CHARACTERISTICS OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

EXPERIMENTAL PROCESS ENGINEERING (II)

(CHEN 405)

BY

BELLO DANJUMA

(U15CE1007)

GROUP 1B

SUB GROUP (PSIA)

SUBMITTED

TO

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT,

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA.

APRIL, 2019.

i
 ABSTRACT

In this experiment the characteristics of the centrifugal pump is to be determine using

characteristics curves by relating volumetric flow rate with pump head, efficiency and

change in power in the pump. Using these relations the graph is plotted for volumetric

flow rate against the other factors i.e head, efficiency and power change. The result

obtained was that the maximum efficiency of the pump was found to be 0.10% which is

very low for a normal machine, with maximum flow rate of 22.0 lit/s which is

equivalent to 0.022 m3/s and the power output generated at this flowrate is found to be

0.45 W and the power input at the same flow rate is 675 W which implies that the

change in power is 419.55 W. Using the above data generated then the graph is plotted

to determined the characteristics curve

ii
 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A centrifugal pump usually operates at a constant speed, and the pumping capacity

depends on the speed of rotation of the impeller, the design of the pump and the

conditions in the region of suction. The operating characteristic of a centrifugal pump is

best described by means of characteristic curves. These defined the interrelationship

between discharge pressure or the pump pressure head at the pump exit (H), flow rate

(Q) , pump efficiency (Y), and power consumption (P), for a given impeller speed of

rotation. Thus the usual set of characteristic curves consist of the plots of (H) against

(Q), (P) against (Q), and (Y) against (Q).

Centrifugal pumps are used widely in industrial practice on account of their

flexibility of operation. The pumping flow rate of a given pump may be varied over a

wide range in accordance with the requirements of a process.(Bugaje and Maina, 2012).

1.1 AIM

The Aim of this experiment is to detetmine the relationship between some factors in a

pump.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objective of this experiment is to determine the relationship between the factors

considered i.e. the characteristic curve by plotting power consumption, pump head and

efficiency versus flowrate.

1
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by

mechanical action. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the

method they use to move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps.

Pump are device for supplying energy or head to a flowing liquid in order to

overcome head losses due to friction and also, if necessary, to raise the liquid to a

higher 1level. The head imparted to a flowing liquid by a pump is known as the total

head Dh. (Holland, 1995).

2.2 TYPES OF PUMPS

 Jet pump

 Centrifugal pump

 Rotary pump

 Reciprocating pump

 Gear pump

 Piston pump

 Vane pump

2.2.1 CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

Centrifugal pumps The energy is imparted to flowing liquid by centrifugal action. The

most common types of centrifugal pump is the volute pump. In volume pump, liquid

enters near the axis of a high speed impeller and is thrown radially outward into a

progressively widening spiral Casing as shown in figure below. The impeller vane are

curved.

2
 Fig. 2.1: A sketch of a simple centrifugal pump

2.2.2 ROTARY PUMP

Rotary Pumps In rotary pumps the liquid is displaced by rotation of one or more

members within a stationary housing. Because internal clearances, although minute, are

a necessity in all but a few special types, capacity decreases somewhat with increasing

pump differential pressure. Therefore, these pumps are not truly positive displacement

pumps. However, for many other reasons they are considered as such. The selection of

materials of construction for rotary pumps is critical. The materials must be corrosion-

resistant, compatible when one part is running against another, and capable of some

abrasion resistance. (Perry and Green, 2007)

2.2.3 RECIPROCATING PUMP

Reciprocating pumps has a cylinder that has valves to regulate the flow of liquid into

and out of the cylinder and also it consist of piston moving back. These pumps may be

single or double acting. In the single acting pump, the pumping action takes place on

only one side of the piston, unlike in common lift pump, in which the piston is moved

up and down by hand. In the double acting pump, the pumping action takes place on

both sides of the piston, as in the electrical or steam-driven boiler feed pump, in which

3
water is supplied to a steam boiler under high pressure. These pumps can be single-

stage or multistage. Multistage reciprocating pumps have multiple cylinders in series.

2.2.4 GEAR PUMP

Gear pump use the meshing of gear to pump fluid by displacement they are one of the
most

common types for hydraulic fluid power application. The gear pump was invented
around 1600

by JOHANNES KEPLER .

Gear pump are also widely use in chemical installation to pump high viscosity fluids.
There are

two main variation: external gear pump and internal gear pump.

