12/14/23, 5:57 AM Pump-laws-rev-2 ( fluid Machinery effective head ETC)

ME423 (Fluid Machinery) Lecture

SPECIFIC SPEED OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

Specific Speed (Ns) is the speed in rpm at which geometrically similar pumps impellers
would run to develop one foot head when discharging one gallon per minute.

Formula:
1. English Unit 2. Metric Unit

Ns = N√Q / H3/4 Ns = (51.6552)N√Q / H3/4

Where:
Ns = specific speed in rpm
N = pump speed in rpm
Q = pump capacity per suction in GPM
H = pump head per stage in ft
Where:
Ns = specific speed in rpm
N = pump speed in rpm
Q = pump capacity per suction in m3/s
H = pump head per stage in m

Example 1:
Determine the specific speeds of the following single stage pumps:

PUMP SPEED (rpm) CAPACITY (GPM) TOTAL HEAD (ft)

A 1,200 3,000 100
B 720 15,000 60
C 650 9,000 20

Solution:

Pump A: Ns = N√Q / H(3/4) = 1200√3000 / 1003/4 = 2078.4 rpm

Pump B: Ns = N√Q / H(3/4) = 720√15000 / 603/4 = 4090.4 rpm

Pump C: Ns = N√Q / H(3/4) = 650√9000 / 203/4 = 6520.2 rpm

Example 2:
A double-suction centrifugal pump running at a speed of 1200 rpm delivers 3m3/s
of water at a head of 15m. Calculate the specific speed of the pump.

Given: N = 1200rpm
Q = 3m3/s (double suction)
H = 15m

Required: Find Ns (specific speed)

Solution:

𝑄 3
Ns = (51.6552)N√ 2 / H3/4 = (51.6552)(1200) √2 / 153/4 = 9960rpm

PREPARED BY: ENGR. ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE

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ME423 (Fluid Machinery) Lecture

Example 3:
A 6-stage centrifugal pump delivers 1400 GPM of water at a head of 1500ft.
What is the specific speed if it rotates at 1950rpm?

Given: N = 1950rpm Q = 1400 GPM H = 1500ft/6 = 250ft (6-stages)

Required: Find Ns (specific speed)

Solution:
Ns = N√Q / H(3/4) = 1950√1400 / 2503/4 = 1160.49 rpm

BASIC PUMP LAWS

1. Relation of Pump Characteristics for Similar Pumps

2. Affinity Laws
The affinity laws are a set of formulas that predict the impact of a change in
rotational speed or impeller diameter on the head and flow produced by a pump
and power demanded by a pump

There are three affinity laws:

Law 1: Flow is Proportional to Shaft Speed or Impeller Diameter
This law means that as shaft speed or impeller diameter changes, flow
changes by the same proportional amount. This law is expressed with the
following formula:
For Variable speed: Q1/Q2 = N1/N2

For Variable Diameter: Q1/Q2 = D1/D2

Where: Q is equal to flow, N is equal to shaft speed, and D is equal to
impeller diameter.

PREPARED BY: ENGR. ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE

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ME423 (Fluid Machinery) Lecture

Law 2:
Head is Proportional to the Square of Shaft Speed or Impeller Diameter
As shaft speed or impeller diameter changes, pressure changes in
proportion to the square of the change in shaft speed or impeller diameter. This
law is expressed with the following formula:

For Variable speed: H1/H2 = N12/N22

For Variable Diameter: H1/H2 = D12/D22

Where:
H is equal to head, N is equal to shaft speed, and D is equal to impeller diameter.

Law 3:
Power is Proportional to the Cube of Shaft Speed or Impeller Diameter
As shaft speed or impeller diameter changes, power changes in proportion
to the cube of the change in shaft speed or impeller diameter. This law is
expressed with the following formula:

For Variable speed: P1/P2 = N13/N23

For Variable Diameter: P1/P2 = D13/D23

Where: P is equal to power, N is equal to shaft speed, and D is equal to impeller

diameter.

Example 4:
A plant has installed a single suction pump with a capacity of 20 L/s at a 60m
head and running at 1200rpm. It is proposed to install similar pump with double suction
to operate at 30m head and to deliver 25 L/s. Determine: (a) speed of the proposed
pump, (b) the impeller diameter of the proposed pump if the diameter of the existing
pump is 160mm.

Given: N1 = 1200rpm
Q1 = 20 L/s or Q1 = 0.02m3/s
Q2 = 25 L/s or Q2 = 0.025m3/s (double suction)
H1= 60m
H2 = 30m

Required: Find N2 and D2 (if D1 = 150mm)

Solution:

PREPARED BY: ENGR. ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE

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ME423 (Fluid Machinery) Lecture

𝑄
N1√Q1 / H1(3/4) = N2√ / H2(3/4)
2

0.025
1200√0.02 / 60(3/4) = N2√ / 30(3/4)
2

N2 = 902 rpm

60 / 12002(160mm)2 = 30 / 9022 (D2)2

D2 = 150mm

Example 5:
The brake power to drive a centrifugal pump is 20hp and the pump is discharging
500GPM when operating at a speed of 1800rpm against a head of 125ft. If the pump is
modified to operate at 1200rpm, determine its new discharge, new head, and new power.

Given: BP1 = 20hp Q1 = 600GPM

N1= 1800rpm H1= 125ft
N2 = 1200rpm

Required: Find Q2, H2, and BP2

Solution:
Q1/Q2 = N1/N2

600GPM/Q2 = 1800/1200

Q2 = 400GPM

H1/H2 = N12/N22

125ft/H2 = 18002/12002

H2 = 55.55ft

P1/P2 = N13/N23

20hp/P2 = 18003/12003

P2 = 5.926hp

PREPARED BY: ENGR. ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE

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ME423 (Fluid Machinery) Lecture

Example 6:
A DC driven pump running at 100RPM delivers 30L/s of water against a total head
of 25m. What pump speed and capacity would result if the pump speed is to increase to
produce a total head of 35m?

Given: N1 = 100rpm Q1 = 30 L/s H1= 25m

H2 = 35m
Required: Find Q2 , N2

Solution:
H1/H2 = N12/N22

25/35 = 1002/ N22

N2 = 118 rpm

Q1/Q2 = N1/N2

(30L/s)/Q2 = 100/118

Q2 = 35.4 L/s

Example 7:
A centrifugal pump designed for a 1,750rpm operation, a head of 60 m and a
capacity of 200 L/s with a power input of 130 kW. What will the changes in head, in
capacity, and in power if the impeller diameter is reduced from 300 mm to 250 mm while
the speed remains constant?

Given: P1 = 130 kW Q1 = 200 L/s N1= 1750rpm

H1= 60m D1 = 300mm D2 = 250mm
Required: Find H2, Q2, and BP2

Solution:
Q1/Q2 = D1/D2
(200L/s)/Q2 = 300/250
Q2 = 166.67 L/s
H1/H2 = D12/D22
(60m)/H2 = 3002/2502
H2 = 41.67m
P1/P2 = D13/D23
(130kW)/P2 = 3003/2503
P2 = 75.23kW

PREPARED BY: ENGR. ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE

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