TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENT...........................................................................................................1

LIST OF FIGURE..................................................................................................................2
LIST OF TABLE....................................................................................................................2

1. OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................3

2. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................3

3. THEORY / BACKGROUND / FORMULA.......................................................................5

BACKGROUND.........................................................................................................................5
THEORY..................................................................................................................................5

4. APPARATUS........................................................................................................................9

5. PROCEDURE....................................................................................................................10

6. RESULT AND DATA.........................................................................................................12

TEST 1 (50%).....................................................................................................................12
TEST 2 (75%)......................................................................................................................13
TEST 3 (100%)....................................................................................................................14
GRAPH................................................................................................................................15

7. SAMPLE OF CALCULATION........................................................................................18

8. DISCUSSION.....................................................................................................................21

9. CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................23

10. REFERRENCES..............................................................................................................24

11. APPENDICES AND RAW DATA.....................................................................................24

1
LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1: Industrial Centrifugal Pump.......................................................................................4

Figure 2: Basic Elements of Centrifugal pump.........................................................................5
Figure 3: Fluid Flow in Centrifugal Pump................................................................................6
Figure 4:Pump Head against Volume Flow Rate......................................................................1
Figure 5: Centrifugal Pump Test Set (Water Flow Bench and Centrifugal Pump)...................9
Figure 6: Instrument Panel........................................................................................................9
Figure 7: Water Flow Bench...................................................................................................10
Figure 8: Water Level Indicator..............................................................................................10
Figure 9: Opened Suction Valve.............................................................................................10
Figure 10: Table of Pump Speed and Speed Control..............................................................11
Figure 11: Instrument of Data Reading...................................................................................11

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1: Result of Test 1..........................................................................................................12

Table 2: Result of Test 2..........................................................................................................13
Table 3: Result of Test 3..........................................................................................................14

2
FLUID LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE: CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.

1. OBJECTIVES
To obtain performance characteristics for a variable speed centrifugal pump operating at 3
different impeller speeds. Performance characteristics of pump are pressure (head) jump,
power requirement, flow rate influence, and pump speed influence.

2. INTRODUCTION
A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical
action. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they use to
move the fluid which is direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps. The most common types
of pumps are centrifugal pumps and positive displacement pumps. This experiment needs us
to understand the parameters of the centrifugal pump and how it works. The centrifugal or
rotor-dynamic pump produces a head and a flow by increasing the velocity of the liquid
through the machine with the help of a rotating vane impeller. Centrifugal pumps include
radial, axial and mixed flow units.

Generally, a centrifugal pump is based around a casing filled with fluid, usually water. A
special unit within the casing exerts fast rotary motion that causes the water to spin,
generating centrifugal force that channels it through a discharge outlet. Discharged water
creates a vacuum for atmospheric pressure to force more water out of the casing. It is a
continuous process, dependant mostly on continued rotary motion and a constant supply of
water. Most centrifugal pumps rely on rotating impellers or vanes to provide rotary motion,
though the design and implementation of these systems can vary according to capacity and
project requirements.

Pressure and Head

If the discharge of a centrifugal pump is pointed straight up into the air the fluid will pumped
to a certain height or head called the shut off head. This maximum head is mainly determined
by the outside diameter of the pump's impeller and the speed of the rotating shaft. The head
will change as the capacity of the pump is altered. The kinetic energy of a liquid coming out
of an impeller is obstructed by creating a resistance in the flow. The first resistance is created

3
by the pump casing which catches the liquid and slows it down. When the liquid slows down
the kinetic energy is converted to pressure energy.

It is the resistance to the pumps flow that is read on a pressure gauge attached to the
discharge line. A pump does not create pressure, it only creates flow. The gauge pressure is a
measurement of the resistance to flow. In fluids the term head is used to measure the kinetic
energy which a pump creates. Head is a measurement of the height of the liquid column the
pump could create from the kinetic energy the pump gives to the liquid.