2.2.5 JET PUMP

Jet pumps are a class of liquid-handling device that makes use of the momentum of one

fluid to move another. Ejectors and injectors are the two types of jet pumps of interest to

chemical engineers. The ejector, also called the siphon, exhauster, or eductor, is

designed for use in operations in which the head pumped against is low and is less than

the head of the fluid used for pumping. (Perry and Green, 2007)

2.3 CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

A Pump may be described as a device used to raise, transfer, or compress liquids

and gases, or a pump is a physical contrivance that is used to deliver fluids from one

location to another through conduits.

Centrifugal pumps are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing turbo

machinery Centrifugal pumps are used to transport fluids by the conversion of rotational

kinetic energy to the hydrodynamic energy of the fluid flow. The rotational energy

4
typically comes from an engine or electric motor. 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 (casing), from where it exits. Common uses

include water, sewage, petroleum and petrochemical pumping; a centrifugal fan is

commonly used to implement a vacuum cleaner The reverse function of the centrifugal

pump is a water turbine converting potential energy of water pressure in to mechanical

rotational energy. A centrifugal pump is a constant velocity device. We convert some of

this velocity to head (pressure) to satisfy our pumping needs. In any given pump

application there is an ideal combination of head and velocity. When we are pumping at

this ideal we say that the pump is pumping at its best efficiency point. A very important

point to remember is that the pump is pumping the difference between the discharge and

suction heads. To know exactly what the pump is doing you must know the head at both

the suction and discharge side of the pump. (Holland, 1995).

2.3.1 Advantages of centrifugal Pump.

(a) As there is no drive seal so there is no leakage in pump.

(b) It can pump hazardous liquids

(c) There are very less frictional losses

(d) There in almost no noise.

(e) Pump has almost 100 efficiencies

(f) Centrifugal pump uses magnetic couple which breakup on high load eliminating

the risk of damaging the motor.

2.3.2 Disadvantages of Centrifugal Pump.

5
(a) Because of the magnetic resistance there is some energy losses.

(b) Unexpected heavy load may cause the coupling to slip.

(c) Ferrous particles in liquids are problematic when you are using magnetic drive.

(Dennis, 2012)

2.3.3 SUBMERSIBLE PUMP

Is a device which has a hermetically Sealed motor close –coupled to a pump body. The
whole

assembly is submerged in the fluid to be pumped. The main advantage of this types of
pump is

that it prevent pump cavitation. A problem associated with a high elevation difference
between

pump and the fluid surface. Submersible pump push fluid to the surface as opposed to
jet pumps

pump having to pull fluid submersible are more efficient than jet pump.

2.3.4 FACTOR AFFECTING PUMP

Pump or pumping is a major equipment in any process or power plant so the equipment

should operate properly to give b` est output in terms of performance. However,

there are many factors which influence the pump performance (by Benra F. K). Out of

those, the main(major) factor are affect the performance of pump are as follows:

 Impeller design

6
  Improper priming

 Insufficient NPSH

 Reduce capacity

 Wrong direction of rotation

 Packing trouble. E.t.c

2.3.5 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD (NPSH)

This is absolute dynamic head at the pump inlet (suction)in excess of the vapor pressure

NPSHA is the theoretical amount of head that could be lost between suction and point

of minimum pressure without causing cavitation (but this always overestimates actual

amount that can be lost, because some velocity head must remain, even at point of

pmin).

( Dr Baba Abdul 2017)

2.3.6 CENTRIFUGAL-PUMP CURVE CHARACTERISTICS

7
The characteristic curves of centrifugal pumps plot of the following parameters against

flow rate (Q): head (H) ,power input (P), pump efficiency (η) and net positive suction

head ( NPSH). The characteristic curve's shape is primarily determined by the pump

type (i.e. impeller, pump casing or specific speed. Secondary influences such as

cavitation, manufacturing tolerances, size and physical properties of the fluid handled

(e.g. viscosity, solids transport or pulp pumping are not taken into account in these

diagrams. The nature of the curves will be ;

2.3.7 Measurement of Performance : The amount of useful work that any fluid

transport device performs is the product of

 the mass rate of fluid flow through it and

the total pressure differential measured immediately before and after the device,

usually expressed in the height of column of fluid equivalent under adiabatic

conditions. The first of these quantities is normally referred to as capacity, and

the second is known as head (Felix Vink)

8
2.3.8 Displacement: Discharge of a fluid from a vessel by partially orcompletely

displacing its internal volume with a second fluid or by mechanical means is the

principle upon which a great many fluid transport devices operate

2.4 Head: The head imparted on a liquid by pump is known as total head ∆ h. If the

pump is placed between two points 1 and 2 in a pipe line the heads for steady flow are

related by

P2 u 22 P1 u 11
( z2 + +
ρ2 g 2 g α 2 )(
− z1 + +
ρ1 g 2 g α 1
=∆ h−h f ) . . . . . . . . .

2.1

The most important heads to consider in pumping systems are;

2.4.1 Suction head given by;

Ps
h s=z s + −h fs . . . . . . . . .2.2
ρg

2.4.2 Discharge head given by;

Pd
h d=z d + −h fd . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
ρg

2.4.3 Total Dynamic head given by

∆ h=h d−hs . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4

2.4.4 Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) given by;

( P s−P vp ) . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5
NPSH =z s + −h fs
ρg

2.4.5 Friction Head; This is the pressure required to overcome the resistance to flow

in pipe and fittings.

9
2.4.6 Velocity Head; This is the vertical distance by which a body must fall to acquire

the velocity v.

h v =v 2 /2 g . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.6

2.4.6 Capacity(flow rate) : This quantity is expressed in the following units. In SI

units’ capacity is expressed in cubic meters per hour (m 3/h) for both liquids and gases.

In U.S. customary units it is expressed in U.S. gallons per minute (gal/min) for liquids

and in cubic feet per minute (ft3/min) for gases. Since all these are volume units, the

density or specific gravity must be used for conversion to mass rate of flow. When

gases are being handled, capacity must be related to a pressure and a temperature,

usually the conditions prevailing at the machine inlet. It is important to note that all

heads and other terms in the following equations are expressed in height of column of

liquid.

2.4.7 Viscosity: In flowing liquids the existence of internal friction or the internal

resistance to relative motion of the fluid particles must be considered. This resistance is

called viscosity. The viscosity of liquids usually decreases with rising temperature.

Viscous liquids tend to increase the power required by a pump, to reduce pump

efficiency, head, and capacity, and to increase friction in pipe lines.

2.4.8 Work Performed in Pumping: To cause liquid to flow, work must be done. A

pump may raise the liquid to a higher elevation, force it into a vessel at higher pressure,

provide the head to overcome pipe friction, or perform any combination of these.

Regardless of the service required of a pump, all energy imparted to the liquid in

performing this service must be accounted for; consistent units for all quantities must be

employed in arriving at the work or power performed. When arriving at the

10
performance of a pump, it is customary to calculate its power output, which is the

product of the total dynamic head and the mass of liquid pumped in a given time. In SI

units power is expressed in kilowatts; horsepower is the conventional unit used in the

United States. In SI units,

kW =  HQρ /3.670× 105

Where kW is the pump power output, kW; H = total dynamic head, Nm/kg (column of

liquid); Q = capacity, m 3 /h; and ρ = liquid density,kg/m3.

The power input to a pump is greater than the power output because of internal losses

resulting from friction, leakage, etc. The efficiency of a pump is therefore defined as

Pump efficiency = (power output)/(power input). (Holland, 1995).

11
 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 INSTRUMENTATION AND EQUIPMENT

 Ammeter

 Volt meter

 Stop clock

 Pump

 Reservoir

 Manometer

 Transformer

 Centrifugal pump

3.1 Flow Demonstration Apparatus for characteristics of Centrifugal pump.

12
 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 PROCEDURES

The following procedures were followed during the experiment

 The experimental equipment was set-up in an appropriate way

 The reservoirs were filled up with water with ten (10) bucket of water

 The rotameter was calibrated at different intervals

 The voltmeter was used for determining the voltage in the operation

 The pump was turned on.

 The transformer reading was kept changing in order to obtain current (I) reading

at different values using ammeter.

