Introduction

The terms slurry and mixture are used interchangeably in order to describe a mixture of any
loose solids, made up in any proportions and combination of any particle size and any
conveying liquid. The subscript ρ refers to density and specific gravities of liquids, while
water is often used when the term liquid would more correct. The subscript m identifies the
density and specific gravity of a slurry, and the subscript s and d are used to identify pipes,
valves, gauges, or physical conditions respectively at pump suction flange and discharge
flange.
The apparatus used for the transportation of gases, liquids, or slurries was a pump. To
overcome the pressure difference between moving liquids or gases from lower to higher
pressure, a pump adds energy to the system (such as a water system). Apart from relatively
low pressure-rise applications, including in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, where
the operational equipment consists of fans or blowers, a gas pump is typically referred to as a
compressor.
A centrifugal pump accelerates the liquid using a rotating component called an impeller to
transform the input power into kinetic energy in the liquid. Via the eye of the impeller, which
rotates at a high speed, fluid enters the pump. From the pump chasing, the fluid is accelerated
radially outward. In the impeller's eye, a vacuum is generated that continuously draws
additional fluid into the pump (Singh, 2009).

Image Credit: Pumpfundamentals.com  
Figure 1: centrifugal pump
In this investigation a centrifugal pump was used to determine the total head, overall
efficiency, pump efficiency for both pumps in series and in parallel which was the objective
of the experiment. The simplicity of the centrifugal pumps makes them easy to produce with
many different materials and allows them to move at high speeds with minimal maintenance
(Hurlbatt,2016). Other advantages were corrosion resistance, energy efficiency, and provides
smooth flow.
Pumps in series refers to the process of using one pump as a booster to feed another pump.
Pumps working in series are set up so that their heads (differential pressures) sum up at the
same flow rates.
 (Kalva, 2016)
Figure 2: Pumps in series
Equation for pump in series:
∆P
Head: H p =
ρg
Overall head: H p= H 1+ H 2
When two or more pumps are linked to a single discharge line and share the same suction
conditions, they are said to be operating in parallel. Pumps from the CR family, for instance,
are used in applications that increase water pressure to provide a constant flow via a shared
discharge line.

(Kalva, 2016)
Figure 3: Pumps in parallel
Equation for pump in parallel:
∆P
Head: H p =
ρg
Overall head: H p= H 1+ H 2
The ratio of useable hydraulic power given to the fluid to the power input at the drive shaft is
known as the pump efficiency (Mark S. Ramsey P. E., 2019) a typical pump where the liquid
to be elevated is pushed up into a partial vacuum by air pressure under a retreating piston
with a valve on the upstroke and reflux is stopped by a check valve in the pipe (Truini, 2021).
Experimental procedure

Pump G1's valves were fully opened, and G2's valves were all closed. Pump G1’s operating
speed was set. For results for a single pump, pressure measures were both taken before and
after the pump. The valves leading to pump G2 were completely opened after resetting the
valves. As a result of how the valves are configured, the two pumps ran in series. The G2
operating speed was set to be the same as the G1 operating speed. In the case of pumps
connected in series, pressure readings were taken before and after the pumps. The valves
were reset to parallelize the pumps and they were running at the same speed. The pressure
both before and after the pump in parallel was measured.

Figure 4: Centrifugal Pump

Results
Experimental Data for Pumps in Parallel and Series Experiments

Table1.1: shows the data for single pump

G1(rpm) F1(l/min) P1(bar) P2(bar) G2(rpm F2(l/min P3(bar) P4(bar)

)

Single pumps
Reading 1 160 2.6 0.03 0.02
Reading 2 940 25.2 0.03 0.11
Reading 3 1400 39.4 0.03 0,23
Reading 4 1700 51.7 0.02 0.34

Table 1.2: shows the data for parallel pump.