The main reason for using head instead of pressure to measure a centrifugal pump energy is
that the pressure from a pump will change if the specific gravity (weight) of the liquid
changes, but the head will not. The pumps performance on any Newtonian fluid can always
be described by using the term head. The head is measured in either feet or meters and can be
converted to common units for pressure as psi or bar. It is important to understand that the
pump will pump all fluids to the same height if the shaft is turning at the same rpm. The only
difference between the fluids is the amount of power it takes to get the shaft to the proper
rpm. The higher the specific gravity of the fluid the more power is required.

Centrifugal pumps are used in buildings for pumping the general water supply, as a booster
and for domestic water supplies. The design of a centrifugal pump makes them useful for
pumping sewage and slurries. They are also used in fire protection systems and for heating
and cooling applications. In addition, they are popular in the beverage, dairy, food and light
chemical industries.

Figure 1: Industrial Centrifugal Pump

4
3. THEORY / BACKGROUND / FORMULA

BACKGROUND
Pumps were invented to fulfill an important role in a large number of industries which have
different requirements and specifications. Attempt to meet the needs of industries has
resulted in the design and development of various types of pumps. To match a pump for a
particular application and to use a pump effectively, it is crucial to know the pump
characteristics. For this experiment, the students use the centrifugal pump for education uses
because this kind of pump is the most used in the world because it consisting of the same
basic hydraulic part. In this experiment, students are exposed to the method of determine
pump performance characteristics, which is similar for all types of pumps. This experiment
was operating by using 3 different impeller speeds (50%, 75 % and 100% speed).

THEORY
One of the most common radial-flow turbo machines is the centrifugal pump. This pump has
two main components (an impeller attached to a rotating shaft and a stationary casing or
housing enclosing the impeller). The centrifugal pump as shown below:-

Figure 2: Basic Elements of Centrifugal pump

5
Energy is added to the fluid by rotating blades and both pressure and absolute velocity are
increased (50%, 75% and 100% speed) as the fluid flows from the eye to the periphery into
the blades. Each speed has different rpm. The kinetic energy is converted into further increase
in pressure as the fluid flows from the impeller into the casing enclosing the impeller.

Due to the complexity of the flow through a centrifugal pump, the actual performance of the
pump cannot be predicted on a completely theoretical basis. Thus, actual pump performance
is determined experimentally through test on the pump and the results are presented as pump
performance curves. Performance characteristics for a given pump geometry and operating
speed are usually given in the form of plot of head rise, efficiency, and power versus flow
rate.

To determine the head rise gained by fluid flowing through a pump,

Figure 3: Fluid Flow in Centrifugal Pump

6
The pump head rise can be expressed using the energy equation as

Then we can cancel the differences in elevations and velocities due to so small

The power gained by the fluid is given by equation

The pump overall efficiency, η, is the ratio of power actually gained by the fluid
to the shaft power supplied Ẇshaft with equation,

Ẇshaft is the product of the Torque applied to the shaft and the angular velocity,ɷ

7
4. APPARATUS

Figure 4: Centrifugal Pump Test Set (Water Flow Bench and Centrifugal Pump)

Figure 5: Instrument Panel

8
5. PROCEDURE
1. Make sure there are no water flows in the water flow bench. The water is set to zero.

Figure 6: Water Flow Bench

Figure 7: Water Level Indicator

2. Open the suction valve and close the discharge valve.

Figure 8: Opened Suction Valve

9
 3. Select the pump speed, N by adjusting the speed control to 50%. The pump speed can
be read at the given table based on the speed control.

Figure 9: Table of Pump Speed and Speed Control

4. Open the discharge valve to allow the water to circulate.

5. Take the reading of water level, torque, inlet pressure, and the discharge pressure.

Torque
Inlet Pressure

Discharg
e

Figure 10: Instrument of Data Reading

6. Then close the discharge valve slowly by decrement of 1 of the discharge pressure.
7. Take the readings until the discharge valve fully closed.
8. Repeat the experiment with speed control of 75% and 100% by decrement of
discharge valve of 2 and 3 respectively.

