Qassim University ‫جامعة القصيم‬

College of Engineering ‫كلية الهندسة‬

Mechanical Engineering Department ‫قسم الهندسة الميكانيكية‬

Thermo-fluid Laboratory-I
ME 383
Semester 432
Lab Report # 3
Performance of centrifugal pumps in series and parallel

Submitted by
Total
Reason for Points points
# Name ID deduction deducted (out of
100)

1 Khalid Al-Shammari 391108051

2 Abdulaziz Al-Najidy 391110216

3 Azzam Al-Qadhi 391108013

4 Mousab Al-Khalifa 372120178

Key: B: Behavior U: Unprepared Q: Quality D: Discussion

Submitted to: Dr. Hesham Othman Overall Achievement %

SO#3 SO#6
Submitted date: 03/12/2022 3.1 6.1 6.2 6.3
List of Contents

Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 4

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 5

2. Method and Equipment ................................................................................................................... 6

3. Experiment procedure ..................................................................................................................... 8

4. Results and Discussion .................................................................................................................. 10

4-1. Theoretical equations ............................................................................................................. 10

4-2. Results .................................................................................................................................... 11

4.2.1 Single Pump Measurments................................................................................................ 12

4.2.2 Series Pump Measurments ................................................................................................ 14
Discussion I ................................................................................................................................... 17

4.2.3 Parallel Pump Measurments.............................................................................................. 18

Discussion II .................................................................................................................................. 21

5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 22

6. References ..................................................................................................................................... 22

2
List of figures
Figure 1: Gunt centrifugal pump system module ................................................................................ 6
Figure 2: Gunt single centrifugal pump set up .................................................................................... 6
Figure 3: Gunt centrifugal pumps connected in series set up.............................................................. 7
Figure 4: Gunt centrifugal pumps connected in parallel set up ........................................................... 7
Figure 5: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 1500 rpm ......................... 15
Figure 6: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 2000 rpm ......................... 16
Figure 7: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 2500 rpm ......................... 16
Figure 8: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 3000 rpm ......................... 17
Figure 9: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 1500 rpm ...................... 19
Figure 10: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 2000 rpm .................... 20
Figure 11: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 2500 rpm .................... 20
Figure 12: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 3000 rpm .................... 21

List of tables
Table 1: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 1500 rpm ......................................... 12
Table 2: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 2000 rpm ......................................... 12
Table 3: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 2500 rpm ......................................... 13
Table 4: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 3000 rpm ......................................... 13
Table 5: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 1500 rpm ........................................ 14
Table 6: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 2000 rpm ........................................ 14
Table 7: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 2500 rpm ........................................ 14
Table 8: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 3000 rpm ........................................ 15
Table 9: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 1500 rpm ..................................... 18
Table 10: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 2000 rpm ................................... 18
Table 11: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 2500 rpm ................................... 18
Table 12: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 3000 rpm ................................... 19

3
Abstract
In this report, an experiment will be carried out by the team members by using
Centrifugal pump in series and in parallel.
The main objectives of this experiment are:
1-Becoming familiar with centrifugal pumps connected in series and parallel (their
circuits, operation).
2-knowing the effect of pump speed on head, flow rate and efficiency of the system.
3-Draw the head characteristic curves for the ( the single pump, the two pumps
connected in series and the two pumps connected in parallel ) on the same graph and
compare them.
The results of the centrifugal pumps connected in series and in parallel will be
associated with the data which they have been extracted during the experiment from a
software which include several volume flow rates, upstream pressures of the first
pump, downstream pressures of the first and the second pump and the delivery head at
multiple rotational speeds of the motor.
Furthermore, the results of the single centrifugal pump will be used in order to compare
between the parallel and series operations of the centrifugal pumps at the same speed.
The experiment of the performance of the single centrifugal pump has been done by
the team members previously. However, the results of the experiment will be illustrated
in the result section.

4
1. Introduction

In the industry, there are many types of industrial pumps such as Centrifugal pump,
ANSI process pump , Gear pump ,Booster pump and others and each of these industrial
pumps comes with advantages not offered by other pumps.
In this report, the team members have carried out the experiment by the use of
Centrifugal pump in series and in parallel.
Centrifugal pumps are often used together to enhance either the flow rate or the
delivery pressure beyond that available from the single pump. For some piping system
designs, it may be desirable to consider a multiple pump system to meet the design
requirements. Two typical options include parallel and series configurations of pumps
which require a specific performance criteria. In serial operation the heads of the
pumps are added and in parallel operation the flow rates (capacities) of the pumps are
added.
The experimental unit provides the determination of the characteristic behavior for
single operation and interaction of two pumps. The apparatus consists of a tank and
pipework which delivers water to and from two identical centrifugal pumps. The unit
is fitted with electronic sensors which measure the process variables. Signals from
these sensors are sent to a computer via an interface device, and the unit is supplied
with data logging software as standard.(1)

The advantages of Centrifugal pump are (2)

1- simple and compact.
2- easy to maintain.
3- Adaptability to motor with high rpm.
4- Little vibrations.

