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Module 3 – Pump Configuration, Specific Speed and Affinity Laws

Pumps in Series and Parallel

1. Pumps in Series

n
HT = ∑ H i = H1 + H2 + H3 + … Hn
i=1

2. Pumps in Parallel
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n
QT = ∑ Q i = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + … Qn
i=1

Pump Specific Speed – used to characterize the operation of a pump at its optimum
conditions (best efficiency point) and is useful for preliminary pump selection.

N √Q
Ns = 3
4
H
Where:

Ns = specific speed (US units)

Q = flow rate (gpm)
H = head (ft) per stage; H = HT/n
HT = total head
N = rotational speed (rpm)
n = no. of stages
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Notes:

1. Refer to Nsp, US this is the one we are calculating

2. The graph represents the maximum efficiency as a function of pump specific speed
for the three main types of dynamic pump.

Pump Suction Specific Speed – is an index number descriptive of the suction

characteristics of a given pump design.

N √Q
Nss = 3
4
NPSHR

Where:

Nss = suction specific speed (US units)

Q = flow rate (gpm)
N = rotational speed (rpm)
NPSHR = net positive suction head required

Note: Same with suction specific speed, the parameters stated above shall be at the best
efficiency point of the pump.

Application of Ns and Nss in determining the pump’s allowable operating region

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Sample Problems:
1. Two water pumps are arranged in series. The performance data for both pumps follow
the parabolic curve fit Havailable = Ho – aQ2. For pump 1, Ho = 5.3 m and coefficient a =
0.0438 m/Lpm2; for pump 2, Ho = 7.8 m and coefficient a = 0.0347 m/Lpm 2. In either
case, the units of net pump head H are m, and the units of capacity Q are Lpm.
Calculate the combined shutoff head and free delivery of the two pumps working
together in series. At what volume flow rate should pump 1 be shut off and bypassed?

2. The same two water pumps are arranged in parallel. Calculate the shutoff head and
free delivery of the two pumps working together in parallel. At what combined net
head should pump 1 be shut off and bypassed?

3. A pump is being designed to deliver 320 gpm of gasoline at room temp. The required
net head is 23.5 ft of gasoline. It has already been determined that the pump shaft is to
rotate at 1170 rpm. Calculate the pump specific speed. Based on this result, decide
which dynamic pump would be most suitable for this application.

4. Centifugal pump at best efficiency point BEP. Assume the pump characteristics are H
= 21.9 ft, Q = 300 gpm and N = 1170 rpm.
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5. A two-stage centrifugal pump delivers 15000 kg/hr of water against 76 m head at

3500 rpm. What is the specific speed of the pump?
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6. It is desired to deliver 5 gpm at a head of 640 ft in a single stage pump having a

specific speed not to exceed 40. If the speed is not to exceed 1352 rpm, how many
stages are required?

7. A double suction, single stage, centrifugal pump delivers 900 m3/hr of seawater (SG =
1.03) from a source where the water level varies 2 m from high tide to low tide level.
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The pump centerline is located 2.6 m above the surface of the water at high tide level.
The pump discharges into a surface condenser, 3 m above the pump centerline. Loss
of head due to friction in suction pipe is 0.80 m and that in the discharge side is 3 m.
Pump is directly coupled to a 1750 rpm, 460 V, 3 phase, 60 Hz motor. Calculate the
specific speed of the pump in rpm.

8. Based from the pump performance curve below, calculate the following:
a. Specific speed
b. Suction Specific speed
c. Based from the calculated Nss, is the minimum continuous stable flow in the
graph accurate? State the reason.

Pump is a single suction and has a single stage impeller.

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Pump Affinity Laws – these are useful as they allow prediction of the head, discharge
characteristics of a pump from a known characteristic measured at a different speed or impeller
diameter.

Requirements:

1. Pumps are dynamically similar, ratio of the fluid forced are the same
2. Two impellers’ speed or diameter are running at the same efficiency.

Geometrically similar pumps - if they have the same number and angle of
impeller blades, ratio of impeller diamater with pump casing
- pertaining for a replacement pump.
Q2 N 2 D2 3
Q1
= ( )
N 1 D1
2 2
H2 N2 D2
H1
= ( ) ( )
N1 D1
3 5
BP2 ρ2 N 2 D2
BP1
= ( ) ( )
ρ1 N 1 D1

Same Pumps (specific pump) – when the affinity laws are applied to a single pump the
only thing that is varied is the shaft rpm
Q2 N2
Q1
= N1
2
H2 N2
H1
= ( )
N1
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3
BP 2 N2
BP 1
= ( )
N1

Sample Problems:

1. A 6” pump operating at 1770 rpm discharges 1500 gpm of cold water (S.G.=1.0)
against an 80 foot head at 80% efficiency.  A geometrically similar 8” pump
operating at 1170rpm is being considered as a replacement.  What capacity and
total head can be expected from the new pump?  What would be the new power
requirement?
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2. By approximately what factor will the motor power increase if the pump doubles
in speed?

