Pump ED 101

Preservation of Efficiency – Affinity Revisited

Joe Evans, Ph.D http://www.pumped101.com

My September tutorial took a look at the affinity laws and showed why each is able
to predict changes in flow, head, and power when there is a change in pump speed
or impeller diameter. One thing I did not mention is that these laws assume that
the hydraulic efficiency remains unchanged. Efficiency does remain nearly
constant over a broad range of speeds but it can change, substantially, when an
impeller is trimmed. Figure 1 shows the performance of a 3X4X9 end suction
centrifugal with a full size impeller and several trims.

3X4X9A 9" Impeller 3500 RPM

350

Data Label values are BHP

300
34.2 39.9
45.8
50.0
77%
54.5
250
57.4
24.3 28.8 60.9
Head in feet

33.2 75%
200
36.0
38.4

150 39.8
16.4 72%
19.2
22.3 42.5
23.7
Full Size
100 63% 26.6
9.8 8" Trim
12.0 26.2
13.5 7" Trim
50 13.5
6" Trim
11.4

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Gallons Per Minute

The red diagonal line is the BEP efficiency isomer for the four curves and is
labeled with the BEP efficiency for each diameter. As you can see efficiency
decreases with each successive trim and reaches a low point of 63% at 6”. The
primary cause of this drop in efficiency is recirculation. As impeller diameter is
reduced more of the liquid sneaks past the “cutwater” or “volute tongue” and
reenters the narrow portion of the volute. And, this recirculation or “repumping”,
as it could be called, reduces the hydraulic efficiency of the pump. The accuracy
 of the affinity laws is also sacrificed with this reduction in efficiency. According
to the affinity laws, the 6” impeller should produce a BEP flow of 466 GPM at a
head of 111 feet but, as you can see its flow is just 400 GPM @ 84’. The
predictions are only slightly better for the 7” impeller but come pretty close in the
case of the 8” trim because its efficiency, at 75%, is nearly that of the full size
impeller.

Figure 2 shows the same pump, under VFD control, and operating at various
frequencies (speeds). The performance curves produced by these speeds are a
very close approximation (within a few feet) of the curves seen in Figure 1.

3X4X9A 9" Impeller Various Speeds

350

Data Label values are BHP

300 72%
34.2
39.9 75%
45.8
50.0
77%
54.5
250
76%
57.4

22.3 26.0 60.9

Head in feet

26.5 77%
200 32.5
35.5
37.4
39.6
150 13.5 15.7 77%
18.1
19.7
21.5
22.6 60hz
24.0
100 77% 52hz
6.8 7.9 9.1 9.9
10.8 44hz
11.4
12.1 35hz
50
BEP Efficiency

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Gallons Per Minute

The major difference between the two figures is that the BEP efficiencies along
the efficiency isomer, in Figure 2, remain the same at all speeds. And, that so
called efficiency isomer is actually the “affinity parabola” that Lev Nelik mentioned
in his April 2006 column. Since efficiency remains constant at each point, the
resulting flows, heads, and power follow the affinity laws to a Tee. And, because
efficiency is preserved, the power required at the lower speeds is less than that
required by the trimmed impellers seen in Figure 1. Efficiencies to the right and
left of BEP on the 60hz curve also remain constant as speed changes.

So, does this mean that we should never trim an impeller? Not at all. Small trims
can have a low impact on efficiency but, if an impeller requires a trim that reduces
efficiency significantly, other alternatives should be considered.
Joe Evans is the western regional manager for Hydromatic Engineered Waste
Water Systems, a division of Pentair Water, 740 East 9th Street Ashland, OH
44805. He can be reached at joe.evans@pentairwater.com, or via his website at
www.pumped101.com. If there are topics that you would like to see discussed
in future columns, drop him an email.