2.

1 BASIC PARAMETERS OF PUMP

A pump is characterised by three parameters i.e.,
1. Total head (H),
2. Discharge or quantity of flow (Q), and
3. Power (N).
2.1.1 Quantity of Flow or Discharge (Q) of a Pump
Quantity of flow or rate of flow or discharge (Q) of a pump is the flow of fluid passing through
the pump in unit time. The rate of flow or discharge in volumetric system is expressed as
unit volume flow
unit time
i.e., m3/sec, m3/hr, lit/sec etc., and in gravimetric system as
unit weight flow
unit time i.e.,
tons/day, kg/hr, kg/sec etc. The relation between gravimetric or weight (W) and volumetric (Q) flow
rate is given by W = Q where is specific weight of the fluid.
2.1.2 Total Head or Head of a Pump (H)
Total head of a pump (H) is defined as the increase in fluid energy received by every kilogram of
the fluid passing through the pump. In other words, it is the energy difference per unit weight of the
fluid between inlet and outlet of the pump. Referring to Fig. 2.1, the energy difference per unit weight of
the fluid (E) between inlet (E1) and outlet (E2) will be
Fig. 2.1. Head measurement in pumps
p = p 1 s Z1
– Hs Hd
H
H =Z2 – Z1
X2
Z2
GV
X1
+Hs
Z Z1 2
p = p 2d

2
PUMP PARAMETERS
6
PUMP PARAMETERS 7
Einlet = E1 =
2
11
12


pZC
g
Eoutlet = E2 =
2
22
22


pZC
g
where p — the pressure in N/m2 (Pascal–Pa)
Z — the level or position above or below reference level in ‘m’
C — the flow velocity of the fluid in m/sec
— specific weight of the fluid in kg/m3 (or) N/m3
g — acceleration due to gravity in m/sec2
Suffix 1 — indicates inlet condition of the pump
2 — indicates outlet condition of the pump
Total head H will be
H = (E2 – E1) =
( p2 −p1)
+ (Z2 – Z1) +
  22
21
2
CC
g
−
...(2.2)
and is expressed as
kgf.m
kgf or
N.m
N = m.
2.1.3 Total Head of a Pump in a System
A pump installation consists of pump and system. Pumps are selected to match the given condition
of the system, which depends upon the system head (Hsy), quantity of flow (Q), density (), the
viscosity (μ), consistency (C), temperature (T), and corrosiveness of the pumping liquid. If the pumping
liquid is other than water at different temperatures and pressures such as milk, distilled water, acid,
alkaline solutions, as well as liquid ammonia, liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen or any other
chemical solutions under higher temperatures and pressures, solid-liquid solution, liquid-gas solutions
etc., the pump parameters in liquid must be changed into equivalent water parameters.
The quantity (Q) and the total head (H) of the pump must coincide with the conditions of external
system such as pressure, and location of the system. Normally the pump is selected with 2 to 4% higher
value in total head than the normal value of system head.
A system consists of pipelines with fittings such as gate valve or butterfly valve or non-return
valve or any other valve along with bends, tee joints, reducers etc., at the delivery line of the pump as
well as foot valve, strainer, bend, etc., at the suction line of the pump. The system is an already available
pipeline in the field or at the working area, to suit the prevailing conditions in the field or working area.
It is a fixed system for that particular place. System varies from place to place. Referring to the Fig. 2.2,
the pipe 2-d refers to the delivery side and s–1 refers to the suction side of the system. For all calculations
in a pumping system, the axis of the shaft of the horizontal pump is referred as reference line. For
vertical pumps, the inlet edge of the blade of the impeller will be the reference line. Since the difference
between the inlet edge of the blade and the centre line of the outlet edge of the blade is usually small, it
is neglected and the centre line of the outlet edge of the blade is taken as reference line. Anything above
or after the reference line is called delivery side (marked with suffix ‘d’) and anything below or before
the reference line is called suction side (marked with suffix ‘s’) of a pump.

...(2.1)
8 ROTODYNAMIC PUMPS (CENTRIFUGAL AND AXIAL)
Referring to Fig. 2.2, the equation for suction and
delivery pipelines of the system can be written as follows.
Since no energy is added or subtracted in these lines during
the flow through the system,
For (2 – d) delivery line E2 = Ed + hf (2 – d)
i.e., 2 2
γ 22
pZC
g
= (2 )
2
2 fd
dd
d
pZCh
g −

For (s–1) suction line Es = E1 + hf (s–1) ...(2.3)
i.e.,
2
2
ss
s
pZC
g


= ( 1)
2
11
12 fs

pZCh
g −

The values hf (2 – d) and hf (s – 1) include major frictional
losses and all minor losses. The total head of the pump as
per equation 2.2 is
Hp = E2 – E1 =
2
22
γ 22
pZC
g



–
2
11
γ 12
pZC
g



= Ed +hf (2 –d) – Es + hf (s – 1)
Hp = (2 )
2
2 fd
dd
d
pZCh
g−


– ( 1)
2
2 fs
ss
s
pZCh
g−

−
=
pd −ps

+ (Zd – Zs) +
22
2
dsCC
g
−


+ hf (2 – d) + hf (s – 1)
=
pd −ps
+ hs + hd + hf (d) + hf (s) +
22
2
Cd Cs
g
−

= Hsy ...(2.4)
H
H
Q
O
H p = f(Q)
Hsyst = f(Q)
pd – ps

+ h s + hd
Fig 2.3. Head of pump and system
(Hsy = Hp)
Operating point

Fig. 2.2. Pump in a closed system
G
C2 2
hd
d
pd
pd = p2
hfd
H
X
C1 1 V
Reference
line
hfs
ps=p1 S