MELR11 - SOM/FMM LABORATORY

Name : Amishasharon Rajavijai Sahidha

Roll Number : 111120011

Ex. No: 6 PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF

Date:17.09.2021 CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

AIM:
To conduct the performance test on centrifugal pump and to plot the operating
characteristics.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. Centrifugal Pump Test Rig.
2. Watt meter
3. Tachometer
4. Stop Watch.
5. Measuring scale

THEORY:
A centrifugal pump is a hydraulic machine which converts mechanical energy to
hydraulic energy, used to lift water from lower level to higher level. A centrifugal pump
consists of essentially an impeller rotating inside a casing. The impeller has a number of
curved vanes. Due to centrifugal head impressed by the rotation of the impeller, the water
enters at the centre and flows outwards to the periphery. There, it is collected in a gradually
increasing passage in the casing, known as volute chamber, which serves to convert a part of
the velocity head into pressure head. For higher heads, multi stage centrifugal pumps having
two or more impellers in series will have to be used. A single/multistage centrifugal pump is
coupled to a motor.
In this experiment, the efficiency of the centrifugal pump at constant speed is
computed. An energy meter is provided to measure the input to the motor and a collecting
tank is provided to calculate the discharge from the pump. Pressure and vacuum gauges are
provided in the delivery and suction sides of the pump to measure the heads, respectively.
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PROCEDURE:
1. The Dimensions of the collecting tank is noted and the area of the collecting tank is
calculated
2. The difference in levels between the suction and delivery gauges are noted.
3. The Energy meter constant (E) is noted down from the energy meter provided.
4. With the delivery valve is fully closed, the pump is started.
5. The following readings are taken by opening the delivery valve gradually.
i. Suction head (Vacuum gauge) (m)
ii. Delivery head (Pressure gauge) (m)
iii. Time Taken for 5 or 10 revolutions of Energy meter disc (sec)
iv. Time Taken for 10 cm rise of water level in the collecting Tank.
6. Take 5 or 6 Set of readings by gradually closing the delivery valve.
7. After taking the five or six readings, the delivery valve is fully opened and the motor
is switched off.
8. The observations are tabulated.

Cross sectional view of a Centrifugal pump.

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OBSERVATION:
i. Watt meter constant (Wc) = 2W
ii. Rated Speed of the motor = 1000 rpm
iii. Efficiency of the motor, ηm = 0.8 %
iv. Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
v. Specific weight of water = 9810 N/m3
vi. z = 43 cm

TABULATION:

Suction head Total head

Delivery head V notch channel Output power Watt meter
(Vacuum gauge) (H = Z+ hd Discharge (Q) Input power (Pi) Efficiency (η)
(hd) Hook gauge readings (Po) reading
(hs) + hs)
S.No

Rise in
m of m of Initial Final
kg/cm2 kg/cm2 m water m3/s W W W %
water water cm cm
level, cm
425
1. 0.1 1 0.48 4.8 6.23 1.24 15.26 14.02 1.043 x 10-2 637.4 2040 31.25
400
2. 0.2 2 0.46 4.6 7.03 1.24 14.95 13.71 0.986 x 10-2 680.12 1920 35.43
400
3. 0.3 3 0.42 4.2 7.63 1.24 14.65 13.41 0.933 x 10-2 698.5 1920 36.38
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FORMULA USED:

i) To determine the Output power (Po):

Po = γ Q H (W)
Where,
γ = Specific weight of water (Known value) (N/m3)
(Weight of the water lifted = ρ.g = 1000 x 9.81)
Q = Discharge (Calculated value) (m3/sec)
H = Total head (Measured value) (m)

ii) To determine Discharge (Q):

Formula to find discharge using V-notch

� �
Qa =�� × �� × �. � ��� � ��/� (m3/sec)

Where,
�� = coefficient of discharge (m2)
h = Rise of the water (m)
� = angle of V notch
iii) To determine the Input power (Pi):
Pi = 3600 x Nr / (T x Ne ) (kW)
Where,
Nr = Number of Revolution in the Energy meter (Known value)
T = Time for ___ revolutions of Energy meter (Measured value) (sec)
Ne = Energy meter constant (Known value) (rev/kW-hr)
iv) To determine the Efficiency (η):
η = (Po / Pi) x 100 (%)
Where,
Po = Output power (Calculated value) (kW)
Pi = Input power (Calculated value) (kW).

Department of Mechanical Engineering

 MELR20 - SOM/FM LABORATORY

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP MODEL CALCULATION:

GRAPH:

Graphs are drawn between Discharge (Qa) along X-axis and Total Head (H), Efficiency (η),
Output power (Po) and Input power (Pi) along Y- Axis.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

 MELR20 - SOM/FM LABORATORY

Department of Mechanical Engineering

 MELR20 - SOM/FM LABORATORY

RESULT:

Thus, the performance test is performed on the Centrifugal Pump and Performance. Curves are
drawn and the Following Parameters are found:-

Maximum percentage of Efficiency (η) = 34.29 %

Maximum Discharge (Qa) = 0.987 x 10-2 m3/s

Mean Output Power (Po) = 672 W

Mean Input Power (Pi) = 1960 W

Total head (H) = 6.96 m

DISCUSSION:

1. What is meant by priming and cavitation?

Priming is the process of filling up the suction pipe, the impeller casing and the delivery pipe
up to the valve with the fluid to be pumped, taking out all the air, before starting the pump. If air
is present, it develops a very low pressure head (almost 800 times lower if we compare air and
water) which is not enough for the suction of the fluid disrupting the function of the pump.
Cavitaion, on the other hand, is the forming of bubbles in the suction pipe when the -ve pressure
developed at the eye of the impeller is lower than the saturation pressure of the fluid to be
pumped causing it to boil, and the bursting of those bubbles in the vanes where the pressure is
higher. Cavitation causes noise, vibration and damages the components of the pump.

2. What is effect of head on the discharge?

The maximum head (shut-off head) is achieved at a flow rate of zero. Increasing flow rate
introduces friction into the system as the liquid travels along the pipes from the suction tank to
the pump and from the pump into the discharge pipe. This friction reduces the amount of total
head that the pump can produce. In fact, as the flow increases, friction increases and the total
head continues to decrease.

3. What is the significance of NPSH?

Net positive suction head (NPSH) is an important measure used by centrifugal pump engineers
and pump operators. It is a matter of the pressure energy within a liquid that enables the fluid to
be fed into the eye of the first-stage impeller.

4. What is the function of the casing used in centrifugal pump?

Pump casings serve to seal off the inside of the pump to atmosphere to prevent leakage and
retain pressure. In the case of centrifugal pumps, they surround the pump rotor which transmits
energy to the fluid handled via the impeller(s) mounted on the rotating shaft.

Department of Mechanical Engineering