B2 Pump Experiment Report

Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to study the relationship between pump
head and flow rate in different connection modes of the pump. The experiment
is divided into three parts, respectively studying the influence of single pump,
series pump and parallel pump on pump head and flow rate. In each part of this
experiment we observed the pressure reading on the pressure gauge at each
given flowrate. In each part of this experiment we have measured multiple sets
of experimental data by using control variate method. Through this experiment,
we determined the working characteristics of centrifugal pumps with different
connection modes.
Introduction
Working principle of centrifugal pump
Centrifugal pump is the pump used in this experiment. ‘Centrifugal
pump is the centrifugal force produced by the impeller rotation to transport the
liquid pump. The centrifugal pump works by centrifugal motion of water by
rotating the impeller. [1]’ Before starting the pump, the pump shell and the
suction pipe must be filled with water, and then start the motor, so that the pump
shaft can drive the impeller and water to rotate at high speed. The water will
undergo centrifugal motion, which will be thrown to the outer edge of the
impeller and flow into the pressure pipe of the pump through the flow channel
of the volute pump shell. ‘The centrifugal pump depends on the high-speed
rotation of the impeller, forcing the fluid in the center of the impeller to be
removed at a high speed, thus forming a low pressure in the center of the
impeller, and the fluid in the lower trough is continuously sucked up [2]’
Single, parallel and serial connection for Centrifugal Pumps
The main performance parameters of a single centrifugal pump are:
Flow, head, power, efficiency. The relationship between the parameters is as
follows: the flow increases, the head decreases, the power increases, and the
efficiency increases first and then decreases.
‘Figure 1 Performance chart of single centrifugal pump[3] ‘( n:efficiency, N:power,

H:pump head)

Parallel pumps increase the flow rate. In parallel pump line, the fluid in
each branch is accelerated by a pump head of the same value, When the
recording fluid finally gathers, the total flow rate is greater than the original flow
rate. In theory, two pumps in parallel can accelerate the fluid twice as fast.
However, in the actual situation, due to factors such as friction and turbulence,
the flow rate is often unable to double. Therefore, the actual curve in Figure2
the actual curve is to the left of curve ‘two pumps in parallel’.

Figure 2 Parallel pump characteristic curve

Series pumps can increase the pump head. The fluid in the series
pipeline is continuously increased pump head, while the flow rate remains
unchanged. Finally, in theory, the flow of the pump head is twice as much as
original pump head. But in actual situation, the fraction and turbulence will limit
the effect of pump, the final pump head unable to double. Therefore, the actual
curve in Figure3 is lower than the curve ‘ two pumps in series’.
Figure 3 Serial pump characteristic curve

