CENTRIFUGAL PUMP TEST RIG

VARIABLE SPEED

OBJECTIVE: Study of Centrifugal Pump characteristics.

AIM:
1. TO DETERMINE
A. Pump Efficiency
B. Overall Efficiency
2. TO PLOT THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCE
A. Head Vs. Discharge
B. Pump Efficiency Vs. Discharge
C. Overall Efficiency Vs. Discharge
INTRODUCTION:
A pump may be defined as mechanical device when interposed in a pipe line,
converts the mechanical energy supplied to it from an external source into
hydraulic energy, thus resulting in the flow of liquid from lower potential to
higher potential. The pumps are of major concern to most engineers and
technicians. The types of pumps vary in principle and design. The selection of the
pump for any particular application is to be done by understanding their
characteristics. The most commonly used pumps for domestic, agricultural and
industrial are Centrifugal, axial flow, reciprocating, air jet, and diaphragm and
turbine pumps. Most of these pumps fall into the main class namely
Rotodynamic, Reciprocating (positive displacement) and Fluid operated pumps.
THEORY:
A centrifugal pump works on the principle of forced vortex flow, which means
that an external torque rotates a certain mass of liquid, rise in pressure head of the
rotating liquid takes place. Also, the principle of operation of a single stage
centrifugal pump is covered under Rotodynamic pump category. In this pump,
the liquid is made to rotate in a closed volute chamber. Thus, creating the
centrifugal action, which gradually builds the pressure gradient towards outlet
resulting in a continuous flow. These pumps are of simple construction can be
directly coupled to electric motor and more suitable for handling clear, semi
viscous, as well as turbid liquids.
 (SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP)

The hydraulic head per stage at low flow rates is limited and hence not suitable
for high heads, in case of single stage centrifugal pumps. But as the pump in this
case in a multi stage construction the pressure gradually builds up in successive
stages almost equally in each stage. Thus, achieving considerably higher heads.
The multi stage centrifugal pump test rig allows the students to understand and
study the various characteristics and pressure build up pattern in individual
stages. The centrifugal pump acts as a reversed of an inward radial flow reaction
turbine, this means that the flow in centrifugal pump in the radial outward
direction.
COMPONENTS OF CENTRIFUAL PUMP:
Main component parts of centrifugal pump are
• Impeller
• Casing
• Suction pipe with a foot valve and a strainer
• Delivery pipe

IMPELLER: It is a wheel or rotor which is provided with a series of blades or

vanes. It is mounted on the shad which is coupled to an external source of energy
(usually an electric motor) which imparts the required to the impeller thereby
making it to rotate.
CASING: It is the airtight chamber which sounds the impeller. It consists of two
opening, one for suction and other for delivery of liquid. The following three
types of casings are adopted:
1. Volute casing
2. Vortex casing
3. Casing with guide blades
SUCTION: A pipe whose one end is connected to inlet of the pump and other
end dips into water in a sump is known as suction pipe. Sometimes a foot valve
which is a non-return valve or one-way type of valve is fitted at the lower end of
the suction pipe used with high power pump to avoid priming process again and
again.
DELIVERY PIPE: A pipe whose one end is connected to the outlet of the pump
and other end delivers the water at a required height is known as delivery pipe.

