STUDY AND PERFORMANCE ON

SINGLE STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

AIM:
To study single-stage centrifugal pump and to find out the efficiency and
performance characteristics of single-stage centrifugal pump.

APPARATUS:
Single-stage centrifugal pump setup, scale, hook gauge, V-notch, suction
pressure gauge, delivery pressure gauge, double acting reciprocating
pump (for priming), power supply, stop watch, etc.

THEORY:-
PUMP: Pump is a machine which when driven by power from external
source, raises water or any other fluid from lower level to higher level
(increases the pressure) i.e. it receives mechanical energy and raises the
potential energy of the fluid. Hence the pump is just the inversion of
hydraulic prime-mover. There are two main types of pump:
a) Centrifugal pump.
b) Reciprocating pump (positive displacement).
Centrifugal pump belongs to the category of dynamic pressure pumps
where in the pumping of liquid s or generation of head is effected by the
rotary motion of one or more rotating wheels called the impeller.

A centrifugal pump essentially consists of the following elements:

Rotating elements:
It consists of shaft and a vaned rotor called impeller. The vanes are
curved, cylindrical or have more complex surfaces. The unit has a finite
number of vanes. The number usually ranges between 6 and 12. The
impeller is mounted on the shaft coupled to a driving unit which may be
an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. By virtue of force
interaction between the vanes and the liquid, the mechanical energy of
the driver is transformed in to the energy of flow.
Stationary element:
It consists of casing, stuffing box and bearings. The casing is an air tight
chamber surrounding the pump impeller; it receives liquid from the
suction side which enters the casing-impeller space and leaves under
high pressure to the delivery side due to dynamic action of the pump.
Packing, labyrinth seals and glands are needed to reduce the leakage.
Suction pipe, strainer and foot valve:
Suction pipe connects the centre (eye) of the impeller to the sump, from
where the liquid is to be lifted. The pipe is laid air tight so that there is no
possibility of formation of air pockets.
The suction pipe is provided with a strainer at its lower end so as to
prevent the entry of solid particles in to the pump. The foot valve is a
one-way valve located above the strainer in the suction pipe. It serves to
hold the liquid upto pump suction before the pump is started and
prevents back-flow when the pump is stopped.
Delivery pipe and delivery valve:
A delivery pipe leads the liquid from the pump outlet to the point of use.
A regulating valve provided just above the pump outlet serves to control
the flow of liquid in to the delivery pipe.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION:
If a liquid is rotated with a sufficiently high velocity so as to enable it to
raise beyond the walls of container and if more liquid is constantly
supplied at the center of some suitable means, the tendency of the liquid
will be to flow out as illustrated in the figure. This is the principle of
centrifugal pump.
The first step in the operation of pump is priming, i. e. suction pipe and
casing is filled with water so that no air pockets are left. Rotation of
impeller in casing provides a forced vortex which is responsible for
imparting centrifugal head to the water. Rotation of impeller effects a
reduction of pressure at the center. This causes the water in the suction
pipe to rush into the eye. The speed of the pump should be sufficiently
high to produce centrifugal head to initiate discharge against delivery
head.
Mechanical action of the pump is to impart a velocity to the water. The
required relationship between centrifugal head and velocity head is given
by:
H=V2/2g Where, V = outlet velocity, H = delivery head

CLASSIFICATION:
The centrifugal pump possesses the following characteristic features on
the basis of which they are classified as follows:
1) Working head
2) Type of casing
3) Number of impellers for shaft
4) Relative direction of flow through impeller
5) Number of entrance to the impeller
6) Position of the shaft
7) Liquid handled
8) Specific speed

(1) Working Head:

(a) Low lift centrifugal pump:-They work against head
up to 15 m. impeller is surrounded by volute, no guide vanes are
there.
(b) Medium lift centrifugal pump:-They work against
the head of as high as 40 m. they are provided with guide vanes.
(c) High lift centrifugal pump:-They deliver the liquid
at the heads of above 40 m. High lift pumps are generally multi stage
pumps and used.

(2) Types of Casing:

(a) Volute or spiral casing: It has a volute casing and volute is of a
spiral form. The cross-sectional area of the moving stream is gradually
increases towards the delivery pipe. The cross sectional area at any
point is proportional to quantity of water flowing across that section.
The losses of kinetic head are avoided due to volute casing.
(b)Vortex or whirlpool chamber: Here an annular space is provided
between the volute and impeller. This arrangement arrest the
formation of eddies and gives an improved performance.
(c) Volute casing with guide vanes: Here fixed guide vanes are
provided along the impeller periphery. When the liquid flows through
the diverging passages formed between the guide vanes, conversion
of dynamic into static head occurs. Liquid leaves the vanes where it is
then collected in the volute chamber where further diffusion occurs
before the liquid is discharged to the delivery pipe. Pump fitted with
guide vanes are called diffuser pump or turbine pump.

(3) Number of Impellers:

(a) Single stage centrifugal pump: In this type, one impeller keyed to
the shaft. It is usually low lift pump.
(b)Multi stage centrifugal pump: In this type, two or more impellers
are keyed to the shaft and enclosed in some casing. Pressure is built in
steps/stages. The water is led through the by-pass channel from there
outlet of one stage enters the inlet of the next until it is discharged
into a wide chamber. These pumps have number of stages depending
on head required.

