MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 2

Centrifugal Pump Performance Test

Centrifugal pumps are among the important equipment in any process plant. In any refinery they are
considered to be equivalent to heart of a refinery, as they keep the flow running with a certain pressure and
quantity from one place to another, each pump has its own pump performance curve.

Pump performance curve

A performance curve is plotted to indicate the variation of pump differential head against volumetric flow
(gpm) of a liquid at an indicated rotational speed or velocity, while consuming a specific quantity of
horsepower (BHP). The performance curve is actually four curves relating with each other on a common
graph. These four curves are:

1. The Head-Flow Curve. It is called the H-Q Curve.

2. The Efficiency Curve.
3. The Energy Curve. It records Brake Horsepower, BHP.
4. The Pump’s Minimum Requirement Curve. It’s called Net Positive Suction Head required,
NPSHr.

Typical Procedure of Pump Performance Test

The purpose of pump performance test is to ensure that the actual performance of a pump is typical to that
set by supplier. Typical steps to be followed to conduct a pump performance test are outlined below.

1. Prepare the original pump curve sent by supplier.

2. Make sure that the suction strainer is clean and the suction valve is fully open.

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3. Ensure that discharge valve is fully closed.

4. Start the centrifugal pump take the reading of the discharge pressure, flow rate, suction
pressure and pump Ampere. (Finish this procedure in less than 1 min. As not to damage
the internal parts of the pump)
5. Open the discharge valve slightly till the flow rate reaches the first value indicated in pump
performance curve provided by pump supplier.
6. Write down the discharge pressure, flow rate, suction pressure and pump Ampere.
7. Increase the opening of the discharge valve till you reach the next value indicated in pump
performance curve provided by pump supplier.
8. Open the discharge valve in small increments until it is fully open and take the readings of
the discharge pressure, flow rate, suction pressure and pump Ampere at each of the steps.

ACTUAL PUMP DATA OBSERVED DATA

Data 1 2 3 4 5
Q, m3/hr
SUCTION PRESSURE, kPa
DISCHARGE Pressure, kPa
DIFFERENTIAL HEAD, meter
CURRENT RATING, ampere

THEORETICAL PUMP DATA OBSERVED DATA

Data 1 2 3 4 5
Q, m3/hr
SUCTION PRESSURE, kPa
DISCHARGE Pressure, kPa
DIFFERENTIAL HEAD, meter
CURRENT RATING, ampere

SUPPLIER’S PUMP DATA OBSERVED DATA

Data 1 2 3 4 5
Q, m3/hr
SUCTION PRESSURE, kPa
DISCHARGE Pressure, kPa
DIFFERENTIAL HEAD, meter
CURRENT RATING, ampere

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SUPPLIER’S PUMP DATA

Compare the curve plotted from pump performance test readings (table) with the performance curve sent
by supplier and observe for any differences. If you witness any deviation try to locate the problem and fix
it then repeat the test and compare the results.

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Source: www.blagdonpump.com

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Source: www.vertiflopump.com

Source: Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc.

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Figure 1. Centrifugal Pump Parts

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