PERFORMANCE OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

OBJECTIVES

1. To demonstrate the basic operation and characteristics of the Centrifugal Pump in

series and parallel operation.
2. To plot performance curve when pumps are connected in series and parallel.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

1. Centrifugal pump unit

2. Fluid
3. Energy meter

THEORY

Pumps are the devices that transfer mechanical energy from the prime mover into
fluid energy to produce the flow of liquids.

Centrifugal pumps are most often used in water and wastewater systems, making it
important to learn how they work and how to design them. A centrifugal pump
consists of a rotating shaft that is connected to an impeller, which is usually
comprised of curved blades. The impeller rotates within its casing and sucks the fluid
through the eye of the casing. The fluid’s kinetic energy increases due to the energy
added by the impeller and enters the discharge end of the casing that has an expanding
area. The pressure within the fluid increases accordingly.

Fig: Schematic Diagram of Centrifugal Pump

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PUMPS IN SERIES

Pumps are used in series in a system where substantial head changes take place
without any appreciable difference in discharge. When two or more pumps are
configured in series, the flow rate throughout the pumps remains the same; however,
each pump contributes to the increase in the head so that the overall head is equal to
the sum of the contributions of each pump. For n pumps in series:

Q = Q1= Q2 = Q3 = ……... = Qn
n
H= H1 + H2 + H3 + ………+ Hn = ∑ H
i=1

The effective two-pump

performance curve is
obtained by adding the
head of each pump at the
same flowrate. The
operating point shifts from
A to B, thereby providing
not only increased head as
required but also greater
flow. Figure below shows
the characteristics of two
identical pumps, but the
pumps do not have to be
the same.

Figure: Two centrifugal

pumps connected in series

PUMPS IN PARALLEL

Parallel pumps are useful for systems with considerable discharge variations and with
no appreciable head change. In parallel, each pump has the same head. However, each
pump contributes to the discharge so that the total discharge is equal to the sum of the
contributions of each pump. Thus, for n pumps in parallel:
n
Q = Q1+ Q2 + Q3 + ……... + Qn = ∑ Q
i=1

H= H1 = H2 = H3 = ………= Hn

The effective two-pump performance curve is obtained by adding the flowrates of

each pump at the same head. As shown, when two pumps are connected in parallel,
the operating points shift from A to B, providing not only increased flowrate as
required but also greater head. Figure below shows the characteristics of two identical
pumps, but the pumps do not have to be the same.

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 Figure: Two centrifugal pumps connected in parallel

For a pump, the discharge is given by,

Cd A1 A2
Q= * √2 g ∆ h
√A −A
2
1
2
2

where,

P1−P2
∆ h=
ρg

A1=Area of nozzle inlet

A2=Area of nozzle throat