(4) Relative Direction of Flow through Impeller:

(a) Radial flow pump: In radial flow impellers,
the head is developed by the action of centrifugal force upon the
liquid which enter the impeller axially at the center and flows radially
towards the periphery.
(b) Axial flow pump: It is a roto-dynamic pump
and hardly called as a c.f pump because centrifugal force is not called
into play for the generation of pressure. In these pumps, the head is
developed by the propelling or lifting action of the vanes on the liquid
which enter the impeller axially and discharged axially. These pumps
have very large discharge and are best suited for irrigation purpose.
(c) Mixed flow pump: Flow through a mixed flow
pump is a combination of axial and radial flow pump. The head is
developed partially by the action of centrifugal force and partly by
axial propulsion as a result of which the fluid enter the impeller axially
at the center and is discharged in an angular direction. These
impellers resemble the shape of screw and are sometimes called
screw impellers. This is best suited for irrigation purpose.

(5) Number Entrances to the Impeller:

(a) Single suction pump: it has a single entry and water is admitted
from a suction pipe on one side of the impeller.
(b)Double suction pump: it has double entry and admits the water
from both sides of impeller. It is suitable for pumping large quantities
of fluid. Here axial thrust is neutralized.

(6) Position of Shaft:

The shaft may be disposed horizontally or vertically. The centrifugal
pump is generally designed horizontally. Vertical position affects the
economy of space and hence suitable for deep wells and mines, it
may also be used for irrigation purposes.\

(7) Liquid Handled:

(a) Closed impeller pump: An ordinary centrifugal pump is equipped
with a closed impeller in which the vanes are covered with shrouds on
both sides. This type is meant to handle non-viscous liquids such as
ordinary water, hot water, hot oil and chemicals like acids, etc.
Material of impeller should be selected according chemical properties
of the liquid handled.
 For hot water above 1500C temperature - use cast steel impeller.
 For chemicals which are liable to corrode a ferrous surface.
 For acids - use coated impellers.
(b)Semi-open impeller pump: It is also known as non-dug pump. The
impeller is provided on one side only. This pump is used for viscous
liquid. The design is adopted for the industrial purpose which requires
rugged design for the viscous liquids such as sewage water, paper
pulp, sugar molasses, etc.
(c) Open impeller pump: In this type no shrouds or plates are provided
on either side i.e. the vanes are open on both the sides. Such pumps
are used where the pump has very rough duty to perform such as to
handle abrasive liquid.

(8)Specific Speed:
It is the term used for classifying the pump on the basis of their
performance and dimensional proportions regardless of their actual
size or the speed at which they operate.
It is defined as the speed of pump when delivering 1m3/s against a
head of 1m
Specific speed=Ns= (N √Q)/ (H)¾
where,
Q=quantity of water in m³/s
H=Delivery head, total or manometric head in m
N=Pump speed in revolution per min

PERFORMANCE CHARATERISTICS OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

Main characteristics:
To obtain the test data for main characteristics, the pump is run at a
constant speed and the discharge is varied over the desired range.
Measurements are taken for suction head, delivery head, shaft power and
height above V-notch for each discharge and calculations are made for
the pump efficiency. Curves are then plotted for discharge V/s head,
power and efficiency.
Operating characteristics:
Pumps are generally designed for maximum efficiency and that occur
when the pump operates at the designed speed. A particular part of main
characteristics corresponding to design speed are called the operating
characteristics.

ADVANTAGES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

 Smooth and even pump flow.
 Low initial cost.
 Compact, occupies less floor space.
 Gross weight is small.
 Installation is easy.
 Efficiency of low head pump is high.
 Construction is simplified by the elimination of many parts such as
non-return valves, glands, air vessels, etc., therefore less numbers
of spare parts are required.
 Low maintenance cost, periodical checkup is sufficient.
 High speed can be coupled directly through the flanged coupling to
the electric motors or steam turbine.
 Uniform torque.
 It can also handle fluids such as muddy water, sewage water,
chemicals, etc.

DISADVANTAGES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

 The centrifugal pump is not able to build up high pressure as
compared to reciprocating pump.
 Priming is a must.
 The centrifugal pump is not able to handle small discharge of high
head.

PROCEDURE:
 Priming of the centrifugal pump is carried out using a double acting
reciprocating pump which fills water in centrifugal pump taking
water from reservoir.
 After the priming is complete, the power is supplied to the
centrifugal pump and the input power is measured in terms of KWh
at regular intervals of time.
 Also suction and the delivery head are measured with the help of
gauges mounted on the suction and delivery pipes itself. The
former is obtained in terms of mm of mercury while the latter is
obtained in terms of meter of water column.
 The discharge is measured in terms of the height of water column
above the V-notch. The height is measured in a square column in
which hook gauge is inserted to observe the level rise. As the sump
and square column are connected the level shown are same as in
sump. Observations of all above measurements are noted in
observation table.
  The discharge, input power, output power and efficiency are
calculated according to the formulas and based on this result table
is made.
 Graphs are plotted for - discharge v/s output power, discharge v/s
efficiency and discharge v/s total head and discharge v/s Cd.

SPECIFICATIONS:
 Efficiency of motor ηmotor =90 %
 V-notch angle θ =90˚
 Coefficient of discharge Cd = 0.6
 Height of V notch above datum level hdatum = 0.264 m

CALCULATION:
Suction head in m of water (Hs) =ρm х H/ ρw
Total head =Hs + Hd
Qactual =8/15хCd х tanθ/2 х √2g х (h) 5/2
Output power =Qactual х ρw х g х H
Input power =E х 36х105 х 1/(t х1000) х ηm
%η =(output /input) x 100

Suction head Delivery Height of

Hs head water (Hr)
Total head Qact
Sr. Hd over
In mm In m of H=Hs +Hd m³/sec
m of V-notch
of hg water water˚ m
1
2
3

E Output power Input power

%η
kWh Time kW kW
sec
initial Final Diff.

CONCLUSION:
Based on the number of observations, observation table, result table and
graphs, the following conclusions can be derived: