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j 966 Fluid Mechanics

IProblem 19.13 ! The diameters of an impeller of a centrifugal pump at inlet and outlet are 30 cm
and 60 cm respectively. Determine the minimum starting speed of the pump if it works against a head
of 30 m.
Solution. Given :
Dia. of impeller at inlet, D1 = 30 cm = 0.30 m
Dia. of impeller at outlet, Dz = 60 cm = 0.60 m
Head, Hm = 30 cm
Let the minimum starting speed = N
Using equation (19.13) for minimum speed,
2 2
!2 =H
2g 2g m

_ re X D2 X N _ TC X 0.6 X N _O
where uz------------ .03141 N
60 60
7t X D X N X .3 X N
1t
U1 = 1 = = 0.0157 N
60 60
1 1
- (0.3141 N)
2
- - (.0157 N)
2
= 30
2g 2g
or (.03141 N)2 - (.0157 N)2 = 30 X 2 X g = 30 X 2 X 9.81

or NZ= 30 X 2 X 9.81 = 588.6 = 795297_9

(.031412 - .01572) .0009866- .0002465

N =795297.9 = 891.8 r.p.m. Ans.

Problem 19.14 The diameters of an impeller of a centrifugal pump at inlet and outlet are 30 cm and
60 cm respectively. The velocity of flow at outlet is 2.0 mis and the vanes are set back at an angle of 45°
at the outlet. Determine the minimum starting speed of the pump if the manometric efficiency is 70%.
Solution. Given :
Diameter at inlet, D1 = 30 cm= 0.30 m
Diameter at outlet, Dz = 60 cm = 0.60
m Velocity of flow at outlet, Vh = 2.0 m/s
Vane angle at outlet, <jl = 45°
Manometric efficiency, Tlman = 70% = 0.70.
Let the minimum starting speed= N.
From Fig. 19.9, for velocity triangle at outlet, we have

or U2 - V = _v_f2_= 2.0 = 2.0

w2 tan <jl tan 45°

Vw =Uz-2.0
2

But
nD 2N
Uz=--= 7tX 0.60X N = 0.03141 N
60 60

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j 974 Fluid Mechanics

2000x-J3
or--------------= 1500 X5
303/4 H314
m2

H 3/4= 1500X JsX 303/4= 1500 X II X 12.818= 12.411

mz 2000 X J3 2000 3
413
Hm =(12.411) = 28.71 m
2
Total head 200
Number of stages = ------ =-- =6 . 9 6 7. Ans.
Head per stage 28.71
Using equation (19.20), we have

or -----=----
0.30 X 2000 D2 X 1500

3
D 2-- 0. 0X 2000
1500X
X .Ji8:iT
J30 -- 0 .3913m - 3913
-
A
• mm. ns.

!Problem 19.19! Find the number of pumps required to take water from a deep well under a total
head of 89 m. All the pumps are identical and are running at 800 r.p.m. The specific speed of each
pump is given as 25 while the rated capacity of each pump is 0.16 m3/s.
Solution. Given :
Total head = 89m
Speed, N = 800 r.p.m.
Specific speed, NS= 25
Rate capacity, Q = 0.16 m3/s
Let Hm = Head developed by each pump.

Using equation (19.18), N = NJ?j

s H314
m

= 800 X .Jo.f6
25 H314
m

H 3/4=.Jo.f6= 12_8
800X
m 25
Hm = (12.8)413 = 29.94 m
. Total head 89
Number of pumps required= ----------- = -- '.::'.. 3. Ans.
Head developed by one pump 29.94
As the total head is more than the head developed by one pump, the pumps should be connected in
series.
I I
Problem 19.20 Two geometrically similar pumps are running at the same speed of 1000 r.p.m.
One pump has an impeller diameter of 0.30 metre and lifts water at the rate of 20 litres per second
against a head of 15 metres. Determine the head and impeller diameter of the other pump to deliver
half the discharge.

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Centrifugal Pumps 9751

Solution. Given :
For pump No. 1,
Speed, N1 = 1000 r.p.m.
Diameter, D1 = 0.30 m
Discharge, Q2 = 20 litres/s = 0.02
Head, m3/s=
Hm 15 m
For pump No.2, I

Speed,
N2 = 1000 r.p.m.
Discharge, 20 .
Q2 = -QI = - = 10 h tres/s = 0.01 m3/s.
2 2
Let D2 = Diameter of impeller
Hmz = Head developed.
. . N,,J?i N2.,j(h
Usmg equation (19.19), H 314 = H 314
m1 m2

1000 X .Jm 1000 X ,01

--153-/4 -=-H--314 -
m2

or H 314 = lOOOX ,.(o 5314 = {]51 X 7.622 = 5.389

mi 1000 X .02 fil
Hm = (5.389)413 = 9.44 m. Ans.
( m) ( F
2

Using equation (19.20), - = - - jii:; = --jii:;

or --

F - m) DN I DN 2 D1N1 D2N2

----=----
0.3 X 1000 D2 X 1000

9M x0.3
D2 = 15 = 0.238 m = 238.0 mm. Ans.

Problem 19.21 The diameter of a centrifugal pump, which is discharging 0.03 m3Is of water against
a total head of 20 m is 0.40 m. The pump is running at 1500 r.p.m. Find the head, discharge and ratio of
powers of a geometrically similar pump of diameter 0.25 m when it is running at 3000 r.p.m.
Solution. Given :
Centrifugal pump,
Discharge, Q1 = .03 m3/s
Head, Hm I = 20m
Diameter, D1 = 0.40 m
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j 986 Fluid Mechanics

But from equation (19.33), we have

H a - H V - hS - hfs = NPSH (Net position suction head)
NPSH
cr = --- ...(19.34)
Hm

:ffe}
If the value of cr (calculated from equation 19.34) is less than the critical value, crc then cavitation

will occur in the pumps. The value of <Jc depends upon the specific speed of the pump (Ns =

The following empirical relation is used to determine the value of <JC'

<Jc= 0.103 N
( )413
_s_
1000
N4t3
_ 0.103 N;'3
= 0.103 s 4/3- 104
(103)
= 1.03 x 10-3 N,4
13.............................................................................................
(19.35)
I Problem 19.24 I A centrifugal pump rotating at 1000 r.p.m. delivers I60 litresis of water against a
head of 30 m. The pump is installed at a place where atmospheric pressure is I x 105 Pa ( abs.) and
vapour pressure of water is 3 kPa ( abs.). The head loss in suction pipe is equivalent to 0.2 m of water.
Calculate:
(i) Minimum NPSH, and
(ii) Maximum allowable height of the pump from free surface of water in the sump.
Solution. Given :
N = 1000 r.p.m.; Q = 160 litres/s = 0.16 m3/s.; Hm = 30 m
Pa= 1 x 105 Pa (abs.)= 1 x 105 N/m2 (abs.); Pv = 3 kPa (abs.)= 3 x 103 N/m2 (abs.)
hf,= 0.2 m.
(i) Minimum NPSH
Using equation (19.34), we get
NPSH
O"= ---
Hm
From the above equation, it is clear that NPSH is directly proportional to Thoma's cavitation factor
(cr). NPSH will be minimum when cr is minimum. But the minimum value of cr for no cavitation is
O"c Hence when cr = crc then NPSH will be minimum.

(NPSH) .
(J = mm
C H
m

or ...(i)
Now the critical value of cr i.e., <Jc is given by equation (19.35) as
<Jc= 1.03 X 10-3 X N,4
13
...(ii)

where Ns = Specific speed of pump = :! m

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Centrifugal Pumps 9871

.Jo.16
= lO00x (·: N= lO00r.p.m., Q=0.16m 3/sandHm=30m)
30314
Substituting the value of N5 in equation (ii), we get

413
-3 [1000X0]6]
C>c = 1.03 X 10 X 30314

4/3 2/3 3 4
= 1.0 X 1.03 X 10- X 10 X 0.2947
3 10_3X 1000 0.16
X =----------
30 30
= 0.1012
Substituting the value of crc in equation (i), we get
(NPSH)min. = Hm x 0.1012
= 30 x 0.1012 = 3.036 m. Ans. (·: Hm = 30 m)
(ii) Maximum allowable height of the pump from free surface of water in the sump (i.e., h)
Let (h5)max = Max. allowable height of pump from free surface of water.
Using equation (19.33)
NPSH = Ha - Hv - h5- hf, ...(i)
From the above equation, it is clear that for a given value of atmospheric pressure head (Ha = ;),
given vapour pressure head (Hv =) and given loss of head due to friction (h, ), the value of suction
pg Js

head (h_) will be maximum if NPSH is minimum.

(NPSH)min = Ha - Hv - (hs)max - hfs ...(ii)
(hs)max = Ha - Hv - hf,- (NPSH)min ...(iii)
Pa_ lxl05
Now H-- --------------= 10.193 m of water
a- pg- 1000 X 9.81
3
3xl0
P
H = --2... =-------------= 0.305 m of water
v pg 1000 X 9.81

hfs = 0.2 m and (NPSH)min = 3.036 m

Substituting the values of Ha, Hv, hf, and (NPSH)min. in equation (iii), we
get
(hJmax = 10.193 - 0.305 - 0.2 - 3.036
= 6.652 m. Ans.

HIGHLIGHTS
1. The hydraulic machine which converts the mechanical energy into pressure energy by means of centrifu
gal force is called centrifugal pump.
2. The centrifugal pump acts as a reverse of an inward radial flow reaction turbine. The work done by the
impeller (rotating part of the pump) on the water per second per unit weight of water per second flowing
through the pump is given as

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