MAPÚA UNIVERSITY

Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

EXPERIMENT NO. 3

SERIES / PARALLEL PUMPS

NAME: Arada, Francis Benedict U. DATE OF PERFORMANCE: June 18, 2021

STUDENT NO.: 2018102483 DATE OF SUBMISSION: June 18, 2021

COURSE/SECTION: ME152L-2/ E03

SEAT NO: 2

INSTRUCTOR

ENGR. TEODULO VALLE

TABLE OF CONTENT

OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................................................1
THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES.....................................................................................................1
LIST OF APPARATUS....................................................................................................................4
PROCEDURES................................................................................................................................6
SET-UP OF APPARATUS...............................................................................................................7
FINAL DATA SHEET.....................................................................................................................9
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS........................................................................................................10
TEST DATA ANALYSIS...............................................................................................................14
QUESTION AND ANSWERS......................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
RECOMMENDATION..................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19
OBJECTIVES

1. Pump configurations such as parallel, series and singly should be familiarized.

2. To understand the different procedure and principle.
3. To gather performance data for calculating flow rate and efficiency.

THEORY AND PRINCIPLE

Centrifugal pumps are devices that move fluids by converting rotating kinetic energy into
the fluid flow's hydrodynamic energy. An electric motor or a steam turbine are the most common
sources of rotational energy. More industrial applications employ centrifugal pumps than any
other type of pump. The volute pump is the most popular centrifugal pump.

Figure 1. Centrifugal Pump

Pumps can be linked in a parallel or serial configuration to increase flow rate capacity or
head.

Pumps in Series
2 pumps can be linked in series so that water goes through one pump first and then the
second. The flow rate of 2 identical pumps operating in series is just like a single similar pump,
but the total head is increased. Adding the heads of the single pump curves at the same flow rate
yields the combined pump head capacity curve. For identical pump, the head gain is doubled
for a single pump.

1
Pumps in Parallel
Two identical pumps can be linked in parallel, with half of the flow going through one
pump and the other half going through the other. The overall head increase is unchanged when 2
pumps run in parallel, but the flow rate is increased. Adding the flow rates of the single pump
curves at the same head yields the head capacity curve. Two times the flow rate of a single pump
for similar pumps.

 Discharge Flow, Q

Q=0.31 h2.5
o √2g

ho =hv +0.0008 5

 Manometric Head

H MA =( H DA −H SA ) +1.17 × 105 (Q A2 )

 Brake Power
BP ¿ =2 π × N × M T × L

 Waterpower
℘out =Q× δ × H MA

2
 Pump Efficiency
℘
η PA = × 100 %
BP
H MA + H MB
ηseries =
H MA H MB
+
η PA ηPB

QT
η¿ =
QA QB
+
η PA η PB

3
LIST OF APPARATUS

1. Series / Parallel Pump Test Rig

2. Counter Weights

3. Venier Hook Gauge

4
4. Tachometer

5. Steel Tape

5
PROCEDURES

Single Pump Connection:

 Manipulate the valves and make a simple pump connection.

 Make use of the pump A first.

 Adjust the Vernier hook gauge and set speed to zero reading.

 Switch on the motor and set the speed to 1800 rpm.

 Put the needed weights to torque arm until it is balanced.

 Let the pump run until the water level stabilizes.

 Re-adjust the Vernier hook gauge and record the caliper reading.

 Record the suction and discharge gauges.

 Repeat the same procedure for Pump B.

Series Pump Connection:

 Manipulate the valves to have a series pump connection.

 Switch on the motor and set the speed to 1800 rpm.

 Put the needed weights to balance the motor.

 Let the pump run until the water level stabilizes.

 Record the suction and discharge gauges.

Parallel Pump Connection

 Manipulate the valves to have a parallel pump connection.

 Switch on the motor and set the speed to 1800rpm.

 Put the needed weights to balance the motor.

 Let the pump run until the water level stabilizes.

 Adjust the Vernier hook gauge and record the caliper reading.

6
  Record the suction and discharge gauges.

SET-UP OF APPARATUS

Figure 2. Actual setup of apparatus

Figure 3. Venier Hook Gauge

7
8
9
FINAL DATA SHEET
I. Pump A

N hVA QA H SA H DA H MA MT P¿ Pout η PA
rpm mm m3/s m m m mm W W %
0.00196
1800 72 -2.3 2.0 4.75 1323 611.60 91.66 14.99
7

II. Pump B

N hVB QB H SB H DB H MB MT P¿ Pout η PB
rpm mm m3/s m m m mm W W %
0.00217 657.83
1800 75 -3.5 1.0 5.0538 1423 107.88 16.40
6 2

