝑖

Friction factor Pipe diameter Head loss coefficient

for minor losses

• 𝑉𝑖 ’s are average velocities in suction and discharge pipes.

• Using the continuity eqution 𝑉𝑖 = 𝑄/𝐴𝑖
and the total loss becomes
𝐿𝑖 𝑄 2 𝑄2
ℎ𝑓 = 𝑓𝑖 + 𝑘𝑖
𝐷𝑖 2𝑔𝐴2𝑖 2𝑔𝐴2𝑖
𝑖 𝑖

or simply ℎ𝑓 = 𝐾𝑄 2
3-37
 System Characteristic (cont’d)
• Using this ℎ𝑓 in the BE we get the following system characteristic equation

ℎ = ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾𝑄 2

ℎ
ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾𝑄 2

ℎ𝑔𝑡

• Minimum head the pump should provide is equal to the total geometric head.
• Additional pump head is necessary to overcome frictional losses. This part increases
with the square of the flow rate.
3-38
 System Characteristic (cont’d)
• It is possible to change system characteristic in two ways.

Total geometric head (ℎ𝑔𝑡 ,difference Friction loss can be changed by

between reservoir levels) can be changing 𝐾. For example by opening
changed. or closing a valve.

ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾𝑄2
ℎ 3 ℎ ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾3 𝑄2
ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾𝑄2
2 ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾2 𝑄2
ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾𝑄2
1 ℎ𝑔𝑡 + 𝐾1 𝑄2

𝐾 increases
ℎ𝑔𝑡 increases
𝑄 𝑄

3-39
 Operating Point
• A pump installed on a system will not work at an arbitrary point.
• It will operate at the point where pump and system characteristics intersect.

Operating
ℎ point
System characteristic
(Demand curve)

ℎ𝑜𝑝
Pump characteristic
(Supply curve)
𝑄
𝑄𝑜𝑝

• Normally we want the operating point to be close to the BEP (design point).
• However BEP is not always the most economical operating point as far as the power
consumption is concerned, i.e. BEP is not necessarily the minimum 𝒫𝑝 point.
3-40
 System Characteristic, Operating Point & Similarity
Exercise : Characteristics of a centrifugal pump at 600 𝑟𝑝𝑚 is given below. The pump
is used to elevate water by 32 𝑚 from a lake to an open tank. Flow rate is measured
as 22 𝑙𝑝𝑠 while the delivery valve is fully open and the pump running at 600 𝑟𝑝𝑚.
70
Determine the power consumptions 65
for the following operations. 60
55
a) Valve closure is increased 50
such that the frictional loss 45
is doubled. ℎ 𝑚 40
35
b) Pump speed is increased 𝜂 [%] 30
to 720 rpm while keeping 25
the valve fully open. 20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
𝑄 [𝑙𝑝𝑠] 3-41
 Cavitation
• In a liquid flow cavitation occurs when the local static pressure falls below the vapor
pressure of the liquid.
• For a cavitating flow
• liquid locally vaporizes forming bubbles.
• bubbles collapse as they travel to higher pressure regions and cause
erosion/surface pitting.
• flow becomes unsteady and noisy causing turbomachine to vibrate.
• performance of turbomachine drops.

• For a pump, critical low pressure region is the entrance, and for a turbine it is the exit.
• High speed regions like propeller blade tips are also critical.

• Listen to the sound of a cavitating pump : www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw97DkOYYrg

• Watch propeller tip cavitation : www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpklBS3s7iU

3-42
 Cavitation Damage
Damage on
Francis turbine
blades

Damage on centrifugal pump impeller

en.wikipedia.org

Damage on
propeller www.pumpfundamentals.com
en.wikipedia.org blades 3-43
 Cavitation of a Pump and 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻
• Cavitation possibility of a pump is checked using a variable called Net Positive Suction
Head (𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻).
• 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻 is the difference between the total head at the suction side and the head
corresponding to the vapor pressure.
Suction velocity
Suction pressure Vapor pressure
𝑝𝑠 𝑉𝑠2 𝑝𝑣
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻 = + −
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔

Total head at the suction

side of the pump (Datum
can be arranged so that
𝑧𝑠 = 0)
• Suction side of the pump is the side where fluid enters into the pump. It is used
because it is the critical region due to low pressures.