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6. RESULT AND DATA
TEST 1 (50%)
PUMP SPEED, N = 1439 rpm
ω = 150.69 rad/s

INPUT OUTPUT Efficiency,

Water Torque, Shaft power Volume flow rate Inlet Pressure,P1 Discharge Water Output η (100%)
NO Height, pressure, P₂ head, power,

Mm T(Nm) kW Hp l/min m³/s mH₂O N/m² Psi N/m² m Watt

0 0.6 0.090 0.121 0.0 0 0.0 0 9 62053 6.33 0 0
1
50 1.0 0.151 0.202 50.0 0.00083 0.0 0 8 55158 5.62 45.76 30.46
2
59 1.2 0.181 0.243 70.0 0.0012 0.0 0 7 48263 4.92 57.92 32.04
3
65 1.3 0.196 0.263 90.0 0.0015 0.0 0 6 41368 4.22 62.10 31.63
4
68 1.4 0.211 0.283 100.0 0.0017 -0.2 -1961 5 34473 3.71 61.87 29.38
5
72 1.4 0.211 0.283 117.5 0.0020 -0.4 -3923 4 27579 3.21 62.98 29.86
6
75 1.5 0.226 0.303 130.0 0.0022 -0.5 -4903 3 20684 2.61 56.32 24.78
7
77 1.5 0.226 0.303 140.0 0.0023 -0.7 -6863 2 13790 2.11 47.61 21.24
8
Table 1: Result of Test 1

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TEST 2 (75%)
PUMP SPEED, N = 2178 rpm
ω = 228.08 rad/s

INPUT OUTPUT Efficiency,

Water Torque, Shaft power Volume flow rate Inlet Discharge Water Output η (100%)
NO Pressure,P1 pressure, P₂ head, power,
Height, T(Nm) m W
Mm kW Hp l/min m³/s mH₂O N/m² psi N/m²
1 0 1.2 0.274 0.367 0 0 0.2 1961 20 137895 13.86 0 0

2 64 2.2 0.502 0.673 85 0.0014 0.0 0 18 124106 12.65 173.74 34.66

3 73 2.5 0.570 0.764 120 0.0020 -0.4 -3923 16 110316 11.65 228.57 40.18

4 78 2.7 0.616 0.826 145 0.0024 -0.7 -6865 14 96527 10.54 248.15 40.26

5 81 2.8 0.639 0.857 157.5 0.0026 -0.9 -8826 12 82737 9.33 237.97 37.25

6 85 3.0 0.684 0.917 175 0.0029 -1.3 -12749 10 68948 8.33 236.98 34.65

7 87 3.0 0.684 0.917 187.5 0.0031 -1.5 -14710 8 55158 7.12 216.53 31.73

8 89 3.1 0.707 0.948 200 0.0033 -1.8 -17652 6 41369 6.02 194.89 27.58

9 91 3.2 0.730 0.979 205 0.0034 -2.0 19613 4 27579 4.81 160.43 21.92

Table 2: Result of Test 2

TEST 3 (100%)
PUMP SPEED, N = 2945 rpm
ω = 308.40 rad/s

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 INPUT OUTPUT

Water Volume flow Discharge Water Output Efficiency,

No. Torque, Shaft power Inlet Pressure,P1
Height, rate pressure, P₂ head, power,
Mm T(Nm) kW Hp l/min m³/s mH₂O N/m² psi N/m² m W η (100%)
1 0 1.8 0.560 0.751 0 0 0.2 1961 36.5 251659 25.45 0 0
2 58 2.9 0.894 1.198 70 0.0012 0 0 36 248211 25.30 297.83 33.33
3 73 3.6 1.110 1.488 120 0.0020 -0.4 -3423 33 227527 23.60 463.03 41.71
4 80 3.9 1.203 1.613 155 0.0026 -0.9 -8826 30 206843 21.98 560.62 46.63
5 86 4.2 1.295 1.736 182.5 0.0030 -1.2 -11768 27 186159 20.18 593.90 45.87
6 91 4.5 1.388 1.861 205 0.0034 -1.8 -17652 24 165474 18.67 622.72 44.88
7 94 4.6 1.419 1.902 227.5 0.0038 -2.2 -21575 21 144790 16.96 632.23 44.54
8 97 4.8 1.480 1.984 245 0.0041 -2.5 -24517 18 124106 15.15 609.35 41.15
9 99 4.9 1.511 2.025 260 0.0043 -2.8 -27459 15 10341 13.34 562.72 37.26
10 101 5.0 1.542 2.067 275 0.0046 -3.2 -31381 12 82737 11.63 524.82 34.05
11 104 5.0 1.542 2.067 295 0.0049 -3.4 -33343 9 67053 9.72 467.23 30.29
12 105 5.1 1.573 2.109 300 0.0050 -3.5 -34323 6 413681 7.72 378.67 24.09
Table 3: Result of Test 3