III. Pump in Series

N Q H SA H DA H MA H SB H DB H MB ηseries
rpm m3/s m m m m m m %
0.00196 15.70
1800 -3 0.5 3.95 -2.8 1.1 4.35
7

IV. Pump in Parallel

N hV QT QA QB η¿
rpm mm m3/s m3/s m3/s %
1800 81 0.002632 0.001967 0.002176 9.97

10
SAMPLE COMPUTATION

PUMP A @ 1800 rpm

 Discharge Flow
ho =hv +0.00085

ho =72mm ( 10001 mmm )+0.00085

ho =0.07285 m

2.5
Q A =0.31 ho √2 g

Q A =0.31 ( 0.07285 m )
2.5
[√ (
2 9.81
m
s
2 )]
m3
Q A =0.001967
s
 Manometric Head

H MA =( H DA −H SA ) +1.17 × 105 (Q A2 )
3 2
m
H MA =[ 2.0 m−(−2.3 m ) ] +1.17 ×10 0.001967
s
5
( )
H MA =4.75 m

 Brake Power
BP ¿ =2 π × N × M T × L

1 min 1kg m
(
BP ¿ =2 π 1800 rpm×
60 s )(
1323 g ×
1000 g )
(0.25 m)(9.81 2 )
s
BP ¿ =611.60 W

 Waterpower

11
 ℘out =Q× δ × H MA
3
m
(
℘out = 0.001967
s )(9810 mN )(4.75 m)
3

℘out =91.66 W

 Pump Efficiency
℘
η PA = × 100 %
BP
91.66 W
η PA = × 100 %
611.60W
η PA=14.99 %

PUMP B @ 1800 rpm

 Discharge Flow
ho =hv +0.00085

ho =75 mm ( 10001mmm )+0.00085

ho =0.07585 m

QB =0.31 ho2.5 √ 2 g

QB =0.31 ( 0.07585 m)
2.5
[√ (
2 9.81
m
s
2 )]
m3
QB =0.002176
s

 Manometric Head

H MB =( H DB−H SB ) + 1.17× 105 (QB 2)

2
m3
H MB =[ 1 m−(−3.5 m ) ] +1.17 × 10 0.002176
s
5
( )
12
 H MB =5.0538 m

 Brake Power
BP ¿ =2 π × N × M T × L

1min 1 kg m
(
BP ¿ =2 π 1800 ×
60 s )(
1423 ×
1000 g )
(0.25 m)(9.81 2 )
s
BP ¿ =657.832 W

 Waterpower
℘out =Q× δ × H MB
3
m
(
℘out = 0.002176
s )(9810 mN )(5.0538 m)
3

℘out =107.88W

 Pump Efficiency
℘
η PB= × 100 %
BP
107.80 W
η PB= ×100 %
657.832W
η PB=16.40 %

PUMP IN SERIES @ 1800 rpm

 Manometric Head
5 2
H MA =( H DA −H SA ) +1.17 × 10 (Q A )
2
m3
5
H MA =[ 0.5 m−(−3 m ) ] +1.17 ×10 0.001967 (s )
H MA =3.95 m

H MB =( H DB−H SB ) + 1.17× 105 (Q A 2)

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 3 2
m
H MB =[ 1.1 m−(−2.8 m ) ]+ 1.17× 10 0.001967
s
5
( )
H MB =4.35 m

 Pump Efficiency
H MA + H MB
ηseries =
H MA H MB
+
η PA ηPB

3.95 m+ 4.35 m
ηseries =
3.95m 4.35m
+
14.99% 16.4 %
ηseries =15.70 %

PUMP IN PARALLEL @ 1800 rpm

 Discharge Flow
ho =hv +0.00085

ho =81 mm ( 10001 mmm )+0.00085

ho =0.08185 m

2.5
QT =0.31 ho √2 g

QT =0.31 ( 0.08185m )
2.5
[√ (
2 9.81
m
s2 )]
m3
QT =0.002632
s

 Pump Efficiency
QT
η¿ =
QA QB
+
η PA η PB

14
 3
m
0.002632
s
η¿ =
m3 m3
0.001967 0.002176
s s
+
14.99 % 16.4
η¿ =9.97 %

TET DATA ANALYSIS

The experiment is based on using a series / parallel pumps. We are instructed to collect
output data so that the flow rate and efficiency of the pumps in this experiment could be
assessed. It is shown that the parallel pump configuration has higher fluid flow than the sequence
pump configuration. When comparing the efficiency of pumps in series and parallel pumps, the
efficiency in series is 15.70%, while the efficiency in parallel is 9.97%. As per the data observed,
when the discharge between the pumps is equal, the number of heads in a series relation of
pumps increase. Furthermore, the discharge was increased while the head remained constant in a
parallel link of motors. These efficiencies aren't always consistent; it can change depending on
the design and other factors, with parallel pump setup being more efficient than series pump
setup depending on its application.

