SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

ESA 222 / 2 – ENGINEERING LABORATORY II

EXPERIMENT Performance Characteristics on a Centrifugal Pump (Lab 7)

LOCATION Aerodynamic Lab I (SA 0.29)

NAME / ID Cassandra Jienah Anak Chelodi

148691

GROUP NO. Group 1

DATE 29th October 2020

DEMONSTRATOR/ Dr. Mohd Shukur Zainal Abidin

LECTURER Mr. Muhamad Zulkhairi M. Saad

School’s Stamp & Date

School’s Stamp & Date

NAME :__________________________________

LAB# :_________
 SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Title : Performance Characteristics of a Centrifugal Pump
Objective : To study the performance characteristics of a single stage centrifugal pumps connected in
series or parallel.
Apparatus : Series/parallel pump test set, hydraulic bench and stopwatch
Introduction :
Pump in engineering term is known as a mechanical device that is used to transport fluid either in gas or
liquid form. There are 3 mechanisms or characteristics that affects the function of a pump. They are change
in velocity (∆V), change in pressure (∆P) and change in flow rate (∆Q). There are different types of pumps
such as centrifugal pump as shown in Figure 1 and piston pump. The characteristics of the pumps are
modified based on the needs of certain projects or tasks that are being conducted. The test set-up (Figure 1)
consists of two centrifugal pumps that are identical. The centrifugal pump can be connected via pipe systems
and appropriately configured stopcocks, either in series or parallel. For the intake side of the pumps, a
reservoir for water ensures a virtually constant pressure level, independent of the water supply. Pressure
gauges are present to show the pressure at all the key points of the centrifugal pump. Hydraulic bench
provided with the set-up is use to make the flow measurements.

Theory :
Centrifugal pump:
Figure 2 shows the cross-section of a centrifugal pump. When the delivery valve is closed, the impeller
with vanes (1) rotates in the helical housing (2). A forced vortex is developed as a result which imparts
a centrifugal head to water. At the same time, the angular momentum changes and this leads to the
increase in water pressure. When the delivery valve is opened, water is forced to flow in outward radial
direction which results in the vanes of the impeller at the circumference to have high velocity and
pressure. High absolute velocity at the outlet of the vanes is then converted to useful pressure energy.
This happens by shaping the casing such that water flows through expanding passage. Finally, the
water is discharged through the delivery pipe (3).

Pump Characteristics Curve: Single Pump

Delivered volumetric flow rate of the pump is dependent on the pressure which is generated withing
a pipe network. If the pump pressure is high, the volumetric flow rate will be low. If the pump
pressure is low, the volumetric flow rate will be high. These correlations are presented in a pump
 SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
characteristic curve in Figure 3 where the difference in pressure between the intake and delivery side
of the pump, ∆P is plotted over delivered volumetric flow rate, V.

Pumps connected in series:

In the case of series connection of pumps, the pressures are summed together, and the volumetric flow
rate remains the same. The pump characteristics curve is steeper. Thus,

Pumps connected in parallel:

For parallel connections, the volumetric flow rates of the pumps are summed together, and the pressure
remains the same (identical centrifugal pumps). Thus,
 SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Procedure :
Single pump
1. The stopcocks are connected as shown in Figure (handle parallel to pipe – valve closed, handle
perpendicular to pipe – valve open)
2. The water reservoir is filled to the maximum level.
3. Pump 1 (9) is switched on with main switch on the switch box (11). Ensure that pump 2 remains off.
4. The desired volumetric flow V is set with the drain cock (8). Continuous water inflow into the
reservoir is ensured thus maintaining a fixed level of water.
5. Psuction , Pdelivery and V are measured.
6. The experiment is repeated with different volumetric flow rates.

Pump connected in series

1. The stopcocks are connected as shown in Figure 5.
2. The water level is filled to maximum level.
3. Both pumps (9,10) are switched with the main switch on the switch box (11).
4. The desired volumetric flow rate V is set with the drain cock (8). Continuous water inflow into the
reservoir is ensured thus maintaining a fixed level of water.
5. Psuction,1 , Pdelivery,1, Psuction,2, Pdelivery,2, Poutflow and V are measured.
6. The experiment is repeated with different volumetric flow rates.
 SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Pumps connected in parallel
1. The stopcocks are connected as shown in Figure 6.
2. The water level is filled to maximum level.
3. Both pumps (9,10) are switched with the main switch on the switch box (11).
4. The desired volumetric flow rate V is set with the drain cock (8). Continuous water inflow into the
reservoir is ensured thus maintaining a fixed level of water.
5. Psuction,1 , Pdelivery,1, Psuction,2, Pdelivery,2, Poutflow and V are measured.
6. The experiment is repeated with different volumetric flow rates.

