National University of Singapore

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME

ME2135E/TME2135 Fluid Mechanics II

Characteristics of Centrifugal Pump

(Single Pump)

NAME OF STUDENT : QIAO YU

MATRIC NO. : A0230271W
LAB GROUP : B6
DATE OF LAB : 18/02/2022
INTRODUCTION

Pumps have come to occupy an important place in a large number of industries which have
different requirements. Attempts to meet the needs of industries have resulted in the
design and development of various types of pumps. To match a pump for a particular
application and to use a pump effectively, it is necessary to know the pump characteristics.
In this experiment, students are exposed to the method of determination of pump
characteristics, which is similar for all types of pumps. The experiment is conducted using a
parallel-series centrifugal pump test rig.

Purpose

a) To determine the pump characteristics H versus Q, P versus Q, and  versus Q at a

given speed.

b) To verify speed laws Q  N and H  N2 for the same pump.

Scope

This experiment demonstrates the method used for the determination of the
characteristics of a pump and the way the graphs are plotted to illustrate the pump
characteristics. The speed laws show how the pump characteristics are predicted at
different speeds of operation, knowing the characteristics at one particular speed. The use
of the test-rig helps the student to familiarize himself/herself with the operation of pumps.

SAMPLE CACULATIONS

For Fully Open Valve at N = 1500 rpm and D=0.16m:

• Pump Speed, N1 = 1500 rpm x 2π/60 = 157.08 rad/s

• Input Shaft Power, Ps= T x N = 1.79 x 157.08 = 0.2812 kw

• Pressure Head = PH = Pout -Pin = (0-(-0.26)) x 98066.5 = 25497 Pa

• Head, H= PH/ ρw x g = 25497/ (1000 x 9.81) = 2.599m

• Volume Flow Rate, Q= 50.6 x 10^-3 /60 = 8.433 x 10^-4 m^3/s

• Output Power, Pw= ρgH x Q = 1000 x 9.81 x 2.599 x 8.433 x 10^-4 = 0.0215Kw

• Efficiency, 𝛈 =Pw /Ps x 100% = 0.0215/0.2812 x100% = 7.65%

• Head Coefficient of Pump, CH= gH/N^2D^2 = 9.81 x 2.599/ (0.16^2 x 157.08^2) = 0.0404

• Flow Coefficient of Pump, CQ = Q/ND^3 = 8.433 x 10^-4 / (0.16^3 x 157.08) = 0.00131

 PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
a) Graph 1 - Plot H (m), Ps (kW) and  versus Q (m3/s) for both speeds of the pump.

H (m) vs Q (m^3/s)
H (m) Q (m^3/s)
9.0000
2.599 0.000843
Ps3.599
(Kw) Q0.000666
(m^3/s) 8.0000
N=1500
4.998
0.2812
𝛈 0.0005
Q0.000843
(m^3/s) 7.0000 𝛈 (%) vs Q (m^3/s)
rpm
5.198
0.2608
0.0765 0.000333
0.000666
0.000843
N=1500 6.0000
0.1400 N2=1700 rpm
5.598
0.2356
0.0903 0.000166
0.0005
0.000666 b)
rpm
N=1500 5.578 0 5.0000
0.1200
0.2089
0.104 0.000333
0.0005
H (m)

rpm H (m) Q (m^3/s) 4.0000 N2=1700

0.1791
0.0814 0.000166
0.000333 0.1000
3.399 0.000962 rpm
0.1602
0.0511 0
0.000166 3.0000
0.0800
5.998 0.000666
Ps (0Kw)
𝛈 (%)

