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Ce 370 - Centrifugal Pump Characteristics
Ce 370 - Centrifugal Pump Characteristics
CHARACTERISTICS
CE 370
Types of Pumps
There are different types of pumps which are used for
different purposes in water and wastewater
transportation:
Low-lift pumps are used to lift water and wastewater from a
Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps are commonly used in the field of water and
wastewater for a variety of applications:
Simplicity
Compactness
Low-cost
Ability to operate under wide conditions.
Centrifugal Pumps
The name "Centrifugal" is driven from the force, the
pump depends on, to transport water. That force is the
centrifugal force. The impeller can be:
Closed, which is used to transport water and
Open,
Pump Characteristics
Usually manufacturers produce characteristics curves
for pumps with different impeller diameter and
operating speeds. For a given impeller diameter
running at different speeds, the discharge is directly
proportional to to the speed, head is proportional to the
square of speed, and power input is proportional to the
cube of the speed as shown in the following equations:
where:
Q = discharge, gallons per minute (liters per second
H = head, feet (meters)
Pi = power input, horsepower (kilowatts).
Q1 N1
Q2 N 2
H1 N12
2
H 2 N2
Pi1 N
Pi 2 N
3
1
3
2
Pump Characteristics
If the pump operates at constant speed
but at different impeller diameter, the
effect of discharge, head and power
input becomes as follows:
where D = impeller diameter, inches
(centimeters)
Q1 D1
Q2 D2
2
1
2
2
H1 D
H2 D
3
1
3
2
Pi1 D
Pi 2 D
where
wQH
QH
Po
550 60 3960
Po = power output, horsepower
Q = discharge, gallons per minute
H = head, feet
w = unit weight of water = 8.34 lb/gal
550 = foot pounds / second per horsepower
60 = seconds per minute
3960 = 550 60 / 8.34
Po wQH 0.0098 QH
where
Po = power output, kilowatts (kilonewton meter per second)
Q = discharge, liters per second
H = head, meters
w = unit weight of water = 0.0098 kN per liter
where
Po
Ep
Pi
Ep = pump efficiency, dimensionless
Pi = power input, horsepower (kilowatts)
Po = power output, horsepower (kilowatts).
System Characteristics
System Characteristics
When a pump is put into service in a water distribution
system, its flow of discharge faces resistance due to:
Static head and
Friction head loss
System Characteristics
If water is discharged from outlet 1, then the
system will have the hydraulic grade line 1,
while if water is discharged from outlet 2 then
the system will be described by the hydraulic
grade line 2.
The head-discharge curves for the system are
shown in the following figure.
Constant-Speed Pumps
A constant-speed pump operates at a headdischarge point defined by the intersection of the
pump head-discharge curve and the system headdischarge curve, see the following figure.
Constant-Speed Pumps
When the entire water is pumped to the elevated tank, the constant-speed
pump will operate at point A, while when the water was entirely withdrawn
from outlet 2, the pump will operate at point B.
The curve shows that Q2 > Q1 why? Because the operating pressure (static
and friction head losses) at point B is less than that at point A.
In small water systems, pumping stations may consist of two constantspeed pumps that operate intermittently. Water is pumped directly to an
elevated tank, which in turn supplies the distribution system. Pump
operation is controlled by the level of water in the elevated tank.
Constant-Speed Pumps
Pumps 1 and 2 are identical, while pump 3 has a
greater capacity and higher shutoff head. The
pumps are operated individually or in
combination based on the water demand. When
two or more pumps operate at one time, the
combined head-discharge curve can be obtained
by adding the rates of discharge at the same head
of the individual curve.
Variable-Speed Pumps
In cases where variable discharge rates are required,
discharge of pumps running at constant-speed can be
controlled by using a valve at the pump outlet.
Restricting discharge causes the impeller to recirculate
water in the casing, reducing the efficiency and
damaging the pump bearings and impeller. In order to
maintain constant pump discharge head over a wide
rage of flow rates, variable-speed pumps are used.
Head-discharge curves for a pump operating at two
impeller speeds are shown in the following figure.
Variable-Speed Pumps
The pump can operate on an infinite number of
curves between the minimum and maximum
speeds, the dashed lines are of equal efficiencies.
The demand-head curve is shown in the
following figure.
Variable-Speed Pumps
The curve illustrates the required boost head by the
pump versus flow demand of the system. As water
demand increases, pump discharge pressure decreases,
so impeller speed increases. On the other hand, as water
demand decreases, pump discharge pressure increases,
so impeller speed decreases.
Combining the head-discharge and head-demand curves
will result in producing the following figure. Also the
speed and efficiency curves can be plotted.
Variable-Speed Pumps
At low water demand rates, the variable-speed drive
should be prevented from running at very low speeds.
So, when water demand is less than the minimum rate,
pumps are designed to recirculate water through the
pump in order to prevent the pump from damage.
The recommended minimum discharge rate is between
25 and 35 per cent of the pumping rate at the best
operating efficiency. The recirculation techniques are
shown in the following figure.
Variable-Speed Pumps