 The readings were recorded after 4 seconds interval

 The data obtained, was recorded and used for the calculations

13
 CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

5.1 RESULT

5.1: CALCULATIONS

5.1.2: Evaluations

FLOWRATES

5.5 litres
∗0.001m 3
Ǭ1= s = 0.0055m3/s
1 litre

3.0 litres
∗0.001m 3
Ǭ2= s =0.003m3/s
1 litre

9.0 litres
∗0.001 m3
Ǭ3= s = 0.009m3/s
1 litre

15 litres
∗0.001m 3
Ǭ4= s =0.015m3/s
1 litre

22.0 litres
∗0.001 m3
Ǭ5= s =0.022m3/s
1 litre

Power input

Pin= IV

P1=2.7*250=675W

P2=2.6*220=572W

P3=2.9*190=551W

P4=3.2*150=480W

P5=3.5*120=420W

14
Head calculation

∆p
H=
ρg

21.24
H1= =0.0021m
9.81∗1000

19.50
H2= =0.0019m
9.81∗1000

17.21
H3= =0.0017m
9.81∗1000

16.02
H4= =0.0016m
9.81∗1000

15.34
H5= =0.0015m
9.81∗1000

Power output

Pout=ρ*g*H*Ǭ

Pou1=1000*9.81*0.0021*0.0055=0.11W

Pou2=1000*9.81*0.0019*0.003=0.055W

Pou3=1000*9.81*0.0017*0.009=0.15W

Pou4=1000*9.81*0.0019*0.015=0.27W

Pou5=1000*9.81*0.0021*0.022=0.45W

Efficiency

p out
η= *100
pin

0.11
η1= *100=0.016%
675

0.055
η2= *100=0.0096%
572

15
 0.15
η3= *100=0.027%
551

0.27
η4= *100=0.056%
480

0.45
η5= *100=0.10%
420

Table 5.1: Data

S/N t(S) Ǭ(cm3/s) P(inHg) P(Psi) P(Pa) P(mmHg) v(volt) I(A) Pout(W) Pin(W) H(m) η%

1 4 0.0055 6.02 3.0 21.24 13.87 250 207 0.11 675 0.0021 0.016

2 8 0.003 5.2 2.89 19.50 13.57 120 206 0.055 572 0.0019 0.0096

3 12 0.009 4.3 2.42 17.21 13.21 190 2.9 0.15 551 0.007 0.027

4 16 0.015 3.6 2.02 16.02 12.57 150 3.2 0.27 480 0.0016 0.056

5 20 0.022 2.1 1.98 15.34 11.46 120 3.5 0.45 420 0.0015 0.10

Power consumption

ΔP= Pin-Pout

16
ΔP1= 675-0.11=674.89W

ΔP2= 572-0.055=571.94W ΔP4= 480-0.27 = 479.73W

ΔP3= 551-0.15=550.85W ΔP5= 420-0.45 = 419.55 W

Table5.2: Graph data

S/N Ǭ ( m3/s) x10-3 H (x10-4m) η (x10-3%) POWER CONSUMED (W)

1 5.5 21 16 674.89

2 30 19 9.6 571.94

3 90 17 27 550.85

4 150 16 56 479.73

5 220 15 100 419.55

17
 flowrate vs power, head and efficiency
0.04

0.04

0.03
Flowrate (m3/s)

0.03

0.02

0.02

0.01

0.01

0
0 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.03

Power, pressure head and efficiency

H(m) Pin(W) Pout(W) ƞ%

5.2 DISCUSSION

From the graph we can deduced that there is no power problem because the efficiency

keeps increasing with flowrate, efficiency of the pump was found to be 0.10% which is

Very low and with these data generated, the best efficiency point cannot be found

unless if the higher flowrate were used then we can find out where the efficiency of the

machine will start to decrease, the Head keeps increasing from the beginning until it

reaches when the flow rate is very high then it starts declining and as in the case of

power the machine produce high power output as flow rate rises un to when the flowrate

is about 0.0055 m3/s then the power output starts decreasing which shows that the

18
ageing is affecting the machine. For a characteristics curve from the literature the

maximum head is obtained at small flow rate and in this case the small flow rate is

0.009 cm3/s then after this flow rate we can see that from the graph the head starts to

decrease as flow rate continues to increase.

CHAPTER SIX

6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1 CONCLUSION

From the result it was found out that the power output keeps increasing with the

flowrate in which at 5.5lit/s, 3.0lit/s, 9.0lit/s, 15lit/s, the power output is 0.11W,

0.055W, 0.15W, 0.27W, respectively. The efficiency at this power output was obtained

to be 0.016, 0.0096, 0.0096, 0.027, 0.056 respectively. Which shows that the efficiency

of the pump keeps increasing also The pressure for the experiment was keep decreasing

19
as flowrate increase, the pressure at 5.5lit/s is 3.0 psi, 3.0lit/s is 2.89 psi and 9.0lit/s is

2.42 psi.

6.2 RECOMMENDATION

I will like to recommend about some equipment used during the practical, the ammeter

used should be change for the next experiments so that the error will be minimize in

order to obtain accurate result, and the ageing is what is affecting the entire pump

machine considering the results obtained, if the entire machine could be changed then

there would be no problem about machine ageing because from the result obtained it

was found out that the maximum efficiency for the machine is 0.10%.

REFERENCES

1. Benra F. K and Dr. Ing Lewis, 1990.Measurement of the characteristics of

centrifugal pump. CRC press. New York.

2. Bugaje, D. I., & Maina, S. N. . (2012). Experimental process engineering II,

Laboratory manual.

20
 3. Felix Vink, 2012. Introduction to fluid mechanics, 5th Edition, John Wiley and

sons, New York.

4. Holland, A. (1995). Fluid Flow for Chemical Engineers Second edition.

5. Perry, R. H., & Green, D. W. (2007). chemical engineer’s hand book.

6. Shephard Harry and Dennis Vincent, 2012.Centrifugal pump selection. McGraw

21