Discussion

Form the graphs and tables of series pump configuration, it was clear that flow rate is inversely
proportional to pressure (i.e. increase in flow rate resulted in decrease of pressure). However the
graph of theoretical showed a perfect linear relationship whereas for experimental data showed
little of wobble, this was accounted by sources of errors discusses below. Also, the graph of parallel
pump configuration also showed the same pattern of results conforming to the inverse
proportionality of flow rate and pressure however for this part, experimental result graph showed
quite a significant wobble that the series one and again this was also accounted by errors.

On comparison of the graphs produced by the two system configurations of series and parallel
layouts, it has become apparent that the two system give two different results items of pressure
reading, that is parallel configuration gave a low pressure reading at the same flow rate whereas
series configuration gave quite a higher pressure reading at the same flow rate. This observation
conforms to the theory that pumps in series have an added power output which enables them to
reach high speed or head pump requirements that any of the individual pumps would not have met
alone while pumps in turn to have low speed but high flow operation that otherwise a single pump
would not have met (2)

Errors

Errors associated with the experiment were human errors. This was mostly possible by parallax error
in taking pressure readings from the pressure gauge as well as talking flow rate readings. Also in
setting flow rate speed, there more often there was a danger of overshooting the prescribed
readings which could lead to someone settle for a reading close to but not exactly the one
recommended. Also with high flow rate, there was a tendency of turbulence forming on the water
tank which introduced other forces like separation forces. All these errors to some extend had
influence in the accuracy of the results as evidenced by the distortions visible in the experimental
results graphs.

Conclusion
On the bases of this it had been concluded that pumps in series give quite high pressure readings (5
bars) at low flow rate (5 l/m) whereas parallel pumps give low pressure (0.5 bar) at high flow rates (
50 l/m).