Table of Contents

No. Contents Pages

1 Abstract 2

2 Statement of Purpose or Objectives 3

3 Theory 3-4

4 Equipment 5

5 Procedures 6

6 Data, Observation and Results 7-10

7 Analysis and Discussions 11-12

8 Conclusions 13

9 References 14

1
 Abstract

The study of this experiment is solely to understand and focus on the characteristic of
single pump operation with variable flow rate and pump speeds. In nowadays fluids
engineering practice, the study of this kind of phenomena plays crucial part in determining
what is the best way to pump a volume of liquid from one place to another and what are the
difficulties and the problems that should be overcome.

In order to select the suitable pumps for such applications, the characteristics of single
pump operation must be determined. The flow rate and pump head are the most important
characteristics of a pump to be determined. Flow rate of a pump represents the amount of
water that is able to be moved in a given time to ensure it meets the supply demand.
However, pump head represents how high or hard the water can be pushed at full load. In this
experiment, a single stage centrifugal pump was used to conduct the experiment.

The experiment was began by using a speed of 2000 RPM for the pump and the flow rate
was approximately adjusted to 50 LPM. The flow rate, pump speed, power and pressure was
recorded in appointed table and the experiment was carried on by increasing the flow rate by
10 LPM until it reached 110 LPM. Secondly, the experiment was then conducted by adjusting
the speed of the pump from 2100 RPM and decreased by 100 RPM for each reading until the
speed reached 1400 RPM. The machine was then switch off and all vale was closed down.
With all the measurement taken, the experimental value of the pump head and the overall
efficiency was calculated using the formula given in the lab manual.

All the calculated values was put in the table and graph of pump head against flow rate
(graph 1) and graph of efficiency against flow rate (graph 2) were plotted. Apart from that the
graph of flow rate against pump speed (graph 3) and the graph of pump head against pump
speed (graph 4) was also plotted. In analysis of the calculated experimental value and the
style of the graphs plotted, one could say that the value gained from the experiment differ not
so much from the nominal or the theoretical value. Hence this brought the meaning that the
experiment was well performed and values obtain was acceptable.

2
 Objective
The objective of the experiment is to study and understand the characteristics of single
pump operation with variable flow rate and pump speeds. The experiment is conducted in
such a way to determine the effects of flow rate and pump speeds on pump head individually.

Theory
When a fluid, be it liquid or gas, has to be moved in a system, pumps are used. Pumps
are mechanical devices which use suction or pressure to raise or move fluids by increasing
the total mechanical energy of the fluid. In this process, the pump will convert the electrical
energy received into fluid energy to produce the flow of liquids.

Typically, pumps operate by reciprocating or rotary mechanisms to accelerate the flow

of fluids. Pumps are further divided into 2 categories, namely positive displacement pumps
and dynamic pumps. A positive displacement pump moves fluids by trapping a fixed amount
and forcing that fixed amount into the discharge pipe. However, a dynamic pump moves
fluids by increasing the fluids kinetic energy.

In this experiment, a centrifugal pump, which falls under the dynamic pump category,
is used. The centrifugal pump converts energy into the fluid by the action of rotating blades to
increase the velocity of the fluid. A centrifugal pump usually has a cross section as shown in
the diagram below

centrifugal pump consists of 2 major components, the impeller and the housing. The impeller
consists of a number of blades attached in a regular pattern to one side of a circular hub plate
that is connected to the rotating shaft. The revolving blades thus impart kinetic energy on the

3
fluid to increase the fluids velocity. The housing, volute or vortex shaped, is a stationary shell
that encloses the impeller and supports the rotating drive shaft via a bearing.

Fluids enter the pump through suction eye of the impeller which rotates at high
speeds. The fluid is continuously being drawn into the pump due to the vacuum created at the
impellers eye and is accelerated radially outward from the pump chasing. The Bernoulli
Equation correctly predicts the energy transferred to the liquid in this process.

When the discharge of the centrifugal pump is vertically upwards, the fluid will be
pumped to a maximum height called the shutoff head. The maximum head value depends on
the diameter of the pump impeller and the speed of the rotating shaft. The shutoff head is
usually measured by closing the external system valve to produce no flow.

The pump characteristics are normally described graphically by the manufacturer as a

pump performance curve. The flow rate against pump head curve is plotted to visualize the
efficiency of the actual pump. It is found experimentally that increasing the impeller diameter
or speed increases the head and flow read capacity thus the pump curve moves upwards.

