SMME NUST

Fluid Mechanics Lab

Assignment - 1

Muhammad Ehtisham Hassan

333201
ME-12A
Question 1.
Define Centrifugal Pump? Explain its working principle and
construction?

Definition:
 A centrifugal pump is a mechanical device which moves a fluid by means of the
transfer of rotational energy from one or more driven rotors, called impellers. 

 Fluid enters the rapidly rotating impeller along its axis and is cast out by centrifugal
force along its circumference through the impeller’s vane tips.

Working Principle:
 The centrifugal pump is based on forced vortex flow.

 The forced vortex flow means that when a certain mass of fluid rotates by an
external force, there is an increase in the pressure head of the liquid.

 This increase in the pressure head causes the water to be transferred from one point
to another.

 It is the centrifugal force being applied to the fluid that makes it flow inside the
casing.
Construction:
The various main parts of a centrifugal pump are:
1. Impeller
2. Casing
3. Suction pipe with a foot valve and strainer
4. Delivery pipe

1. Impeller:
The rotating part of a centrifugal pump is called the impeller. It imparts kinetic energy to
the fluid by rotating at a high r.p.m. The impeller consists of several backward curved
vanes mounted on the circumference of the impeller.

2. Casting:
Casting an airtight passage which surrounds the impeller. The design of the casing is done in
such a way that it can convert the kinetic energy of the water discharging from the outlet of
the impeller into pressure energy before it leaves the casing and enters the delivery pipe.
Commonly three types of casing are used in centrifugal pump which are:

 Volute Casing

 Vortex Casing

 Casing with Guide Blades

 Casting of a Centrifugal Pump

3. Suction Pipe with Foot Valve and Strainer:

 One end of the suction pipe relates to the inlet of the impeller.

 The other end is dipped into the sump of water.

 The suction pipe consists of a foot valve and strainer at its lower end.

 The foot valve is a one-way valve that opens in the upward direction.

 The strainer is used to filter the unwanted particle present in water.

4. Delivery Pipe:
It is a pipe whose one end is connected to the outlet of the pump and other end is
connected to the required height where water is to be delivered.
Question 2.
Define different types of Centrifugal Pumps?

1. Classification of Centrifugal Pumps Based on the Flow Type .

Accordingly, radial, Axial, and Mixed flow are three types of centrifugal pumps:

 Radial Pumps 
 In radial pumps, the fluid comes out of the impeller after 90 degrees of
rotation relative to the suction.
 Fluid enters the horizontal suction flange and exits through a vertical outflow
flange.
 The discharge is perpendicular to the shaft of the pump.
 This design is applied when there is a flow limitation, and you want to raise
discharge pressure.

 Axial Pumps 
 In an axial flow pump, the fluid moves parallel to the shaft.
 The most significant application of this pump is when there is a large flow rate
and very little pressure head.

 Mixed Pumps 
 The fluid flows mixing both radial and axial properties.
 Mixed pumps operate at high flow rates with a decent increase in the head.

2. Classification of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Number of Stages 

Two or more impellers can be utilized in the pump, depending on the requirements and on-
site operating conditions.

 Single Stage Pumps

This pump has just a single impeller and the most elevated
expansion in pressure head is 125 meters. The
straightforward construction, stable activity, high velocity,
lightweight, little volume, high proficiency, enormous flow
limit, and simple support are fundamental benefits of single-
stage pumps. Single-stage centrifugal pumps can be ordered
into even pumps, vertical pumps, single-suction pumps, and
double-suction pumps.

The single impeller is designed to be useful for a large flow rate and relatively lower
pressure head.
  Multistage Pumps 
The fluid pressure at the outlet of the pump can be
very large. Therefore, if a very high head at discharge
is needed, the multistage pump is used. In this
design, impellers are connected in series to increase
the fluid pressure at each stage.

3. Classification of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Types of Volutes

Pumps are divided into two categories, single-volute, or double-volute, depending on their
casing type.

Single Volute 
In a single volute casing, the flow is discharged from the impeller into one volute, which
twists totally around the impeller. This casing has one cut-water that conveys the fluid flow
towards the outlet of the pump. A large portion of the pumps in the refinery are of single
volute sorts.

Double Volute 
A double volute casing has two cut-waters positioned 180 degrees apart. Double volute has
a benefit over the single. It minimizes the defection of the shaft when the pump works
outside the BEP best efficiency point (BEP).

4. Classification of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Casing Designs

Radially and axially split pump casings are two different designs discussed below:

 Radial Split 
If a centrifugal pump casing has a vertical connection to the shaft (perpendicular to the shaft
and parallel to the impeller), this is a radially split casing.
  Axial Split 
An axially split casing of a centrifugal pump has a design in which the casing is split along the
centerline of the shaft. The casing is divided into two halves that are separated horizontally,
parallel to the shaft axis.

5. Classification of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Shaft Orientation

Accordingly, centrifugal pumps have either vertical or horizontal shaft positions.