The disadvantages of Centrifugal pump are:

1- Poor suction power.
2- Usually needs priming.
3- Cannot handle very viscous fluid.
4- Eeds multistage to increase discharge pressure.

(1) Qassim University, Faculty of Engineering, Course: Thermo-fluid Laboratory, Exp 3 Performance of centrifugal
pumps in series and parallel, Mar 2022.
(2) Finishthompson.com. 2022. 7 Benefits of Centrifugal Chemical Pumps - Finish Thompson, Inc.. [online] Available
at: <https://www.finishthompson.com/newsroom/7-benefits-of-centrifugal-chemical-pumps/> [Accessed 12 March
2022].
5
 2. Method and Equipment
Flow motor

Three-way valve
Valve for adjusting for parallel/series
flow rate operation

Water tank
Pressure sensor at
outlet
Valve for configurating
parallel/series operation
Pump with
variable speed

Water drain

Pump with fixed

speed

Figure 1: Gunt centrifugal pump system module

Figure 2: Gunt single centrifugal pump set up

6
Figure 3: Gunt centrifugal pumps connected in series set up

Figure 4: Gunt centrifugal pumps connected in parallel set up

7
3. Experiment procedure

• Case of single pump

1. Turn the main switch to 1
2. Turn on PC and launch program for measurement data acquisition
3. Press “Tare” button to calibrate to zero
4. Turn on the pump via the program
5. Check that each component is functioning correctly.
6. Open valve 2 fully
7. Run the pump at 1500 1/min.
8. Record the values of p1 , p2, Phyd , Pel , efficiency (η ) and the volume flow rate
(V̇)
9. Reduce the volume flow rate and take the measurements according to the
previous point (8)
10. To obtain additional curves you can follow the previous steps for other
rotational speed ( 2000 1/min , 2500 1/min , 3000 1/min)

• Case of pumps connected in series

1. Turn the main switch to 1
2. Turn on PC and launch program for measurement data acquisition.
3. Set the module for the series operation as shown in figure 3
4. Open valve 3 fully
5. Press “ Tare” button to calibrate to zero
6. Leave the pump 1 to run to 1500 1/min.
7. Switch to pump 2
8. Now record the values of p1 , p2, p3 and the volume flow rate (V̇)
9. Reduce the volume flow rate bit by bit by gradually closing valve V3 and take
the measurements according to the previous point (8)
10. repeat steps 8 and 9 such that you end up to very small volume flow rate
11. to obtain additional curves you can follow the previous steps for other rotational
speed ( 2000 1/min , 2500 1/min , 3000 1/min)

8
• Case of pumps connected in parallel
1. Turn the main switch to 1
2. Turn on PC and launch program for measurement data acquisition.
3. Set the module for the parallel operation as shown in figure 4
4. Open valve 3 fully
5. Press “ Tare” button to calibrate to zero
6. Leave the pump 1 to run to 1500 1/min.
7. Switch to pump 2
8. Now record the values of p1 , p2, p3 and the volume flow rate (V̇)
9. Reduce the volume flow rate bit by bit by gradually closing valve V3 and take
the measurements according to the previous point (8)
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 such that you end up to very small volume flow rate
11. To obtain additional curves you can follow the previous steps for other
rotational speed ( 2000 1/min , 2500 1/min , 3000 1/min)

9
4. Results and Discussion

4-1. Theoretical equations

To determine the hydraulic pump output power the following relation should use:
Phyd = V̇ . H . g . ρ (eq.1)
Where:
Phyd: Hydraulic pump output power (W)
V̇: Volume flow rate (m3/s)
H: pump delivery head (m)
g: gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s2)
ρ: water density (kg/m3)

To obtain pump delivery head the following equation is used:

