INTRODUCTION

Pump

A pump is a device used to move gases, liquids or slurries. A pump moves liquids or gases
from lower pressure to higher pressure, and overcomes this difference in pressure by adding
energy to the system (such as a water system). A gas pump is generally called a compressor,
except in very low pressure-rise applications, such as in heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning, where the operative equipment consists of fans or blowers.

Centrifugal pump

A centrifugal pump is a rot dynamic pump that uses a rotating impeller to increase the velocity
of a fluid. Centrifugal pumps are commonly used to move liquids through a piping system. The
fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the
impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber, from where it exits into
the downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are used for large discharge through smaller
heads.

Figure 1.Basic element of a centrifugal pump

Centrifugal pump works

A centrifugal pump works by the conversion of the rotational kinetic energy, typically
from an electric motor or turbine, to an increased static fluid pressure. This action is described
by Bernoullis principle. The rotation of the pump impeller imparts kinetic energy to the fluid
as it is drawn in from the impeller eye (centre) and is forced outward through the impeller vanes
to the periphery. As the fluid exits the impeller, the fluid kinetic energy (velocity) is then
converted to (static) pressure due to the change in area the fluid experiences in the volute
section. Typically the volute shape of the pump casing (increasing in volume), or the diffuser
vanes (which serve to slow the fluid, converting to kinetic energy in to flow work) are
responsible for the energy conversion. The energy conversion results in an increased pressure
on the downstream side of the pump, causing flow.

Capitations is the problems in the pump. It is defined as the phenomenon of formation

of vapour bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below
its vapour pressure. Cavitation is usually divided into two classes of behaviour: inertial (or
transient) cavitation and non-inertial cavitation. Inertial cavitation is the process where a void
or bubble in a liquid rapidly collapses, producing a shock wave. Such cavitation often occurs
in pumps, propellers, impellers, and in the vascular tissues of plants. Non-inertial cavitation is
the process in which a bubble in a fluid is forced to oscillate in size or shape due to some form
of energy input, such as an acoustic field. Such cavitation is often employed in ultrasonic
cleaning baths and can also be observed in pumps, propellers etc.

Due to the general complexity of flow through a centrifugal pump ,the actual
performance of the pump cannot be predicted on a completely theoretical basis .Actual pump
performance is determine experimentally through test on the pump and the result are presented
as pump performance curve .Performance characteristics for a given pump geometry and
operating speed are usually given in the form of plots of head rise ,efficiency and power versus
flow rate (commonly referred as capacity).This information is most helpful to the engineer
responsible for incorporating pump into a given pipe flow system.
OBJECTIVES

The objective of the experiment is to obtain performance characteristics (as described

above) for variable speed centrifugal pump operating at different impeller speeds.

PROCEDURE

i) Suction valve is opened and the discharge valve is closed. The maximum speed N1
is selected by adjusting speed control to 50%.
ii) Discharge valve is fully opened and water is allowed to circulate. The volume of
flow indicator is noted and decides suitable increments in flow to give adequate
sample points about 15 points between zero and maximum flow).
iii) The discharge valve is closed (corresponding to no flow). When the measured
readings are steady read all the measurements.
iv) The discharge valve is opened slightly, to give the first increment in volume flow.
When readings are steady, take the measurements.
v) Step 4 is repeated. The final measurements corresponding to the valve being fully
open.
vi) The entire experiment is repeated at pump speed corresponding to speed control
position of 75% and 100%