3-44
 NPSH (cont’d)
• There are two values of 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻 that we work with
• 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻 required (𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 )
• 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻 available (𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 )

• 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 is the value that must be exceeded to prevent cavitation.

• It is measured by the manufacturer of the pump and provided as an extra curve on the
pump characteristic plot.

𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅

𝑄 3-45
 NPSH (cont’d)
• 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 is the value that we need to calculate for the problem of interest.
• Consider the BE for the suction side of a pump

𝑝𝑠𝑟 𝑉𝑠𝑟2 𝑝𝑠 𝑉𝑠2

+ + 𝑧𝑠𝑟 = + + 𝑧𝑠 + ℎ𝑓𝑠
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 Pump
𝑝𝑠𝑟 = 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑠
𝑉𝑠𝑟 = 0 ℎ𝑠
𝑧𝑠 − 𝑧𝑠𝑟 = ℎ𝑠 𝑠𝑟
ℎ𝑓𝑠 : Frictional losses at the suction side Suction pipe

𝑝𝑠 𝑉𝑠2 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚
+ = − ℎ𝑓𝑠 − ℎ𝑠
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔

3-46
 NPSH (cont’d)
• Using the last equation in the definition of 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴
𝑝𝑠 𝑉𝑠2 𝑝𝑣 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 − 𝑝𝑣
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 = + − → 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 = − ℎ𝑓𝑠 − ℎ𝑠
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 𝜌𝑔

No cavitation Cavitation

• To prevent cavitation
ℎ
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 ≥ 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴

𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅

Exercise : What can be done to make 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 larger for the pump shown in the
previous slide?

Exercise : How does the vapor pressure of water change with temperature? What
does this information tell us as far as cavitation prevention is concerned?
3-47
 NPSH (cont’d)
Exercise : 184 mm impeller diameter
www.standartpompa.com
centrifugal pump of Standart Pompa 32-
160 series running at 1450 rpm is used
to pump water at 25 ℃ from a reservoir
whose surface is 1.2 m above the
centerline of the pump inlet. Reservoir is
open to atmospheric pressure.
The piping system from the reservoir to
the pump consists of 3.2 m of cast iron
pipe with a diameter of 5 cm and an
average roughness of 0.05 cm. Minor
losses at the suction side of the pump
are; a sharp edged inlet (𝑘 = 0.5), three
flanged smooth 90o elbows (𝑘 = 0.3
each) and a fully open flanged globe
valve (𝑘 = 6).
Estimate the maximum flow rate that
can be pumped without cavitation.
3-48
 Suction Specific Speed (𝑆)
• Suction specific speed is a nondimensional version of 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻
𝜔 𝑄
𝑆=
(𝑔 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 )3/4

• It is usually evaluated at the BEP of a pump.

• For a family of geometrically similar pumps 𝑆 (evaluated at BEP) should have a fixed
value.
• To prevent cavitation 𝑆 should be less than a critical 𝑆𝑐 , which is around 3 for
centrifugal pumps.
• In United States it is a common practice to use the following dimensional form of 𝑆
𝜔 𝑟𝑝𝑚 𝑄[𝑔𝑝𝑚]
𝑆𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 =
(𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 𝑓𝑡 )3/4

Exercise : For the pump given in the previous slide calculate the suction specific speed
at BEP and show that it is much larger than the critical value of 3. What does this
calculation tell us?
3-49
 Specific Speed (𝑁𝑠 )
• Suction specific speed (𝑆) that we use for cavitation check is actually a specific form of
a more general nondimensional number called specific speed (𝑁𝑠 ).
• 𝑁𝑠 is obtained by combining 𝜋𝑄 and 𝜋ℎ as follows
1/2
𝜋𝑄 𝜔 𝑄
𝑁𝑠 = 3/4
=
𝜋ℎ (𝑔ℎ)3/4

• 𝑆 is a special version of 𝑁𝑠 obtained by replacing ℎ with 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 .