(𝑝𝑑 −𝑝𝑠 ) (𝑉𝑑 2 −𝑉𝑠 2 )
H=[ ]+𝑍+[ ] (eq.2)
𝜌. 𝑔 2𝑔

Where:
pd: outlet pressure (Pa)
ps: inlet pressure (Pa)
Z: height difference between two pressure probes (0.15 m)
Vd: outlet velocity (m/s)
Vs: inlet velocity (m/s)
“Vd and Vs will cancel each other because the cross suctional area of the section and
pressure connections are the same”

10
4-2. Results
In the previous experminet, “performance of single centrifugal pump” the delivery
head was calculated using equation 2 and tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 shows the data taken from
single centrifugal pump at different speeds 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 rpm, the data
contains volume flow rate, inlet and outlet pressure taken from the sensior and delivery
head, the results of the single pump will be used to the comparison between parallel
and series operation at the same speed.
After taken the data from the single pump, the two centrifugal pumps now connected
in series, at start the motor runs at 1500 rpm, the data (P1, P2, P3) was taken from the
launch program for different volume flow rate, table 5, 6, 7 and 8 shows the data taken
from the launch program with changing the speed of the motor for different speeds
1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.
The operation of the pumps changed to parallel connected, for beigning of the parallel
operation the speed of the motor was 1500 rpm and the data in table 9 shows the data
taken at 1500 rpm, then the speed of the motor changed sequently with increased the
speed at rate 500 rpm until its reached 3000 rpm, tables 10, 11 and 12 shows the data
of the volume flow rate, pressure upstream of pump 1, pressure downstream of pump
1, pressure downstream of pump 2 and delivery head.

11
The following subsections are the measurments for single, series and paralled
cantufigural pumps.

4.2.1 Single Pump Measurments

Table 1: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 1500 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 1500

Volume flow rate Inlet pressure Outlet pressure Delivery head

Run
(V̇,m3/s) (Ps , Pa) (Pd , Pa) (H,m)

1 6.67×10-5 0 25000 2.71

2 1.33×10-4 -1000 21000 2.4
3 2.33×10-4 -2000 13000 1.68
4 3.13×10-4 -4000 3000 0.87

Table 2: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 2000 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 2000

Volume flow rate Inlet pressure Outlet pressure Delivery head

Run
(V̇,m3/s) (Ps , Pa) (Pd , Pa) (H,m)

1 6.83×10-5 0 46000 4.85

2 1.83×10-4 -2000 38000 4.24
3 2.7×10-4 -3000 27000 3.22
4 3.38×10-4 -5000 18000 2.50
5 4.83×10-4 -7000 5000 1.38

12
 Table 3: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 2500 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 2500

Volume flow rate Inlet pressure Outlet pressure Delivery head

Run
(V̇,m3/s) (Ps , Pa) (Pd , Pa) (H,m)

1 1.67×10-4 -1000 67000 7.1

2 3.35×10-4 -5000 45000 5.26
3 5×10-4 -10000 10000 2.19
4 6.25×10-4 -10000 7000 1.89

Table 4: Measurement taken from single centrifugal pump at 3000 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 3000

Volume flow rate Inlet pressure Outlet pressure Delivery head

Run
(V̇,m3/s) (Ps , Pa) (Pd , Pa) (H,m)

1 2.4×10-4 -3000 93000 9.97

2 3.33×10-4 -5000 78000 8.64
3 5.33×10-4 -11000 36000 4.96
4 7.62×10-4 -15000 9000 2.6

13
4.2.2 Series Pump Measurments

Table 5: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 1500 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 1500

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.000517 -12000 -29000 7000 2.087
2 0.000468 -10000 -21000 23000 3.514
3 0.000423 -8000 -11000 44000 5.451
4 0.000283 -4000 6000 80000 8.713

Table 6: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 2000 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 2000

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.00055 -14000 -19000 8000 2.393
2 0.000433 -9000 3000 54000 6.572
3 0.000335 -5000 19000 86000 9.426
4 0.0002 -2000 33000 114000 11.975

Table 7: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 2500 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 2500

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.000598 -16000 -5000 8000 2.596
2 0.000463 -10000 22000 66000 7.897
3 0.000303 -4000 45000 114000 12.179
4 0.000217 -2000 45000 133000 13.911

14
 Table 8: Measurement taken from series centrifugal pumps at 3000 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 3000

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.00065 -19000 11000 11000 3.208
2 0.00055 -13000 35000 35000 5.043
3 0.0004 -7000 61000 61000 7.082
4 0.00025 -3000 80000 80000 8.611

Figure 5 shows the pump delivery head verses volume flow rate for centrifugal pump
which compare between single pump and series operation at speed 1500 rpm.