Formula in this experiment

Power: 𝑃𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 = 𝑔 ∗ 𝑄 ∗ 𝐻 ∗ 𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 Eq[1]
Volumetric flow rate(m3/s):Q = (Flow in LPM)/60000 Eq[2]
Pump total head:H(m) = 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 /𝜌𝑔 Eq[3]
Pressure unit is Pa, P2 in calculation is PT3,
Objective
1. To study the peculiarity of single pump operation with variable flowrate.
2. To study the peculiarity of series pump operation with variable flowrate.
3. To study the peculiarity of parallel pump operation with variable flowrate
Method
Control variate method: Each group of experiments only changed the flow
rate and recorded the readings of different pump heads.
Procedure
Group A single pump:
1. The general start-up procedure is carried out.
2. V01, V04 was open and V02, V03 was closed.
3. The Pump1 was open.
4. V05 is slowly open until the flowrate reaches 40 LPM
5. The absolute pressure on the electronic screen is recorded. Velocity
and pressure readings are recorded when steady state is reached.
6. The observation step is repeated by increasing the flowrate by 10
LPM until the flowrate reaches 70LPM
Group B serial pump:
1. The general start-up procedure is carried out.
2. V02, V04 was open and V01, V03 was closed.
 3. The Pump1, Pump2 was open.
4. V05 is slowly open until the flowrate reaches 40 LPM
5. The absolute pressure on the electronic screen is recorded. Velocity
and pressure readings are recorded when steady state is reached.
6. The observation step is repeated by increasing the flowrate by 10
LPM until the flowrate reaches 70LPM
Group C parallel pump:
1. The general start-up procedure is carried out.
2. V01, V02, V04 was open and V03 was closed.
3. The Pump1, Pump2 was open.
4. V05 is slowly open until the flowrate reaches 40 LPM
5. The absolute pressure on the electronic screen is recorded. Velocity
and pressure readings are recorded when steady state is reached.
6. The observation step is repeated by increasing the flowrate by 20
LPM until the flowrate reaches 140LPM
Result and Calculation (absolute pressure reading)
Group A single Pump
Volumetric
PT1 PT3 flow rate
FT (LPM) (bar) (bar) Pump Total Head H avg(m) avg(m^3/s)
40 1.04 2.99 19.77573904 0.000666667
50 1.03 2.87 18.60346585 0.000833333
60 1.02 2.74 17.38022426 0.001
70 1.01 2.57 15.85117227 0.001166667
Group B serial Pump
PT3- Volumetric
PT1 PT2 PT3 PT1 Pump Total flow rate
FT (LPM) (bar) (bar) (bar) (bar) Head H avg(m) avg(m^3/s)
0.00066666
40 1.04 2.98 4.88 3.84 38.88889 7
0.00083333
50 1.03 2.85 4.63 3.6 36.90112 3
60 1.02 2.71 3.47 2.45 29.56167 0.001
0.00116666
70 1.01 2.56 4.09 3.08 31.03976 7
Group C parallel Pump
 PT3- Volumetric
FT PT1 PT2 PT3 PT1 Pump Total Head flow rate
(LPM) (bar) (bar) (bar) (bar) H avg(m) avg(m^3/s)
40 1.05 1.03 3.16 2.11 21.50866 0.000666667
60 1.04 1.02 3.07 2.03 20.69317 0.001
80 1.04 1.02 2.97 1.93 19.62283 0.001333333
100 1.03 1.01 2.83 1.8 18.34862 0.001666667
120 1.02 1 2.7 1.68 17.12538 0.002
140 1.01 0.99 2.56 1.55 15.74924 0.002333333

Table 1 Final result of experiment

Comparison of experiment results

45

40
Pump Head-Flowrate
Graph GroupA single
35 pump
Pump Head H(m)

Pump Head-Flowrate
Graph GroupB Serial
30
pump
ERROR NUMBER
25

Pump Head-Flowrate
20
Graph GroupC Parallel
pump
15

10
40 60 80 100 120 140
Flowrate FT(LPM)

Figure 4 Comparison of experiment results

Calculation:
𝑃2 −𝑃1 (𝑃𝑇3𝑖 −𝑃𝑇1𝑖 )∗100000
1. H(m) = = = 𝐻𝑖 (m)
𝜌𝑔 1000∗9.81

𝐹𝑇
𝑖
2. 𝑄𝑖 = 60000

Discussion
Compare the experiment result with accepted value, the error between then
is not big. Except the Group B when flowrate equal to 60LPM the pump head
is smaller than the expect value. So the measurements are consistent with the
expect value.
 The error in Group B when flowrate equal to 60LPM may be the result of
wrong reading or recording. Because compare with second experimental group
of this flowrate, the second group is more close to expect value.
Compare the experiment result with each other, the flowrate of parallel pumps
is two times of single pump accordingly; the total pump head of serial pumps is
two times of single pump accordingly. This roughly proves that two parallel
pumps can increase the flow rate to twice as much; The series pump can
increase the pump head to twice the original.
Compare that with a single pump at twice the flow rate or with a double pump
head, the number of parallel or series pumps is less than twice that of a single
pump. As far as I think, the reason is that Friction factors and fluid turbulence
in the pipeline cause the rate or energy loss. This error is more pronounced at
higher flow rates. Because at high velocities, turbulence in the fluid is more
pronounced and more likely to cause energy loss.
In the experiment, Rotameter's velocity showed constant fluctuations. This
phenomenon leads to the determination of velocity in an approximate manner.
This also cause an error. I think the reason cause the rotameter reading
fluctuations is the pressure of the system is unstable, especially the pressure
fluctuation of the rotameter. This is caused by the shape of tube line. Increasing
rotameter before and after the pipeline makes its front and rear pressure stable
can solve this problem to a certain extent.
Through the observation of the experimental instrument, there is a significant
difference between the water temperature before and after the experiment. The
water temperature after the experiment was obviously higher than before the
experiment. The reason for this phenomenon is that the centrifugal pump works
on water and part of it is converted into heat. Thus it can be seen that some
energy is lost in the form of heat. So the pump head or flowrate would never be
double of the original value. Use a smoother material for piping or change the
shape of pipe might decrease the energy loss.
Conclusion
 This experiment basically verifies the relation between series pump and
parallel pump and single pump. Two parallel pumps can approximately double
the speed of flow. Two serial pumps can approximately double the pump head.
For fluid delivery tasks, it is not possible to provide sufficient flow rate without a
single pump, using multiple parallel pumps increases the flow rate. If a single
pump can’t provide enough pump head, Multiple pumps can be used in series
to increase the pump head. The increase in flow rate is at the expense of a
certain pump head. When the fluid transport task is more complex, you can use
both series and parallel methods to achieve the goal.
Reference
[1] The centrifugal pump [internet] available from :
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%A6%BB%E5%BF%83%E6%B3%B5/5356
2?fr=aladdin
[2] Working principle of centrifugal pump [internet] available from:
https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/357282882.html
[3] Centrifugal pump series and parallel [internet] Available From:
https://wenku.baidu.com/view/4820926a876fb84ae45c3b3567ec102de2bddf8
3.html
Appendices
Group A single Pump 1
FT PT1 PT3
(LPM (bar (bar Volumetric flow rate
) ) ) Pump Total Head H (m) (m^3/s)
40 1.04 2.99 19.87767584 0.000666667
50 1.03 2.87 18.75637105 0.000833333
60 1.02 2.74 17.53312946 0.001
70 1.01 2.57 15.90214067 0.001166667
Group A single Pump 2
FT PT1 PT3
(LPM (bar (bar
) ) ) Pump Total Head H (m) Volumetric flow rate (m^3/s)
40 1.04 2.97 19.67380224 0.000666667
50 1.03 2.84 18.45056065 0.000833333
60 1.02 2.71 17.22731906 0.001
70 1.01 2.56 15.80020387 0.001166667
 Group B serial Pump 1
FT PT1 PT2 Volumetric
(LPM (bar (bar Pump Total Head flow rate
) ) ) PT3 (bar) PT3-PT1 (bar) H (m) (m^3/s)
40 1.04 2.98 4.88 3.84 39.14373 0.000666667
50 1.03 2.85 4.63 3.6 36.69725 0.000833333
60 1.02 2.71 3.47 2.45 24.97452 0.001
70 1.01 2.56 4.09 3.08 31.39653 0.001166667
Group B serial Pump 2
FT PT1 PT2
(LPM (bar (bar Pump Total Head Volumetric flow
) ) ) PT3 (bar) PT3-PT1 (bar) H (m) rate (m^3/s)
40 1.04 2.96 4.83 3.79 38.63405 0.000666667
50 1.03 2.84 4.67 3.64 37.10499 0.000833333
60 1.02 2.69 4.37 3.35 34.14883 0.001
70 1.01 2.53 4.02 3.01 30.68298 0.001166667
Group C parallel Pump 1
FT PT1 PT2
(LPM (bar (bar Pump Total Head Volumetric flow rate
) ) ) PT3 (bar) PT3-PT1 (bar) H (m) (m^3/s)
40 1.05 1.03 3.16 2.11 21.50866 0.000666667
60 1.04 1.02 3.07 2.03 20.69317 0.001
80 1.04 1.02 2.97 1.93 19.6738 0.001333333
100 1.03 1.01 2.83 1.8 18.34862 0.001666667
120 1.02 1 2.7 1.68 17.12538 0.002
140 1.01 0.99 2.56 1.55 15.8002 0.002333333
Group C parallel Pump 2
FT PT1 PT2
(LPM (bar (bar PT3-PT1 Pump Total Head H Volumetric flow rate
) ) ) PT3 (bar) (bar) (m) (m^3/s)
40 1.05 1.03 3.16 2.11 21.50866 0.000666667
60 1.04 1.02 3.07 2.03 20.69317 0.001
80 1.04 1.02 2.96 1.92 19.57187 0.001333333
100 1.03 1.01 2.83 1.8 18.34862 0.001666667
120 1.02 1 2.7 1.68 17.12538 0.002
140 1.01 0.99 2.55 1.54 15.69827 0.002333333

Table 2 Original result of experiment

Figure 5 piping diagram

Figure 6 equations

Figure 7 Original data 1

Figure 8 original data2