ME307

Energy Conversion Devices

Assignment – 1
Topic - Pumps

Name – Awantika Singh

Roll No. – B18163
Question:

• What it means if one says that Degree of

Reaction for this pump is zero? How does the
value of Degree of reaction affects the design of
pump?
Answer:
• The Degree of Reaction (R) is a parameter which describes the
relation between the energy transfer due to static pressure
change and the energy transfer due to dynamic pressure
change.
The degree of reaction is the ratio of energy transfer due to the
change in static pressure in the rotor to total energy transfer due to
the change in total pressure in the rotor. If R is zero that means there
is no increase in the pressure within the impeller. The impeller does
not contribute for static pressure rise. It implies that it is a constant
pressure impeller. Also it indicates that Enthalpy change across the
rotors will be zero and energy transfer is due to Kinetic energy change.
Typical degrees of reaction of centrifugal pumps vary between 0.5 and
1. The velocity triangle changes as the value of R changes. Hence
while designing the parameters are considered such that pressure
losses are avoided.
For example when R=0.5 means that pressure drop is equally shared
by the stator and rotor of a pump. Hence it reduces the pressure
losses.
If degree of reaction of pump is 1 then impeller solely contribute
for static pressure rise. Also when blade angle at the impeller
exit increases, the blades tend to curve more and degree of
reaction reduces and become impulse type at higher values.
This is how Degree of Reaction affects the design of the pump.