Results & Graph :

Table 1: Psuction,1 , Pdelivery,1, Poutflow, time and volume of single pump

Psuction,1, Pdelivery,1, Poutflow, Volume, Volumetric

Time, Ptotal
Experiment flow rate
Ps1 (bar) Pd1 (bar) Po (bar) V (L) T (s) (bar)
(m³/s)

1 0.050 2.8 3.0 10 84 0.000119 2.75

2 0.050 2.4 2.6 10 51 0.000196 2.35
3 0.025 2.0 2.0 10 36 0.000278 1.98
4 0.025 1.6 1.6 10 32 0.000313 1.58
5 0.025 1.2 1.2 10 26 0.000385 1.18

6 0.025 0.8 0.9 10 23 0.000435 0.78

7 0.010 0.4 0.2 10 20 0.000500 0.39
8 0.010 0.0 0.0 10 19 0.000526 -0.01
 SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Table 2: Psuction,1 , Pdelivery,1, Psuction,2 , Pdelivery,2 , Poutflow, time and volume of two pumps connected in
series
P outflow, Volumetric
P suction,1 , P delivery,1, Psuction,2, P delivery,2, Volume, Time, Ptotal
Experiment Po flow rate
Ps1 (bar) Pd1 (bar) Ps2 (bar) Pd2 (bar) V (L) T (s) (m³/s) (bar)
(bar)

1 0.025 2.8 2.7 5.4 6.0 10 81 0.000123 5.48

2 0.025 2.4 2.2 4.4 4.8 10 56 0.000179 4.58
3 0.025 2.0 1.8 3.6 3.0 10 39 0.000256 3.78

4 0.025 1.6 1.3 2.8 3.1 10 31 0.000323 3.08

5 0.025 1.2 0.9 1.9 2.2 10 27 0.000370 2.18
6 0.025 0.8 0.5 1.9 1.5 10 23 0.000435 1.58
7 0.010 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.5 10 20 0.000500 0.59

8 0.000 0.0 -0.2 0.0 0.0 10 20 0.000500 0.20

Table 3: Psuction,1 , Pdelivery,1, Psuction,2 , Pdelivery,2 , Poutflow, time and volume of two pumps connected in
parallel
P outflow,
P suction,1 , P delivery,1, Psuction,2, P delivery,2, Volume, Time, Volumetric Ptotal
Experiment Po flow rate
Ps1 (bar) Pd1 (bar) Ps2 (bar) Pd2 (bar) V (L) T (s) (m³/s) (bar)
(bar)

1 0.0 2.8 0 2.5 2.8 10 36 0.000278 2.78

2 0.0 2.4 -0.1 2.0 2.4 10 24 0.000417 2.38

3 0.0 2.0 -0.2 1.7 2.0 10 18 0.000556 1.99

4 0.0 1.6 -0.2 1.3 1.5 10 15 0.000667 1.59
5 0.0 1.2 -0.2 0.9 1.2 10 13 0.000769 1.19
6 0.0 0.8 -0.2 0.5 0.8 10 12 0.000833 0.80
7 0.0 0.4 -0.2 0.0 0.2 10 10 0.001000 0.40

8 0.0 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.0 10 9 0.001111 0.01

 SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Pump Characteristic Curve

8

4
Pressure, P (bar)

0
0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 0.0012
-2

-4

-6

-8
Volumetric Flow Rate, V (m³/s)

----- Single pump ----- Series ----- Parallel

Discussion :
From the graph, the curve for centrifugal pump connected in series is steeper compared to parallel and
single pump. From the tables and graph, it appears that parallel connection of the centrifugal pump is
much more efficient compared to the single pump and series connection of the pump. Parallel
connection of centrifugal pump increases the volumetric flow rate with less pressure. Centrifugal
pumps are widely used, and it is one of the most common way to transport fluid, both gas and liquid.
Among the most common application of centrifugal pumps are supplying water and pumping water
for domestic usage. Other than that, sewage drainage also uses centrifugal pumps. Major sector like
oil and energy uses centrifugal pumps to pump crude oils, slurry and muds. Different usage of
centrifugal pumps require different characteristics and it is really important that the needs are met to
produce a more efficient usage.

Conclusion :
As a conclusion, centrifugal pumps either single or connected in series or parallel serves a different
purpose depending on what they are used for. From the experiment, it appears that the parallel
connection of two identical centrifugal pumps are the most efficient as it uses less pressure and the
volumetric flow rates are higher compared to single pump and series connection of two identical
centrifugal pumps.

References :
- https://www.powerzone.com/resources/glossary/centrifugal-pump (Power Zone Equipment, Inc.,
n.d.)