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GRAPH
TEST 1

Pump speed = 50%

Pump speed, N = 1439 rpm

Angular speed, ω = 150.69 rad/s

Graph 1(a): Efficiency and Water Head against Volume Flow Rate

Graph 1(b): Shaft Power against Volume Flow Rate

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TEST 2

Pump speed = 75%

Pump speed, N = 2178 rpm

Angular speed, ω = 228.08 rad/s

Graph 2(a): Efficiency and Water Head against Volume Flow Rate

15
 Graph 2(b): Shaft Power against Volume Flow Rate

TEST 3

Pump speed = 100%

Pump speed, N = 2945 rpm

Angular speed, ω = 308.40 rad/s

Graph 3(a): Efficiency and Water Head against Volume Flow Rate

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 Graph 3(b): Shaft Power against Volume Flow Rate

7. SAMPLE OF CALCULATION
Constants:

At pump speed 50% at water height 50mm:

Angular Speed, ω

The speed in unit rpm must be converted into rad/s. This value will be used in other
calculation.

� = 2πN / 60

� = 2π (1439)/60

17
� = 150.69 rad/s

Shaft Power, Pshaft, kW

Pshaft, Shaft power can be calculated by using general power equation.

Pshaft = Tshaft x ω

Pshaft = 1.0(150.69)

Pshaft = 151.32 W

Pshaft = 0.151 kW

Shaft Power, Pshaft, Hp

To convert Pshaft, kW into Pshaft, Hp, Pshaft, kW need to be divided by 0.746.

Pshaft,Hp =Pshaft /0.746

Pshaft,Hp =0.151 /0.746

Pshaft,Hp = 0.202 Hp

Volume Flow Rate, Q

Q (L/min)can be found from 90 vee notch calibration graph by using value water height in
mm. Then it need to be converted into Q

Q = Q (L/min)/ (1000 x 60)

Q = 50/ (1000 x 60)

Q = 0.00083 m3/s

Inlet Pressure, P1

To convert P1, mH2O into N/m2, it need to be multiplied by 9806.65N/m2.

�1 = P1, mH2O x 9806.65

�1 = 0(9806.65)

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�1 = 0 N/m2

Discharge Pressure, P2

To convert P2, psi into N/m2, it need to be multiplied by 6894.76N/m2.

�2 = P2, psi x 6894.757

�2 = 8(6894.757)

�2 = 55158.1 N/m2

Water Head, hp

Water head can be calculate by finding difference between P2 and P1 and divide by gravity
and density of water.

ℎ� = (P2 − P1) / ρg

ℎ� = (55158.1 – 0) / 1000(9.81)

ℎ� = 5.62 m

Output Power, Pout

Output power can be calculated by multiplying water density and gravity with volume flow
rate and water head.

�out = 𝜌𝑔�ℎ�

�out = (1000)(9.81)(0.0083)(5.62)

�out = 45.76 W

Pump Efficiency, ɲ

Pump efficiency can be calculated by dividing Pout with Pshaft.

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ɲ =Pout / Pshaft

ɲ =0.046 / 0.151

ɲ = 30.46%

8. DISCUSSION
The performance characteristic of the centrifugal pumps at different speeds was determined
in this experiment. The performance characteristic was determined from performance head,
efficiency, and shaft power against capacity (flow rate). These graphs are obtained from
different speed of the pump.

