SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS (SPECIFIC SPEED AND PUMP LAWS)

1. A model centrifugal pump with a 3 in. diameter impeller delivers 600GPM of water at
a total head of 350 ft when operating at 1750 rpm.
a. Find the diameter of a geometrically similar pump that will deliver 1000 GPM
when operating at 3500 rpm.
b. What is the total head of 3500 rpm when it is delivering 1000 ft?
Answers: 2.82 inches; 1237 ft

2. A centrifugal pump designed for 1,800 rpm operation, a head of 60 m and a capacity
of 190 L/s with a power input of 130 kW. a) What effect will the speed reduction to
1300 rpm have on the head, capacity, and power input? b) What will the changes in
these variables if the impeller diameter is reduced from 305 mm. to 254 mm while the
speed remains constant?
Answers: 137.2 L/s; 32.296 m; 48.972 kW; 158 L/s; 42 m; 75.6 kW

3. The power input to a centrifugal pump is 30hp and the pump is discharging 900GPM
when operating at a speed of 1800RPM against a head of 120ft. If the pump is
modified to operate at 1200RPM, assuming its efficiency remains constant, determine
its new discharge, new head, and new power.
Answers: 600GPM; 53.3ft; 8.9hp

4. A DC driven pump running at 100RPM delivers 30L/s of water against a total head of
27m. What speed at capacity would result if the pump speed is to increased to
produced a total head of 36m, assuming no change in efficiency?
Answers: 115RPM; 34.6L/s

5. A pump delivers 500 GPM of water against a head of 200 ft and operating at 1770
rpm. Changes have increased the total head to 375 ft. At what rpm should the pump
be operated to achieve the new head? Answer: 2423 rpm

6. Suppose 10 stages are to used for a total head of 280m, a capacity of 100 L/s and a
pump speed of 600 rpm. What is the pump specific speed? Note: Use both metric
and English formula for solving specific speed. Answer: 805 rpm

Prepared by: ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE