The University of Jordan

Faculty of Engineering and Technology

Department of Civil Engineering
_________________________________________

Hydraulics Laboratory
0931363

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 1

 Objectives and Liabilities:

1- to determine the performance characteristics of a centrifugal pump. This is
accomplished by deter mining the capacity and efficiency of a centrifugal pump when
operating under the assigned conditions.
2- To study the performance of pumps in series.

Apparatus:
The centrifugal pump consists basically of three components, an inlet duct, an impeller
and a volute. Two geometrically similar
pumps of different sizes are available. The
flow is measured by flow-meter or by vnotch. Pressures at various points may be
measured by pressure gauges. Digital
tachometers read the rotate speed in rpm.
The principle of apparatus:
Pumps are generally used to provide certain head at certain flow rate to create a flow
from low pressure to high pressure.
Centrifugal pump are one type of pumps that converts the energy of prime mover
(electric motor) into velocity (kinetic energy) by centrifugal force provided by the
rotation of the vanes, and then the kinetic energy is transformed into pressure energy
of the fluid that flows in the pump.
This conversion process of energy into
pressure is done by two main parts:
1- Impeller: rotating part that converts the
driver energy into kinetic energy.
2- Volute (diffuser): The stationary part
that converts the energy into pressure.

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 2

 The amount of energy given to fluid is direct proportional to the velocity of the flow at
the edge of the vanes of the impeller; the faster the impeller is or the larger it was (v =
* r), the larger kinetic energy is transformed to the fluid. This kinetic energy of the
fluid coming out of an impeller is harnessed by creating a resistance to the flow. The
first resistance is created by the pump volute (casing) that catches the liquid and slows
it down. In the discharge nozzle, the liquid further decelerates and its velocity is
converted to pressure according to Bernoullis principle;

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 3

 Concepts
Centrifugal pump performance curve:
Every pump's performance is represented by the pump performance curve which is a
plot of the developed head against the flow rate, also the curve shows the efficiency of
the pump, the speed of the impeller and its size, these curves are generated according
to tests performed by the manufacturer.
Efficiency of a pump:
The efficiency is an important factor in selecting a pump for a certain system, this
quantity represents the ratio between energy input (from motor) to energy output (to
the flow) of the pump;
Pumps in Series and pumps in parallel:
Sometimes the required head for a system can't match any single pump performance
curve or the suitable pump is not in stock, for those purposes two or more pumps can
be connect in series to increase the head coming out of pumps;
o Pumps are connected in series by attaching on of the pumps discharge to the
other ones suction, ( When larger flow rate is required and no single pump is
available for use, then two or more pumps can be connected in parallel ).
o Pumps are connected in parallel when their discharge is connected to a common
pipe.
Produce of this experiment:
1- Start by making sure that the value between both pumps, and the outlet and inlet valve
for each pump are fully open.
2- Turn on the power for each pump and set the impellers speed to 3000rpm using the
control knob.
3- For each pump, separately, measure the flow rate and pressure head before and after
the pump.
4- Partially close the outlet flow valve to reduce the flow rate and the record the now
flow rate along with the pressures before and after the pump.
5- Repeat step NO.4 for different flow rate, until the flow is minimal.
6- After taking the several readings for each pump separately, connect both pumps in
series and repeat step NO.4.

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 4

 Theoretical of this experiment:

When the pump start, the fluid enters the suction nozzle and then into enter of the
impeller, ( suction eye ). As the impeller rotates, it spins the fluid sitting in the cavities
between the vanes outward and provides centrifugal acceleration. As the fluid leaves
the eye of the impeller, low pressure is developed, causing continuous flow into the
pump inlet.
Same in the axial flow pump, the head developed by a pump is determined by
measuring the pressures on the suction and discharge sides of the pump.
The velocities are computed by measuring the discharge and dividing it by the
respective pipe cross areas therefore, the net head delivered by the pump to the fluid
is:
(

Where:
H: head developed by the pump in m.
P1,2: pressure head at the suction side and delivery side of the pump in Pa.
V1,2: velocity at the suction side and delivery side of the pump in .
Z1,2: elevation at the suction side and delivery side of the pump in m.
: the density of water =
g: gravity acceleration =