All the data that we have obtained from this experiment is the collection of data during the
experiment. During the experiment the data that we collected is the water height, torque, inlet
pressure and discharge pressure. All of these data is needed in order to fill the data table given
mathematically using the formulas given by our laboratory instructor.

TEST 1: PUMP SPEED AT 50%

From the graph obtained the graph of water head and efficiency against floe rate (capacity), it
show that the water head decrease when the capacity increase. The efficiency is at peak which
is 32.04% at flow rates 0.0012 m 3/s. The efficiency starts dropping down when the flow rates
continue increasing.

From the graph of shaft power against flow rate it shows that the shaft power increase
simultaneously when the flow rate increase.

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The best operating range for the pump if the speed at 50% or at 150.69 rad/s is at the shaft
power between 0.202 to 0.263 Hp. It give efficiency at 30.46% t0 31.63%. At higher shaft
power the efficiency will decrease.

TEST 2: PUMP SPEED AT 75%

From the observation the have been done in the graph of water head and efficiency against
flow rate, the water head also shows it decrease gradually when the flow rate increase. For
the efficiency, it reached at peak which is 40.26% at flow rates 0.0024 m 3/s. When the flow
rates continuously increasing, it decreases the efficiency of the centrifugal pump.

From graph of shaft power versus flow rate, the shaft power also increase simultaneously
with increasing of flow rates.

The best operating range for the pump at 75% speed or 228.08 rad/s give the efficiency is
between 40.18% to 40.26% and the power shaft between 0.0020 Hp to 0.0024 Hp. The
efficiency will drop if the shaft power more than that.

TEST 3: PUMP SPEED AT 100%

At this speed, the graph of water head and efficiency against flow rates shows that the water
head decrease simultaneously when the capacity increase. The peak efficiency is 46.63% at
flow rates 0.0026 m3/s. The efficiency also starts to drop when the flow rate continue
increasing.

For the shaft power, in graph of shaft power against flow rates it shows that the shaft power
increase proportionally as the flow rates increase.

The best operating range for the pump at speed 100% or 308.40 rad/s is at shaft power
between 1.613 Hp to 1.736 Hp. The efficiency is 46.63% and 45.87% respectively.

From these 3 speeds of the centrifugal pump, we can see that the efficiency is highest when
the speed of the pump at 100%. The efficiency is 40.26% at flow rates 0.0026 m 3/s and the
shaft power is 1.613 Hp. This might be the best because it deliver a greater efficiency
compared to others.

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9. CONCLUSION
The performance characteristics of pump such as pressure head, power requirement, flow rate
and pump speed will affect the performance of the centrifugal pump. It is important to know
all of the characteristics to make sure the pump will function effectively. All of the
characteristics also have been used by engineer to make the piping system such as in building
or factory function properly.

As a conclusion, the performance characteristics for a variable speed of centrifugal pump

operating at 3 different speed of impeller speed obtained.

22
10. REFERRENCES

1) flat plate boundary layer by MuhammadKhalisBinKhalid,http://wwwmdp.eng.cam

.ac.uk/web/library/enginfo/aerothermal_dvd_only/aero/fprops/introvisc/node8.html

2) http://www.efm.leeds.ac.uk/CIVE/CIVE1400/Section4/boundary_layer.htm

3) http://web.mit.edu/fluids-modules/www/highspeed_flows/ver2/bl_Chap2/node3.html

4) Cengel Y.A., Cimbala J.M., Fluid Mechanic Fundamentals and Applications: Second
Edition In SI Unit. McGraw Hill, New York, USA,2010

5) John F. Douglas, Janusz M. Gasiorek, John A. Swaffield, Fluid Mechanics, 4th Edition,
Pearson Prentice Hall, Scotland, 2001

6) Bruce R. Munson, Donald F. Young, Theodore H. Okiishi, Fundementals of Fluid

Mechanics, 5th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Asia,2006

7) https://www.massey.ac.nz/~rmclachl/PFA91.pdf

8) Boundary-Layer Theory,By Herrmann Schlichting, Klaus Gersten

9) Boundary layer flow past a finite flat plate, Arthur Eduard Paul Veldman

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11. APPENDICES AND RAW DATA

24