N=1700 Q (m^3/s)
0 2.0000 N1=1500 rpm
5.998 0.0005 0.0600 N1=1500 rpm
rpm 0.3863
𝛈 0.000962
Q (m^3/s)
7.597 0.000333 1.0000
0.3382
0.083 0.000666
0.000962 0.0400
N=1700 7.997 0.000166 0.0000
0.308
0.116 0.0005
0.000666
rpm
N=1700 7.997 0 0.0200
0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 0.0012
0.2706
0.0955 0.000333
0.0005 Q (m3/s)
rpm 0.0000
0.235
0.0918 0.000166
0.000333 0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 0.0012
0.2029
0.0557 0
0.000166 b)
Ps (kw) vsQQ(m^3/s)
(m^3/s)
0 0
0.4500
0.4000
N2=1700 rpm
0.3500
0.3000
0.2500
Ps (Kw)

0.2000 N1=1500 rpm

0.1500
0.1000
0.0500
0.0000
0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 0.0012
Q (m^3/s)

b) Graph 2 - Plot CH versus CQ for both speeds and verify the performance law of a fluid machinery.
CH vs CQ
0.1200

0.1000
N2=1700 rpm
0.0800

0.0600
CH

N1=1500 rpm
0.0400

0.0200

0.0000
0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 0.0012 0.0014
CQ
 CH CQ
0.0404 0.00131
0.0559 0.00104
N=1500
0.0776 0.000777 c) Graph 3 - Plot H (m) vs Q (m3/s) for both speeds and verify
rpm
0.0807 0.000518 speed law by predicting one curve from the other.
0.0869 0.000259
0.09 0
CH CQ
H (m) vs Q (m^3/s)
0.0411 0.00131
0.0725 0.000914 9.0000
N=1700
0.0725 0.000686 8.0000
rpm
0.0919 0.000457 7.0000 N2=1700 rpm (Predicted)
0.0967 0.000229
6.0000 N2=1700 rpm (Theoretical)
0.0967 0
5.0000
H (m)

4.0000
H (m) Q (m^3/s) 3.0000
Predicted Predicted
2.0000
2.646 0.000849 N1=1500 rpm (Predicted)
1.0000
N=1500 4.67 0.000588 N1=1500 rpm (Theoretical)
rpm 4.67 0.000441 0.0000
0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 0.0012
5.915 0.000294
Q (m^3/s)
6.226 0.000146
6.226 0
H (m) Q (m^3/s)
Predicted Predicted
3.338 0.000955
N=1700 4.623 0.000755
rpm 6.419 0.000567
6.676 0.000377
d) Discuss the results and conclude.
7.19 0.000188
7.447 0 In Graph 1a, head across the pump (H) versus volume flow rate (Q)
at 1500 rpm and 1700 rpm have been plotted respectively. It is observed that the pressure head is tend
higher at a higher rotational speed and head across the pump (H) is inversely proportional to the
volume flow rate(Q).

In Graph 1b, input shaft power (Ps) versus volume flow rate (Q) at 1500 rpm and 1700 rpm have been
plotted respectively. It is observed that the input shaft power increases as the volume flow rate
increases. It shows that more power input is required for higher volume flow rate to be discharged. The
input power tends higher at higher rotational speed.

In Graph 1c, efficiency of pump (𝛈) versus volume flow rate (Q) at 1500 rpm and 1700 rpm
have been plotted respectively. It is observed that the best efficiency point (BEP) is not
corresponding to the maximum volume flow rate and the efficiency tends higher at higher
rotational speed. The efficiency is zero when is discharge valve is fully closed.

The Graph 2 shows the relationship between the head coefficient (C H) and flow coefficient
(CQ) at 1500 rpm and 1700 rpm. The data obtained by dimensional analysis using
Buckingham π Theorem. It is observed that two trendlines are almost overlap with each
other due to the geometrically similar pump, which further verifies the performance law of
fluid machinery.

The Graph 3 is plotted with the values from theoretical calculations. It is similar with the Graph 1a
which plotted with the experiment results. This further proves that speed law could be used to
accurately predict the performance for the pumps of the same homogenous family but running in
different rotational speeds.

In conclusion, it is important to understand the pump characteristics, which helps to develop and use
the various of pumps effectively. Furthermore, with using the dimensionless analysis, geometrically
similarities and speed laws, engineers are able to accurately predict the performance for the pumps of
the same homogenous family in different rotation speeds in the industry.