Basic Mechanical Engineering (BME)

Study Guide for Final Exam (Spring-2024)

Topic: Pump
• Definition: A pump is a mechanical device used to move fluids (liquids or gases) from
one place to another by increasing the fluid’s pressure.
• Types:
▪ Centrifugal Pumps: Use a rotating impeller to add velocity to the fluid.
▪ Positive Displacement Pumps: Move fluid by trapping a fixed amount and
forcing (displacing) it into the discharge pipe.
• Applications: Water supply, sewage treatment, oil and gas industries, chemical
processing, and more.
Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal pumps are a type of positive displacement pump that uses centrifugal
force to move fluids. They are widely used in various industries, including water
supply, wastewater treatment, and chemical processing.
Working Principle:
1. Intake:
▪ Fluid enters the pump through a suction pipe and flows into the pump casing.
▪ The impeller, a rotating disk with vanes, is located at the center of the casing.
2. Impeller Rotation:
▪ The impeller rotates at high speed, driven by an external power source.
▪ As the impeller rotates, it creates a centrifugal force that pushes the fluid
outward toward the casing wall.
3. Fluid Acceleration:
▪ The vanes on the impeller impart kinetic energy to the fluid, accelerating it to
high velocities.
4. Pressure Increase:
▪ As the fluid is accelerated, its kinetic energy is converted into pressure energy.
▪ The fluid is forced to flow through the casing and out the discharge pipe, at a
higher pressure than when it entered the pump.

Key Components:
• Impeller: The rotating disk with vanes that imparts kinetic energy to the fluid.
• Casing: The housing that contains the impeller and directs the flow of fluid.
• Suction pipe: The pipe through which fluid enters the pump.
• Discharge pipe: The pipe through which fluid exits the pump.
• Shaft: The rotating axis that connects the impeller to the power source.
• Bearings: Components that support the shaft and reduce friction.
Centrifugal pumps are highly efficient and can handle large volumes of fluid. They
are versatile machines that can be used in a wide range of applications.

Typical Centrifugal Pump

 Pump Performance Curve

• Definition: A graphical representation showing the relationship between the flow rate
(Q) and the head (H) of a pump.
• Components:
▪ Flow Rate (Q): The volume of fluid the pump can move per unit time (e.g.,
liters per second).
▪ Head (H): The height to which the pump can raise the fluid, often measured in
meters.
▪ Efficiency Curve: Indicates the pump’s efficiency at different flow rates.
▪ Best Efficiency Point (BEP): The point on the curve where the pump operates
most efficiently.
▪ NPSH (Net Positive Suction Head): The minimum pressure required to avoid
cavitation. (Cavitation occurs when the liquid in a pump turns to a vapor at
low pressure. It occurs because there is not enough pressure at the suction end
of the pump, or insufficient Net Positive Suction Head available (NPSHa).
When cavitation takes place, air bubbles are created at low pressure.)
• Importance:
▪ Helps in selecting the right pump for a specific application.
▪ Ensures optimal performance and energy efficiency.
▪ Prevents issues like cavitation and excessive wear.
Reading a Pump Performance Curve
 • X-Axis: Represents the flow rate (Q).
• Y-Axis: Represents the head (H).
• Intersection Point: The operating point where the system curve intersects the pump
curve, indicating the actual working conditions of the pump.
Practical Tips
• Match the Pump to the System: Ensure the pump’s performance curve matches the
system’s requirements.
• Monitor Efficiency: Operate the pump close to its BEP for maximum efficiency.
• Regular Maintenance: Regularly check and maintain the pump to ensure it operates
within its performance curve.

Pumps in Series – Head Added

When two (or more) pumps are arranged in serial their resulting pump performance curve is
obtained by adding their heads at the same flow rate as indicated in the figure below.

Pumps in Parallel - Flow Rate Added

When two or more pumps are arranged in parallel their resulting performance curve is
obtained by adding the pumps flow rates at the same head as indicated in the figure below.
Hydraulic Pump Power
The ideal hydraulic power to drive a pump depends on
• the mass flow rate the
• liquid density
• the differential height

- either it is the static lift from one height to an other or the total head loss component of the
system - and can be calculated like
Ph(kW) = q ρ g h / (3.6 106)
= q p / (3.6 106) (1)
where
Ph(kW) = hydraulic power (kW)
q = flow (m3/h)
ρ = density of fluid (kg/m3)
g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2)
h = differential head (m)
p = differential pressure (N/m2, Pa)
The hydraulic Horse Power can be calculated as:
Ph(hp) = Ph(kW) / 0.746 (2)
where
Ph(hp) = hydraulic horsepower (hp)
Or - alternatively
Ph(hp) = qgpm hft SG / (3960 η) (2b)
where
qgpm = flow (gpm)
hft = differential head (ft)
SG = Specific Gravity (1 for water)
η = pump efficiency
Example - Power pumping Water, SI Units
1 m3/h of water is pumped a head of 10 m. The theoretical pump power can be calculated as
Ph(kW) = (1 m3/h) (1000 kg/m3) (9.81 m/s2) (10 m) / (3.6 106)
= 0.027 kW
Example - Power pumping Water, Imperial Units
600 gpm of water is pumped a head of 110 ft. The efficiency ofthe pump i s 60% (0.6) and the
specific gravity of water is 1. The pump shaft power can be calculated as
Ph(kW) = (60 gpm) (110 ft) (1) / ((3960) (0.6))
= 27.8 hp
Shaft Pump Power
The shaft power - the power required transferred from the motor to the shaft of the pump -
depends on the efficiency of the pump and can be calculated as
Ps(kW) = Ph(kW) / η (3)
where
Ps(kW) = shaft power (kW)
η = pump efficiency