The formulas shown below were used to calculate the necessary data:

 Discharge Flow, Q
2.5
Q=0.31 ho √2g

15
 ho =hv +0.0008 5

 Manometric Head

H MA =( H DA −H SA ) +1.17 × 105 (Q A2 )

 Brake Power
BP ¿ =2 π × N × M T × L

 Waterpower
℘out =Q× δ × H MA

 Pump Efficiency
℘
η PA = × 100 %
BP
H MA + H MB
ηseries =
H MA H MB
+
η PA ηPB

QT
η¿ =
QA QB
+
η PA η PB

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What is the distinction between utilizing pumps in series and pumps in parallel in a
pipe system?
When pumps are connected in series, the system's water head is increased. That
implies the pumping system may draw water from a deeper reservoir, which means a pipe
system with multiple pumps in series might be useful if the water level underneath is very
deep.
The water discharge rate is enhanced when pumps are connected in parallel. The
suction power from a deeper water reservoir, on the other hand, stays the same as with a
single pump system. Pumps in parallel might be useful when a pipe system has to
discharge a significant volume of water in a short length of time from a normal water
reservoir.

16
2. What is pump cavitation?
When the liquid pressure at a constant temperature drops well below saturated
vapour pressure point, cavitation happens in pumps. Air bubbles constantly develop and
collapse in the liquid during cavitation. This makes a lot of noise and might harm the
installation. If somehow the pressure on the pump's suction side is too low, cavitation
might occur in a heating system. To eliminate cavitation inside a pump, the minimum
inlet pressure must be greater than the pump's Net Positive Suction Head.[ CITATION
Adm191 \l 13321 ]

3. What happens if you connect pumps in parallel or series?

Parallel operations, in particular, require caution. Indeed, if the heads of both

pumps are significantly different, when the system is installed, the head supplied by one
pump may surpass the head given by the other. A recirculation will occur in this situation,
with the pump’s flow with the smaller head going backwards. To avoid this problem,
construct the system curve and characteristics, and make sure that the performances of
both pumps are not too different.

4. What are the main causes of using parallel pump instead of single pump?
 Reduced startup costs.
 Reduced installation costs.
 Greater reliability
 Reduced operational expenses.
 Significant reduction in energy use

5. Does series pump increase pressure?

You may increase the head from each centrifugal pump by connecting them in
series or to a single line, allowing you to meet your high head, low flow system needs.
This is because, similar to how a multistage pump works, the fluid pressure rises as the
constant flow passes through each pump.

17
CONCLUSION

The objectives of the experiment which are to understand the different procedure and
principle, to gather performance data for calculating flow rate and efficiency, and to familiarize
the pump configurations such as parallel, series and singly was achieved by utilizing all the basic
equations and formulas provided in the lab manual. Additionally, the students were able to
successfully learn the various pump configurations while also understanding the operations and
principles of the experiment. The data was accurately computed using the given equations, and
the student was able to solve for the pump's efficiency. The series pump has better efficiency
than the parallel pump, which might be attributed to the condition and construction of the pump.

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RECOMMENDATION

I was able to comprehend the experiment's concepts and purpose despite the fact that it
was not done in a real-world environment. It is important to operate the apparatus appropriately
in order to acquire the right measurements, as this may impact the computations, resulting in
value differences. In my opinion, this experiment should be carried out in a real-world situation.
As an outcome, students will be more familiar with and understand the apparatus and equipment
that will be used, as well as the procedures that will be performed. Furthermore, meticulous data
tracking is necessary to ensure that the results are reliable.

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REFERENCES

Admin. (2019, December 8). Pump parallel and series operation. Retrieved from
PowderProcess:
https://www.powderprocess.net/Tools_html/Pumps/Tools_Pump_Parallel_Series.html

Admin. (2019, April 5). Pumps in Parallel or Serial. Retrieved from Engineeringtoolbox:
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pumps-parallel-serial-d_636.html

Admin. (2020, February 8). Cavitation. Retrieved from Grundfos:

https://www.grundfos.com/solutions/learn/research-and-
insights/cavitation#:~:text=Cavitation%20in%20pumps%20occurs%20when%20the
%20pressure%20of,and%20can%20lead%20to%20damage%20in%20the%20installation.

20
Thompson, A. (2018, Aug 25). What are the advantages of keeping pumps in series vs keeping
pumps in parallel arrangements? Retrieved from Quora: https://www.quora.com/What-
are-the-advantages-of-keeping-pumps-in-series-vs-keeping-pumps-in-parallel-
arrangements

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