Usually the intake pipe is larger than the discharge pipe, however in the current
apparatus the discharge and suction pipe are the same size, therefore the velocity
heads cancel out.
Also the assumption is made that both suction side and delivery side are on the same
elevation, resulting in neglecting the elevation head, the net total can be repressed:

Where:
H: head developed by the pump in m.
: Pressure head.
: the density of water =
g: gravity acceleration =

we will cross the equation with 10^5 ti convert from bar to Pa.
By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 5

 The total power output, in watts, of the pump is equal to the production of the pump
total pressure and the volumetric flow rate:
Where:
Q: flow rate in m^3/sec
: the density of water =
g: gravity acceleration =

V: velocity at the suction side and delivery side of the pump in

The power input, in watts, from the dynamometer s given by:

(

Where:
: torque in N.m
: angular velocity.
F: force ( measured load on motor ) in N
r: torque arm=0.178m.
N:impeller speed in rpm.
The total power output of the pump is equal to the production of the pump total
pressure and the volumetric flow rate:

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 6

 The statement of connection:

1- Parallel:

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 7

2- In series:

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 8

 Calculation about this experiment:

For a parallel pumps
For pump NO.1, At N = 2500rpm
Q

P1

0.0048
0.004
0.0025
0.002
0.001
0

30000
35000
30000
20000
20000
30000

P2

40000
120000
160000
180000
190000
195000

F
N

H
m

Pout
watt

Pin
watt

30
26.5
25.5
20.5
17.5
13

1.019367992
8.664627931
13.25178389
16.30988787
17.32925586
16.81957187

48
340
325
320
170
0

1397.3
1234.282
1187.705
954.8217
815.0917
605.4967

3.435196
27.54639
27.3637
33.51411
20.85655
0

20
18
16
14

12
10

Hm

Poly. (H m)

6
4
2
0
0

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah 9

40
35
30
25
20
H

%
15

Poly. (%)

10
5
0
0

0.001

0.002

0.003

-5

0.004

0.005

0.006

For pump NO.2 at N=2500rpm

Q

2.3
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

P1

-2000
-1000
-1000
-2000
-1000
-1500

P2

0
30000
60000
95000
80000
80000

F
N

H
m

Pout
watt

Pin
watt

6.5
6
5.5
4.5
4
2.5

0.203874
3.160041
6.218145
9.88787
8.256881
8.307849

4.6
62
91.5
97
40.5
0

302.7483
279.46
256.1717
209.595
186.3067
116.4417

1.519414
22.18564
35.71824
46.27973
21.73835
0

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah

10

12

10

Hm
Poly. (H m)

0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

50

40

30

20

Poly. (%)
10

0
0
-10

0.5

1.5

2.5

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah

11

The difference between to pumps is

50

40

30

Pump NO.1
Pump NO.2

20

Poly. (Pump NO.1)

Poly. (Pump NO.2)

10

0
0

-10

10

Simple calculation for a parallel pumps:

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah

12

Pump in series:
Q

P1

P2

0.0028
0.0024
0.002
0.0014
0.001
0

20000
20000
20000
19000
20000
22000

30000
130000
180000
220000
240000
260000

H
m

Pout
watt

1.019368
11.21305
16.30989
20.4893
22.4261
24.26096

28
264
320
281.4
220
0

30
25

20
15

10

Poly. (h)

5
0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah

13

350
300

Axis Title

250
200
Pout watt

150

Poly. (Pout watt)

100
50
0
0
-50

0.0005

0.001

0.0015

0.002

0.0025

0.003

Axis Title

Conclosion:
1- Generally in pumps increasing the flow rate will decrease the provided head as shown
in the plots of pump 1 and pump 2, a point of equilibrium between the both criterions
needed for the systems shall be found.
2- Some experimental errors regarding the first point were found in pump 2 performance
curve and in the experimental curve for pumps in series.
3- The experimental curve of the pumps in series showed smaller maximum head (Q = 0)
than the theoretical one calculated from plots of pump 1 and pump 2, so when
selecting the pumps in series to be used for a system I think we should test them
experimentally rather than calculating them theoretically so that we get the exact
amount of head, selecting the pumps in series using theoretical analysis would result a
failure in achieving the required head in an actual system.
4- The efficiency of the pumps was not calculated due to lack of givens (input power).

By: Qusai Waleed Al-Qudah

14