The Affinity Laws of centrifugal pumps

The Affinity Laws of centrifugal pumps or fans indicates the influence on volume capacity,
head (pressure) and/or power consumption of a pump or fan due to
change in speed of wheel - revolutions per minute (rpm)
geometrically similarity - change in impeller diameter
Note that there are two sets of affinity laws:
affinity laws for a specific centrifugal pump - to approximate head, capacity and power
curves for different motor speeds and /or different diameter of impellers
affinity laws for a family of geometrically similar centrifugal pumps - to approximate head,
capacity and power curves for different motor speeds and /or different diameter of impellers
Pump Affinity Laws for a Specific Centrifugal Pump
Volume Capacity
The volume capacity of a centrifugal pump can be expressed like
q1 / q2= (n1 / n2) (d1 / d2)
where
q = volume flow capacity (m3 /s, gpm, cfm, ..)
n = wheel velocity - revolution per minute - (rpm)
d = wheel diameter (m, ft)
Head or Pressure
The head or pressure of a centrifugal pump can be expressed like
dp1 / dp2= (n1 / n2)2(d1 / d2)2
where
dp = head or pressure (m, ft, Pa, psi, ..)
Power
The power consumption of a centrifugal pump can be expressed as
P1 / P2= (n1 / n2)3 (d1 / d2)3
where
P = power (W, bhp.)

Topic: Internal Combustion Engine

Internal Combustion Engines and 4-Stroke Engines

Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) are devices that convert chemical energy stored in a fuel
into mechanical energy, typically in the form of rotational motion. This conversion occurs
through a process of combustion, where a fuel-air mixture is ignited within the engine's
cylinders.
4-Stroke Engines are a common type of ICE. They operate on a four-stroke cycle, consisting
of four distinct phases:
• Intake Stroke:
▪ The intake valve opens, allowing a mixture of air and fuel to enter the
cylinder.
 ▪ The piston moves downward, creating a vacuum that draws the mixture into
the cylinder.
▪ The exhaust valve remains closed during this stroke.
• Compression Stroke:
▪ Both valves are closed.
▪ The piston moves upward, compressing the fuel-air mixture.
▪ This compression increases the temperature and pressure of the mixture.
• Power Stroke:
▪ The spark plug ignites the compressed mixture, causing a powerful explosion.
▪ The expanding gases force the piston downward, generating mechanical
energy.
▪ The exhaust valve remains closed during this stroke.
• Exhaust Stroke:
▪ The exhaust valve opens.
▪ The piston moves upward, forcing the burnt gases out of the cylinder and into
the exhaust system.
▪ The intake valve remains closed during this stroke.
The four strokes of the engine are repeated in a continuous cycle, producing a rotating motion
that can be used to power various machines and vehicles. 4-stroke engines are widely used in
automobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, and other applications.

Engine Capacity Calculation

Information required: 1. Cylinder bore, 2. Crankshaft stroke, 3. Number of cylinders

Calculation: 0.7854 x bore x bore x stroke x number of cylinders.
Example: Bore = 81mm (8.1cm), Stroke = 77.6mm (7.76cm), cylinders = 4
Solution: 0.7854 x 8.1 x 8.1 x 7.76 x 4 = 1599.5cc

In the above example we have used centimetres to calculate capacity in cubic centimetres.
To find the displacement in cubic inches simply substitute measurements in inches:
8.1cm = 3.189" & 7.76cm = 3.055" giving 0.7854 x 3.189" x 3.189" x 3.055" x 4 = 97.6
cu.in.
To quickly convert from cc's to cu.ins. divide by 16.387, and from cu.in. to cc. Multiply by
16.387

Topic: HVAC and Psychrometry

Psychrometric Chart
A psychrometric chart is a graphical representation of the thermodynamic properties of moist
air. It is a valuable tool for engineers and scientists working in fields such as HVAC
(Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), meteorology, and agriculture.
Basic Schematic:
psychrometric chart
Explanation:
• Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT): The temperature of the air measured by a dry-bulb
thermometer.
• Relative Humidity (RH): The ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the air to
the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature and
pressure.
• Wet Bulb Temperature (WBT): The temperature of the air measured by a
thermometer whose bulb is covered with a wet cloth.
• Dew Point Temperature (DPT): The temperature at which the air becomes saturated
with water vapor and condensation begins to form.
• Enthalpy: The total heat content of the air, including both sensible heat (related to
temperature) and latent heat (related to the phase change of water).
• Specific Humidity: The mass of water vapor per unit mass of dry air.
• Humidification: The process of adding moisture to the air.
• Dehumidification: The process of removing moisture from the air.
• Adiabatic Cooling: The process of cooling air without adding or removing heat.
• Adiabatic Heating: The process of heating air without adding or removing heat.
Key Points:
• The psychrometric chart is used to determine the properties of moist air, such as
relative humidity, dew point temperature, enthalpy, and specific humidity.
• It can be used to analyze HVAC systems, design air conditioning systems, and predict
weather conditions.
• The chart is based on the principles of thermodynamics and meteorology.
• Understanding the psychrometric chart is essential for professionals working in fields
related to air quality and climate control.