3. A test on centrifugal pump operating at 1150 rpm showed a total head of 37.6 ft at
a capacity of 800 gpm. Estimate the total head and capacity of the pump if it were
operated at 1750 rpm. Assume normal operation at point of maximum efficiency
in each case.
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4. A pump running at 1000 rpm delivers water against a head of 300 m. If the pump
speed will increased to 1500 rpm, what is the change in head?

5. A centrifugal pump discharged 20 L/s against a head of 17 m when the speed is

1500 rpm. The diameter of the impeller was 30 cm and the brake horsepower is 6.
A geometrically similar pump 40 cm in diameter is to run at 1750 rpm, assuming
equal efficiencies, what brake power is required in Hp?
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6. As an engineer you are asked to design a small water pump for a residential
neighborhood. The pump should deliver 18 L/min of water at a net head of 1.6 m
at its best efficiency point. A motor spins at 1200 rpm is available. Suppose later
on you decided to attach a motor that spins half of that speed. Calculate the
following on the new conditions:
a. Pump specific speed
b. Volume flow rate
c. Net Head
d. Brake Power

7. Calculate the speed at the minimum and maximum impeller if the speed at the
rated impeller is 1800 rpm.
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8. The power output is 30 Hp to a centrifugal pump that is discharging 900 gpm and
which operates at 1800 rpm against a head H = 120 ft, 220 V, 3 phase, 60 Hz. If
the pump is modified to operate at 1200 rpm assuming its efficiency remains
constant, determine its discharge in gpm, the theoretical head it imparts to the
liquid and the power input to the pump.

Fluid Machinery
Problem Set No. 3
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1. A pump delivers 0.3 m3/s against a head of 200 m with a

speed of 2000 rpm. Find the specific speed.

2. A radial flow pump must deliver 2000 gpm against a head of

950 ft. Find the minimum practical rotative speed.

3. A sump pump turning at 1600 rpm provides a discharge of 9

gpm against a head of 18 ft. Compute the minimum power
input. Use the graph below to determine the efficiency.

4. In order to predict the behavior of a small oil pump, tests

are to be made on a model using air. The oil pump is to be
driven by a 1/20 hp motor at 1800 rpm and a ¼ hp motor is
available to drive the air pump at 600 rpm. Using the SG of
oil at 0.92 and the density of air constant at 0.00238
slug/ft3, what size model should be built?

5. What is the power ratio of a pump and its 1/5 scale model if
the ratio of the heads is 4 to 1?

6. An acceptance test was conducted on a centrifugal pump

having a suction pipe 25.4 cm diameter discharge pipe 12.7
cm in diameter. Flow was 186 m3/hr of clear cold water.
Pressure at suction was 114.3 mm Hg vac and discharge
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pressure was 107 kPag at a point 91 cm above the point where

the suction pressure gage was measured. Input to the pump
was 15 hp. If the pump runs at 1750 rpm, what new brake hp
would be developed and required if the pump speed were
increased to 3500 rpm? Assume constant efficiency.

7. A plant has installed a single suction centrifugal pump with

a discharge of 68 m3/hr under 60 m head and running at 1200
rpm. It is proposed to install another pump with double
suction but of the same type to operate at 30 m head and
deliver 90 m3/hr. What must be the impeller diameter of the
proposed pump if the diameter of the existing pump is 150
mm?

8. The power output is 30 Hp to a centrifugal pump that is

discharging 900 gpm and which operates at 1800 rpm against a
head, H = 120 ft, 220 V, 3 phase, 60 Hz. If the pump is
modified to operate 1200 rpm, assuming its efficiency
remains constant, determine the theoretical head.

9. A pump delivers 500 gpm of water against a total head of 200

ft and operating at 1770 rpm. Changes have increased the
total head to 375 ft. At what rpm should the pump be
operated to achieve the new head at the same efficiency?

10. A pump operating at 1800 rpm delivers 600 gpm against a

total head of 200 ft. Changes in the piping system have
increased the total head to 260 ft. At what rpm should the
pump be operated to achieve this new head at the same
efficiency.