HEADS AND EFFICIENCIES OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

• Suction Head (hs): It’s the vertical height of the centre line of the centrifugal
pump above the water surface in the tank or pump from which is to lifted, this
height is also called suction lift.
• Delivery Head (hd): The vertical distance between the centre line of the pump
and the water surface in the tank to which the water is delivered is known as
delivery head.
• Static head (Hs): The sum of suction head and delivery head is known as static
head. This is written as
H s = hs + hd
• Manometric Head (Hm): The manometric head is defined as the head against
which a centrifugal pump has to work.
Hm= Head imparted by the impeller —loss of head in the pump
Hm=Total head at outlet of the pump —Total head at inlet of pump
Hm = hs+ hd+ hfs + hfd + Vd2/2g
Hfs= frictional head loss in suction pipe,
hfd= frictional head loss in delivery pipe
• Efficiencies of a Centrifugal Pump: In case of centrifugal pump, the power is
transmitted from the shaft of the electric motor to the shaft of the pump and then
to the impeller. From the impeller, the power is given to the water. Thus, power
is decreasing from the shaft of the pump to the impeller and then to the water.
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
Set up consist of a centrifugal pump, coupled with electrical motor, supply tank,
measuring tank and pipe fitting for closed loop water circulation. Pressure and
vacuum gauges are connected on delivery and suction side of pump for purpose
of measurement of pressure. The flow rate of water is measured by using
measuring tank and stopwatch provided.
UTILITIES REQUIRED
Electric Supply: 220 V Ac, 50HZ Single Phase Supply with 5–15-amp socket
having proper earthing.
Water Supply: initial fill. Floor Drain
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Clean the apparatus and make all tanks free from dust.
2. Close the drain valve provided.
3. Open flow control valve given on the water discharge.
4. Now switch on the main power supply 220V AC, 50 Hz.
5. Operate the flow control valve to regulate the flow of water.
6. Set the desired RPM of motor/ Pump.
7. Allow the water to pass to collection tank till 10-50 litre of water is collected
in the measuring tank and note the time taken for lifting this volume of water.
8. Record discharge pressure by means of pressure gauge.
9. Record suction pressure by means of suction gauge.
10. Slowly increase or decrease the speed of rotation of pump and note down the
flow rate as in the previous step.
11. Repeat the same procedure for different speed.
12. Tabulate the results and plot the graph for the characteristics of the pump.
STANDARDS DATA
Energy meter constant (EMC) = 3200 imp/Kw-hr
Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81m/s2
Density of water = 1000 kg
Motor efficiency = 80%
Transmission efficiency = 65%
Area of measuring tank = A= 0.105m2

OBSERVATION TABLE
FOR CENTRIFUGAL PUMP EFFICIENCY
Pulses R t
Sl. No. N, RPM Pd Ps of Tp (sec) Rise in Time
2
(kg/cm ) (mm) energy tank taken
meter (cm) for rise
(P) R (sec)

1 1410 0.3 50 5 21.5 10 30.09

2 1646 0.4 58 5 17.78 10 26.07

3 1832 0.5 60 5 14.84 10 23.47

FORMULAE
Total Head, H
Ps
H = 10.3 × (Pd + ) , meter of water
760
50
H1= 10.3 × (0.3 + )
760
 = 3.767 m
Actual discharge (Qa)
𝐴×𝑅
Qa = m3/s
𝑡

Qa1 = 0.105×10 / 30.09

= 2.908×10-4
P×3600×1000
Electrical Input = HP
t×EMC×746
5×3600×1000
E.I1 =
36.1×3200×746

= 0.2088 HP
𝑔×𝜌×𝑄×𝐻
Pump Output = HP
746
9.81×1000×0.0002908×2.683
P.O1 = = 0.01025 HP
746

Shaft HP
Shaft Power = electrical input× ηmotor× ηtransmission
S.P1 = 0.108
Pump efficiency ηp
𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
ηp % = × 100%
𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
0.0125
ηp1 = × 100 = 9.5%
0.108
𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
Overall efficiency ηo = × 100%
𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
0.01025
ηo1 = = = 6.9%
0,2088

CALCULATION TABLE
Sl. No Q H Electrical Pump Pump Overall
(m3/s) (m) Input Output Efficiency Efficiency
(HP) (HP)
1 3.489× 10-4 3.767 0.2505 0.0173 13.28% 6.9%
2 3.932× 10-4 4.906 0.2824 0.0253 17.2% 8.95%

3 4.473× 10-4 5.963 0.3212 0.035 21% 10.89%

NOMENCLATURE
ηo = Overall efficiency
ηp = Pump efficiency
A = Area of measuring tank
EMC = Energy meter constant
H = Head produced by the pump, meter
N = RPM of pump
P = pulses of energy meter
Q = Discharge, m3/s
Tp = Time for P pulses, sec
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2
𝜌 = density of water = 1000 kg/m3
Pd = delivery side pressure head
Ps = suction side pressure head
R = rise in the level of measuring tank, M
t = time taken for R, sec

PRECAUTIONS
1. Frequently grease/oil the rotating parts, once in three months..
2. If apparatus is not in use for more than one Week, drain the apparatus
completely, and fill pump with cutting oil with help of priming valve.
3. Do not run the pump with high heads and less discharge for any time longer
than required for obtaining the required reading. During this time motor starts
heating and if run for longer intervals may cause the insulating failure of motor
winding and subsequently short circuiting or other severe, dangerous conditions.