Centrifugal pumps are constant head pumps that are most commonly used for
transferring liquids. This is because it can adapt rapidly to sudden changes in supply demands
as it is not affected by surrounding circumstances. The lack of positive internal seals against
leakage also means that the pump is not forced to flow when there is large system resistance.
This is because less resistance signifies that less slip back of fluids at discharge into clearance
spaces thus increases the flow of fluid.

4
 Equipments

- Pump Test Rig, FM07A

1. Pump, P1 4. Speed Sensor

2. Pump, P2 5. Pressure Gauge

3. Water Tank 6. Pressure Transmitter

- Fluids.

5
 Procedure

1) The circulation tank filled with water.

2) The main power supply switched on.
3) The main switch on the control panel turned on.
4) Turn V5 slightly approximately 2 rounds.
5) The following valve position was checked.
V1 and V4 = Fully opened
V2 and V3 = Fully closed
6) The speed controller was at minimised before the pump turned on. To increase pump
speed the pump controller turn clockwise and turn anti-clockwise to decrease the
speed.
7) Pump 1 was turn on.
8) The speed of the pump slowly increased until 2000 rpm.
9) V5 was adjust to get the value of approximately 50 LPM
10) The reading of flowrate, pump speed , power and pressure (PT1 and PT3) was
recorded in table 1.
11) The flowrate was increased to 10 LPM and the reading was record in table 1. The
reading of flowrate was continued till 110 LPM.
12) The speed was adjust to 2100 rpm.
13) The reading of pump speed, flowrate, power, and pressure (PT1 and PT3) was record
in table 2.
14) The speed decreased to 100 rpm and the reading was record in table 2. The reading of
speed was continued till 1400 rpm.
15) The pump was turn off.
16) The valve V5 was fully closed.
17) The main switch on the control panel was turned off.
18) The main power supply was switched off.

Data, Observation and Results

6
 Flow Flow Power
Pump Power PT3 Pump
Rate, PT1 PT3 Rate, Q (fluid) Efficien
Speed (pump) PT1 Head,
Q (bar) (bar) (10 -3 (Watt cy (%)
(RPM) (Watt) (bar) H (m)
(LPM) m3/s) )

6.8167E- 61.350
40.9 2013 254.2 1.0 1.9 0.9 9.1743 24.13
4 2
8.5333E- 68.266
51.2 2007 260.4 1.0 1.8 0.8 8.1549 26.22
4 0
1.0050E- 70.350
60.3 2005 270.2 1.0 1.7 0.7 7.1356 26.04
3 2
1.1633E- 81.431
69.8 1995 278.2 1.0 1.7 0.7 7.1356 29.27
3 3
1.3367E- 80.201
80.2 1995 281.3 1.0 1.6 0.6 6.1162 28.51
3 9
1.5083E- 60.332
90.5 1993 289.5 1.0 1.4 0.4 4.0775 20.84
3 4
1.6650E- 49.950
99.9 1990 291.1 0.9 1.2 0.3 3.0581 17.16
3 0

Table 1: Single Pump Operation with Variable Flow Rate

Pump Flow Power Pump

PT1 PT3 PT3 PT1
Speed Rate, Q (pump) Head,
(bar) (bar) (bar)
(RPM) (LPM) (Watt) H (m)
2103 105.1 337.3 0.9 1.3 0.4 4.0775
2004 100.1 300.7 0.9 1.2 0.3 3.0581
1909 96.9 266.4 0.9 1.2 0.3 3.0581
1798 88.2 227.5 0.9 1.2 0.3 3.0581
1701 83.9 191.8 1.0 1.2 0.2 2.0387
1603 77.0 166.7 1.0 1.1 0.1 1.0194
1507 71.5 139.4 1.0 1.1 0.1 1.0194
1398 57.2 89.3 1.0 1.1 0.1 1.0194

Table 2 : Single Pump Operation with Variable Pump Speeds

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Sample calculation for row 1(Table 1)

PT3 PT1 = 1.9 1.0

= 0.9 bar

= 0.9X100000/(9.81X1000)

= 9.1743 m

= 40.9/60000

= 6.8167 X 104 m3/s

= 9.81 X ( 6.8167 X 104 ) X 9.1743 X 1000

= 61.3502 Watt

= 61.3502/254.2 X 100%

= 24.13 %

Sample Calculation for Table 2 Row 1

PT3 PT1 = 1.3 0.9

= 0.4 bar

= 0.4 X 100000/(9.81 X 1000)

= 4.0775 m

8
Graph 1: Pump Head vs Flowrate

Graph 2: Efficiency vs Flowrate

9
Graph 3: Flowrate vs Pump Speed

Graph 4: Pump Head vs Pump Speed

10
 Analysis and Discussions

Pumps are most device that used in a variety of industries which requires movement
of fluids. This device can used for simple purposes such as pumping water from a reservoir
and even for complex systems like pumping water to cool nuclear reactors. It is the most
commonly used mechanism and forms an integral part of engineering.

