Thermofluid Dynamics 214

Food Factory Machines 414

Practical 1
Centrifugal pump test
 Introduction
The objective of this practical was to determine specific characteristics of a centrifugal pump
by taking measurements throughout the practical. These were then used to draw a pump
characteristics curve, which was compared to that of the supplier.

Sketch and discussion of the experiment

Outlet Pressure
Power Supply Outlet Manometer
4-pole
3kN- velvet
Rotating
electric
shaft
motor

Centrifugal Torque
pump Inlet pressure Inlet velvet

Figure 1 Sketch of pump system

1. The pump is turned on.

2. The pressure difference between the outlet gauge and the inlet gauge is taken to
establish the pressure difference between the suction and the pumping action.

3. The torque is read.

4. The flow measurement is taken from the manometer.

5. Six different reading are taken and after every reading the water flow is increased.

6. All of the above information and results will be taken into consideration while
plotting the Pump Characteristics Diagram.
 Measured data:
Pressure Torque
Manometer (mmHg) (kPa) Weight (kg) (N.m)
Measurement Top Bottom Difference Inlet Outlet Difference
1 98 41.7 56.3 50 -42 92 11.9 14.59
2 93.2 47 46.2 59 -38 97 12.1 14.83
3 89.6 50 39.6 65 35.5 100.5 12.2 14.96
4 83.9 55.9 28 72.5 -31 103.5 11.9 14.59
5 79.5 60.4 19.1 79 -27 106 11.2 13.73
6 74.1 65.7 8.4 86 -23 109 9.49 11.64

Calculated data:
Mean Fluid Velocity (m/s) Volumetric Flow rate (m/s) Pump Head (m) Efficiency (%)
Measurement
1 3.25 0.0169 9.40 57.19
2 2.95 0.0154 9.91 58.11
3 2.73 0.0142 10.26 59.53
4 2.29 0.0119 10.57 47.33
5 1.89 0.00984 10.82 40.77
6 1.26 0.00656 11.13 36.98

Formulae Explanation
= = 9.81
= =

= =

( )
=


= = 1000 3

[ ( ) ] = 0.78; 1 = 67.3; 2 = 45.2
{ }
=
= 2
=

= (
+
) =


= ( + ) =
= =

= = 9.81
2 1450
= 60
=


=

Example:
 Pressure Torque
Manometer (mmHg) (kPa) Weight (kg) (N.m)
Measurement Top Bottom Difference Inlet Outlet Difference
1 98 41.7 56.3 50 -42 92 11.9 14.59

F = 11.9 x 9.81
= 116.739 N

Torque = 116.739N x 0.125

= 14.59 N.m

(50(42)1000)
= =
9.81 (0.0563)
= 76135.744 kg/m3

1
76135.744 2
29.81 ( 1)0.0563
1000
= 0.78 { 0.0452 4 }
[1 ( ) ]
0.0678
= 10.56 m/s

0.0452 2
= = 7.99 ( )
2
3
= 0.0169 /

0.0169
= = 0.0814 2
( )
2
= 3.25 m/s

50000 3.252 42000 3.252

= ( 9.81 1000 + 29.81
) - ( 9.811000 + 29.81
)
= 5.65 - (-3.755)
= 9.4 m

= = 14.59 x 9.81 x 0.125

= 17.89
2 2 1450
= =
60 60
= 151.84

1000 9.81 0.0169 9.4

=
100 = 17.89 151.84
100 = 57.19%

14

12

10
head pump (m)

6 Measured
4 Supplier
 Figure 2 Pump Characteristic Curve

90
80
70
60
Efficiency

50
40 Measured
30 Supplier
20
10
0
0.0169 0.0154 0.0142 0.0119 0.0984 0.0656

Flow Rate V (m^3/h)

Figure 3 Efficiency Comparison Curve

Conclusion
As mentioned the objective of this practical was to determine the pump characteristic curve
by taking measurements throughout the practical. The pump characteristic curve as well as
the efficiency curve both corresponds to that of the suppliers curve although the values are
a bit lower than that of the suppliers. These differences in the values could be due to
friction within the pipes as well as environmental factors such as temperature. Overall it can
be concluded that the performance as well as the efficiency the centrifugal pump delivers is
that which the supplier predicted.