G1(rpm) F1(l/min) P1(bar) P2(bar) G2(rpm F2(l/min P3(bar) P4(bar)
)

Parallel pumps
Reading 1 160 2.5 0.03 0.02 160 2.1 0.03 0.00
Reading 2 940 24.1 0.03 0.12 940 26.0 0.03 0.10
Reading 3 1400 37.5 0.03 0,25 1400 40.3 0.02 0.24
Reading 4 1700 46.7 0.02 0.37 1700 46.9 0.02 0.37

Table 1.3: shows the data for series pump.

G1(rpm) F1(l/min) P1(bar) P2(bar) G2(rpm F2(l/min P3(bar) P4(bar)
)

Parallel series
Reading 1 160 2.5 0.03 0.02 160 3.3 0.03 0.00
Reading 2 940 26.0 0.03 0.11 940 27.5 0.03 0.09
Reading 3 1400 39.4 0.04 0,24 1400 42.6 0.02 0.22
Reading 4 1700 49.4 0.05 0.35 1700 48.0 0.02 0.33
Calculations:
1 bar= 1×105 Pascals
kg
Density (ρ = 1000 3)
m
m
Gravitational acceleration (g=9.80 2 )
s
∆ P=Pdischarge −Psuction =ρgh p

∆P
H p=
ρg

For single pump.

Pump G1:
G1=160rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 02× 10 5 )−(0.03 × 10 5)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= -0.102m

G1=940rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 11×1 05 ) −(0.03× 10 5)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 0.816m

G1=1400rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
 P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 23× 10 5 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= 2.040m

G1=1700rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 34 ×1 05 )−(0.0 2 ×1 05)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 3.265m

Pumps operating in parallel.

Pump G1
G1=160rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 02× 10 5 )−(0.03× 1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= -0.102m

G1=940rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0.1 2×1 05 ) −(0.03× 10 5)

=
(1000)(9.80)
 = 0.918m

G1=1400rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 25× 10 5 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= 2.245m
G1=1700rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 37× 1 05 )−(0.0 2× 10 5)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 3.571m

Pump G2:
G2=160rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 00× 1 05 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= -0.306m

G2=940rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
 P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0.1 0× 1 05 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= 0.714m

G2=1400rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 24 ×1 05 )−(0.0 2 ×1 05)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 2.245m

G2=1700rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 37× 1 05 )−(0.0 2× 10 5)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 3.571m

Pumps operating in series.

Pump G1
G1=160rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg
 ( 0. 02× 10 5 )−(0.03× 1 05)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= -0.102m

G1=940rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0.11× 1 05 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= 0.816m

G1=1400rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 24 ×1 05 )−(0.0 4 ×1 05)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 2.041m
G1=1700rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 2−P1
=
ρg

( 0. 35× 10 5 )−(0.0 5× 10 5)
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 3.061m

Pump G2:
G2=160rpm:
 ∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 00× 1 05 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= -0.306m

G2=940rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 09× 1 05 )−(0.03 ×1 05)

=
(1000)(9.80)
= 0.612m

G2=1400rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 22×1 05 ) −(0.02 ×1 05 )
=
(1000)(9.80)
= 2.041m

G2=1700rpm:
∆P
H p=
ρg
P 4−P3
=
ρg

( 0. 33× 10 5 )−( 0.0 2× 105 )

=
(1000)(9.80)
= 3.163m
References
 Pump Solutions Australasia. (2016). How Centrifugal Pumps Work: Advantages and
Disadvantages of Centrifugal Pumps. [online] Available at:
https://pumpsolutions.com.au/how-centrifugal-pumps-work-advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-centrifugal-pumps/#:~:text=The%20biggest%20advantage%20of
%20centrifugal
 Kalva, A. (n.d.). Pumps in Series Vs Pumps in Parallel. [online] Pharma Engineering.
Available at: https://www.pharmacalculations.com/2016/05/pumps-in-series-vs-
pumps-in-parallel.html.
 www.sciencedirect.com. (n.d.). Pump Efficiency - an overview | ScienceDirect
Topics. [online] Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/pump-efficiency#:~:text=Pump
%20efficiency%20is%20defined%20as
 Merriam-webster.com. (2023). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. [online] Available at:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suction%20pump