• 𝑁𝑠 is useful to classify and compare different types of pumps at their BEP.

• For example radial and axial pumps work efficiently at low and high Ns values,
respectively.
• 𝑁𝑠 is mainly used for preliminary pump selection.
• Similar to 𝑆, there are dimensional forms (more than one) of 𝑁𝑠 commonly used in the
industry.

3-50
 Specific Speed (cont’d)

Radial Mixed Axial

0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 1 2 4 6 10

𝑁𝑠

100 Adapted from Aksel’s textbook

95
Radial Mixed
Axial
90

𝜂 [%] 85

80

75
70
0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 1 2 4 6 10
𝑁𝑠 3-51
 Series Combination of Pumps
• Series combination is used if the head provided by a single pump is not enough.

𝑄 = 𝑄𝐴 = 𝑄𝐵

Pump A Pump B
provides ℎ𝐴 Provides ℎ𝐵

ℎ = ℎ𝐴 + ℎ𝐵

• Same 𝑄 goes through both pumps.

• Total head provided is the sum of individual heads.
• Pumps can be identical or different.
• More than two pumps can be combined in series.
3-52
 Series Combination of Pumps (cont’d)
Exercise : Show that for two pumps combined in series overall efficiency is
ℎ𝐴 + ℎ𝐵
𝜂=
ℎ𝐴 ℎ𝐵
+
𝜂 𝐴 𝜂𝐵

• To get combined pump characteristic, individual pump characteristics are added

vertically.
• If the pumps are identical ℎ
Pump A+B System
characteristic

Operating
point
Pump A or B

𝑄 3-53
 Series Combination of Pumps (cont’d)
• If the pumps are NOT identical

ℎ
System
Pump A+B characteristic

Operating
Pump A point

Pump B

𝑄
𝑄𝑐

• Above a certain 𝑄𝑐 pump B is forced to operate above its free delivery point. For such
a case it just creates extra loss and should be shut off and bypassed.
3-54
 Series Combination of Pumps (cont’d)
Exercise : Two identical pumps, with shown characteristics, are combined in series and
used to transport water between two reservoirs with an elevation difference of
𝑧𝑑𝑟 – 𝑧𝑠𝑟 = 50 𝑚. Total length of suction and discharge pipes is 120 𝑚. Pipe
diameters are 0.12 𝑚. Friction factor inside the pipes is 0.022. Neglecting the minor
losses, determine the power required to drive both pumps.

90

70
ℎ [𝑚] 50

𝜂 [%] 30

10
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

𝑄 [𝑚3 /𝑠] 3-55

 Parallel Combination of Pumps
• Parallel combination is used if the flow rate provided by a single pump is not enough.

Pump A
𝑄𝐴

𝑄 = 𝑄𝐴 + 𝑄𝐵

𝑄𝐵
Pump B

ℎ = ℎ𝐴 = ℎ𝐵

• Each pump provides the same head ℎ.

• Total flow rate is the sum of individual flow rates.
• Pumps can be identical or different.
• More than two pumps can be combined in parallel.
3-56
 Parallel Combination of Pumps (cont’d)
Exercise : Show that for two pumps combined in parallel overall efficiency is
𝑄𝐴 + 𝑄𝐵
𝜂=
𝑄𝐴 𝑄𝐵
+
𝜂 𝐴 𝜂𝐵

• To get combined pump characteristic, individual pump characteristics are added

horizontally.
• If the pumps are identical ℎ
System
characteristic
Pump A+B

Operating
point
Pump A or B
𝑄
3-57
 Parallel Combination of Pumps (cont’d)
• If the pumps are NOT identical

ℎ Operating
point System
characteristic

ℎ𝑐
Pump A+B

Pump B Pump A
𝑄

• Above a certain ℎ𝑐 pump B is forced to operate above its shutoff head. For such a case
it just creates extra loss and should be shut off and its branch should be blocked with a
valve.
3-58
 Pump Selection
• Two main inputs for pump selection are
• required head
• required flow rate

• Additional considerations for pump selection are

• pump speed (depends on the speed of the electric motor)
• type of fluid (highly viscous, muddy, etc.)
• available space, vertical placement limitations that will affect 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻
• maximum allowable noise level
• etc.