Figure 5: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 1500 rpm

15
Figure 6 shows comparison between series operation centrifugal pumps and single
centrifugal pump at 2000 rpm.

Figure 6: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 2000 rpm

Figure 7 shows the patterns of pump delivery head for different readings of volume
flow rate at speed 2500 rpm.

Figure 7: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 2500 rpm

16
Figure 8 shows the pump delivery head versus volume flow rate at speed 3000 rpm for
series operation and single pump.

Figure 8: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for series operation at 3000 rpm

Discussion I
The above four graphs shows a plot for single centufgural pump versus two stage
centufigural pumps connected in series. We can see that the curves of pumps connected
in series are more smother and have the approximetley have a the same configuration
of a curve. On the other hand, the single centufgural pump have a sort of irrugalrity.
This advantage in series pumps is convincable because it has two pumps that can make
the volume flow rate steadier.

17
4.2.3 Parallel Pump Measurments

Table 9: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 1500 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 1500

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.0008 -1000 18000 15000 1.78
2 0.000723 -1000 20000 18000 2.09
3 0.000647 -1000 23000 21000 2.39
4 0.000535 0 32000 30000 3.21

Table 10: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 2000 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 1500

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.0009 -4000 23000 22000 2.8
2 0.000652 -1000 38000 37000 4.02
3 0.000417 0 54000 52000 5.45
4 0.000218 3000 74000 74000 7.39

Table 11: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 2500 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 2500

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.00101 -8000 28000 27000 3.72
2 0.00084 -5000 43000 42000 4.94
3 0.000622 -2000 56000 55000 5.96
4 0.000428 0 65000 65000 6.78

18
 Table 12: Measurement taken from parallel centrifugal pumps at 3000 rpm

Rotational speed (rpm) 3000

Pressure Pressure
Volume flow Pressure upstream Delivery
Run downstream of downstream of
rate (V̇,m3/s) of pump 1 (P1 , Pa) head (H,m)
pump 1 (P2 , Pa) pump 2 (P3 , Pa)
1 0.001075 -13000 34000 33000 4.84
2 0.000933 -9000 51000 50000 6.16
3 0.000653 -5000 70000 69000 7.69
4 0.000417 -2000 83000 82000 8.71

Figure 9 shows the relationship between pump delivery head and volume flow rate for
single pump and parallel operation pumps at speed 1500 rpm.

Figure 9: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 1500 rpm

19
Figure 10 explain the behavior of pump delivery head with changing volume flow rate
for parallel operation and single pump.

Figure 10: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 2000 rpm

Figure 11 shows the delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation and
single pump at speed 2500.

Figure 11: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 2500 rpm

20
Figure 12 shows the comparison between parallel operation and single pump for pump
delivery head versus volume flow rate at speed 3000 rpm.

Figure 12: Delivery head versus volume flow rate for parallel operation at 3000 rpm

Discussion II
The above four graphs shows a plot for single centufgural pump versus two stage
centufigural pumps connected in parallel. The curves shows the inverse realation
between pump delivery head and volume flow rate. It’s noticable that the two stage
parallel pumps shows a steady and smooth curves as compared to the single pump.
However, we can see the increasing of volume flow rate in pumps connected in parallel
not as in single pumps for the same speed, for example, in figure 11 the hieghest
volume flow rate in single pump is approximitly doubled for the highesr volume flow
rate in paralled pumps.

21
5. Conclusion

In conclusion, the experiment is about two stage centrifugal pumps that are connected
in series and parallel. The readings have been taken in the lab for different speeds for
pumps connected in series and the same for parallel connection of pumps. Then, the
pump delivery head is calculated for each reading using equations that are mentioned
in the theory part. After that, 8 graphs have been plotted for comparison of single pump
and series and parallel pumps as the volume flow rate and pump delivery head was the
relation stated. It’s mentioned that the curves of series and parallel pumps was smother
and steadier than it is in single pump. Finally, these nots are important for a designer
to make a system that includes pumps to get to the maximum efficiency possible.

6. References

1- Qassim University, Faculty of Engineering, Course: Thermo-fluid Laboratory,

Exp 3 Performance of centrifugal pumps in series and parallel, Mar 2022.
2- Finishthompson.com. 2022. 7 Benefits of Centrifugal Chemical Pumps - Finish
Thompson, Inc.. [online] Available at:
<https://www.finishthompson.com/newsroom/7-benefits-of-centrifugal-
chemical-pumps/> [Accessed 12 March 2022].

22