Pumps are devices that transfer mechanical energy from a prime mover into fluid
energy to produce the flow of liquids. The pump transfers the electrical energy it receives
from the driving motor into fluid energy by means of suction and pressure. Mechanical
pumps are further divided into dynamic pumps and positive displacement pumps.

The centrifugal pump used is a dynamic pump that increases the fluid velocity by the
action of a rotating blade. A centrifugal pump is a rotodynamic pump that uses a rotating
impeller to increase the pressure and flow rate of fluids. When the driveshaft is rotated by the
electric motor, the impeller fluid is drawn in axially through the suction eye of the housing.
This is because a vacuum is formed at the eye when the impeller blades rotate at high speeds.

The fluid then makes a 90o turn and flows radially outward. Due to centrifugal action
and actual blade forces, energy is transferred into the fluid as it flows along the rotating
blades. As a result, the pressure and velocity of the fluid increases until it reaches the outer tip
of the impeller. The fluid then enters the volute-shaped housing whose increased flow area
causes the velocity to decrease. Therefore, kinetic energy decreases while the pressure
increases.

The volute shaped housing also provides a continuous increase in flow area in the
direction of flow to produce a uniform velocity as the fluid travels around the outer portion of
housing and discharge opening. Although centrifugal pumps provide smooth and continuous
flow, their discharge flow rate reduces as the external resistance increases. In fact, it is
possible to stop pump output flow completely by turning off the system valve.

In Graph 1, the pump speed and pump head decreases as the fluid flow rate increases.
This is because water flows faster when there is less restriction in the body of the pump thus
causing a decrease in pump head. This phenomenon agrees with the Bernoullis equation.

From Graph 2, the power of the fluid increases as the flow rate increases. This is
because the velocity of the fluid increases in the pump thus increases the total kinetic energy

11
of the fluid. However, the efficiency of the pump increases to a point midway and declines
with the increase of flow rates. This is because pump efficiency is a function of the operating
head.

According to Graph 3, it is observed that flow rate of water increases linearly as the
pump speed increases. This is because the when the pump speed increases, the rotating blades
will transfer a higher amount of kinetic energy into the fluid thus increases its flow rate. It is
also noted that the input power increases as the pump speed increases.

However, Graph 4 shows that the pump head is constant as the pump speed increases.
This is because centrifugal pumps are constant head devices and is not affected by the pump
speeds. This is a very important feature of centrifugal pumps that allows it to perform
normally when there is a change in pump speeds.

As the efficiency of the centrifugal pump is low, errors have occurred in our
experiment. Additional resistive forces are present in the pipes used due to wall friction and
pipe fittings have affected the power output of the experiment. Moreover, the wear and tear of
the pump due to prolonged usage might result in errors in our experiment. The readings of the
pump power and pump speed has also incurred errors in the experiment as the values
recorded are not accurate.

12
 Conclusions

In conclusion, the working principle of a centrifugal pump is fully understood after

conducting the experiment. It is concluded that centrifugal pumps behaves differently under
variable flow rates and pump speeds.

From the results of the experiment, it is concluded that when the flow rate increases,
the pump speed power input and output increases while the pump head decreases. However
the pump efficiency increases until a peak and declines with increase in flow rate. This is
because a pump can only function efficiently at a specified pump speed and pump head.

The results also showed that when the pump speed is directly proportional to the flow
rate. Besides, the power also increases when the pump speed increases. However, the pump
head is not affected by the increase in flow rate and thus stay constant throughout.

In short, the functions and characteristics of a centrifugal pump is understood through

a hands on experience in pump test. Lastly,the objectives of the experiment were achieved
while observing safe lab procedures.

13
 References
a. Book

Munson, B. R. (2010). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. 6th Ed.Reading: Wiley.

P645.

b. Internet

Cho Thin, Khin. (2008). Design and Performance Analysis of Centrifugal Pump.
Retrieved from https://www.waset.org/journals/waset/v22/v22-71.pdf
Castle Pump. (2012). Definition of a Pump: Centrifugal Pump. Retrieved from
http://www.castlepumps.com/definition-of-a-pump-4275-0.html
Loremate. (2012). Fluid Machinery. Chapter 4 Centrifugal Pump. Retrieved
from http://ptumech.loremate.com/fluid-machinery/node/16
Pump. (2012, November 24). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pump&oldid=524583073

c. Video

Chaurette, J. (2011, July 25). 10. Performance Curve. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QwYDK_z_pk

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