 Vertical Shaft 
In a vertical pump, the shaft is in a vertical orientation, and the pump is usually placed in the
sump. These pumps are used in limited spaces. For example, pump in borewell and sump
collection are of this type.

 Horizontal Shaft 
Horizontal pumps are more commonly used because they are easy to maintain. In this type,
the shaft is positioned horizontally.

6. Classification of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Impeller Position 

Accordingly, centrifugal pumps are classified into overhung impeller pumps and between
bearing pumps.

 Overhung Impeller Pump

In an overhung impeller pump, the impeller is installed on the end of a shaft, which
overhangs its bearings. In this pump, the impeller is suspended through a single bearing.
This configuration facilitates both vertical and horizontal installation of the pump.

 Between Bearing Pumps 

In between bearing type of centrifugal pump, the impeller is placed on the shaft, and the
shaft is suspended at both ends between two bearings. Horizontal multistage pumps are
provided in this design.
Question 3.
What is the criteria for selection of Centrifugal Pump?
Centrifugal pump selection basis should be considered from the following aspects:

 The Head Required by the Installation:

The head should be selected after magnifying 5%-10% of the margin.　

 Flow Rate:
It is directly related to the production capacity and conveying capacity of the entire
device. When selecting the pump, take the maximum flow as the basis and consider
the normal flow. When there is no maximum flow, 1.1 times the normal flow can
usually be taken as the maximum flow.　　

 The Piping Layout Conditions:

This refers to the liquid delivery height and the liquid delivery distance from the
liquid delivery direction, the lowest liquid level on the suction side, the highest liquid
level on the discharge side, etc.

 Liquid properties:
The physical properties including temperature c, density d, viscosity u, solid particle
diameter and gas content in the medium should also be considered.

Question 4.
Explain the difference between ANSI Pumps and API Pumps?

 ANSI Pumps

Benefits
 Layered compatibility across producers and brands gives the end client more choices.
 Clients can switch pumps without having to reconfigure the engine, coupling,
impeller, bedplate, volute, or piping area.
 ANSI pumps and parts are promptly accessible.
 More affordable than API pumps.
 High capacity to bear solids with the right impeller type.
Drawbacks

 ANSI pumps typically don’t work well for moving thicker and/or viscous fluids. They
typically don’t work as a replacement for other centrifugal pump types.
  API Pumps

Benefits
 Built to withstand much higher temperatures and pressures

 More capable of handling fluids that cause environmental damage

 Designed to control emissions as required by the EPA

Drawbacks
 API pumps are more expensive. They’re not as flexible or readily available as ANSI
pumps.

General Comparison:
In general, ANSI pumps provide reliable service across a range of applications and are the
pump of choice for chemical processing. They offer tremendous flexibility and ease of
operation. API pumps are heavier duty and should be considered for higher pressure and
temperature applications. They are the pump of choice for aggressive oil refinery processes.

Question 5.
Define Slurry? Which pump is more suitable for pumping slurries?

Definition:
 Slurry is a mixture of a liquid and a solid or combination of solids.

 The liquid is often referred to as the carrier fluid and in most cases is water,
although it can be anything from an acid solution to a hydrocarbon.

Types:
Slurries can broadly be broken down into two types:

 Settling slurries
Settling slurries, as the name suggests, contain solids whose particles settle out
when the applied mixing energy ceases. 

 Non-settling slurries
Non-settling slurries contain solids made up of fine particles, which largely remain
in suspension when the applied mixing energy ceases.
Pumps designed for pumping slurries will be heavier duty than those designed for less
viscous liquids since slurries are heavy and difficult to pump.
 Slurry pumps are typically larger in size as compared to standard pumps, with more
horsepower, and built with more rugged bearings and shafts. The most common
type of slurry pump is the centrifugal pump. These pumps use a rotating impeller to
move the slurry, like how a water-like liquid would move through a standard
centrifugal pump.
 Centrifugal pumps optimized for slurry pumping will generally feature the following
in comparison to standard centrifugal pumps:
 Slurry pumps will have larger impellers made with more materials to compensate for
the wear caused by the abrasive slurries. 
 The vanes on the impellers are fewer and thicker in these types of pumps because
this allows the passage of solids more readily — typically 2-5 vanes, compared to 5-9
vanes on a standard centrifugal pump.

Question 6.
Can venturi meter be installed vertically? If yes, then what changes will occur
in comparison with venturi meter installed horizontally?

Yes, it can be used in a vertical position if the following are considered:

1. The correct value for pressure gradient is used: The applied pressure wouldn’t be the
same as the actual hydraulic pressure moving the fluid.
2. Flow rate should be adequate: If the flow is vertically downward, it is fine. But if it is
vertically upward, then a low flow rate might cause backflow and disturb the flow profile.
Venturi meter can be used for both laminar and turbulent flows. So, if you are using a
venturi meter for a flow directed vertically upward, set a slightly higher-pressure gradient.