• For preliminary pump selection specific speed (𝑁𝑠) and suction specific speed (𝑆) are
two commonly used variables.

3-59
 Pump Selection (cont’d)
• Using the required head and flow rate we can first select a pump family from a
manufacturer’s catalogue. For example for the plot given below at 2900 𝑟𝑝𝑚,
‘‘65-160’’ family is suitable for 𝑄 = 100 𝑚3 /ℎ and ℎ = 30 𝑚.
120
100
80
60

40
ℎ 𝑚
30

20

15 2900 𝑟𝑝𝑚
www.standartpompa.com
10
5 10 15 20 30 40 50 100 200 300 600
𝑄 [𝑚3 /ℎ] 3-60
 Pump Selection (cont’d)
50 𝜙 184 50 %
60 65
• These are the detailed performance 45 70
𝜙 175 73.5
curves of the the pumps in ‘‘65-160’’ 40
family running at 2900 𝑟𝑝𝑚. 𝜙 160 70
35

ℎ 𝑚
• There are three similar pumps with 65
30 60
impeller diameters of 160 𝑚𝑚,
175 𝑚𝑚 and 184 𝑚𝑚. 25
50
• Black curves are iso-efficinecy lines. 20

• 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 and 𝒫𝑝 curves are also 10

𝜙 184
𝜙 160

N𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅
provided. 6

𝑚
2
• One of these three pumps can be 20 𝜙 184
selected by considering cavitation
possibility, efficiency and power 15 𝜙 175
𝒫𝑝 𝑘𝑊
consumption. 10 𝜙 160

• The smallest pump can not provide 5

the required head of 30 𝑚 at the
Adapted from www.standartpompa.com
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
desired flow rate of 100 𝑚3 /ℎ.
𝑄 [𝑚3 /ℎ] 3-61
 Turbines
• Fundamental performance characteristic or a reaction type turbine is the power
produced vs. rotational speed curve at a given head.

𝒫𝑡
At a given
head ℎ

• Affinity laws used for pumps are valid for turbines too.

• Specific speed can be used for preliminary turbine selection, but it is defined in a
slightly different way compared to pumps

𝜋𝒫 1/2 𝜔 𝒫𝑡
𝑁𝑠𝑡 = 5/4
=
𝜋ℎ 𝜌 (𝑔ℎ)5/4

3-62
 Turbine Specific Speed

Impulse Radial Mixed Axial

0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 1 2 4 6 10

𝑁𝑠𝑡
100 Adapted from Aksel’s textbook

95 Francis
Impulse Kaplan
90

𝜂 [%] 85

80

75
70
0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 1 2 4 6 10
𝑁𝑠𝑡 3-63
 Turbines (cont’d)
Exercise : Calculate the specific speed of the following turbines
a) Francis type radial flow turbine at the Round Butte hydroelectric power station in
Madras rotating at 180 𝑟𝑝𝑚 and producing 119 𝑀𝑊 of power at a flow rate of
127 𝑚3 /𝑠 from a head of 105 𝑚.
b) Francis type mixed flow turbine at the Smith Mountain hydroelectric power
station in Roanoke, VA, rotating at 100 𝑟𝑝𝑚 and producing 194 𝑀𝑊 of power at
a flow rate of 375 𝑚3 /𝑠 from a head of 54.9 𝑚.
c) Kaplan type axial flow turbine at the Warwick hydroelectric power station in
Cordele, GA, rotating at 100 𝑟𝑝𝑚 and producing 5.37 𝑀𝑊 of power at a flow rate
of 63.7 𝑚3 /𝑠 from a head of 9.75 𝑚.

Exercise : Learn the meaning of the following turbine related terms

Runner blade, wicket gate, stay vane, crown, penstock, draft tube, tail water

Exercise : How hydraulic power works ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEL7yc8R42k

Virtual turbines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzQPNpP55xQ
3-64