Exp. No: 10 Reg. No.

17BEM0043
Date: 01/06/2020 Name: Kartik R. Bhat Hire

PERFORMANCE TEST ON MULISTAGE PUMP

(PARALLEL AND SERIES CONNECTION)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7V7ioY7nuw

AIM: To study the performance of centrifugal pumps connected in parallel and series and to draw
the resultant head-discharge curves

BASIC CONCEPT
Pumps in Parallel:
When two or more similar pumps are connected in parallel, the head across each pump is the same
and the total flow rate is shared equally between the pumps, QP/n, where n is the number of pumps
in parallel. For identical pumps in parallel, the pressures at the two inlets and outlets are identical
and the maximum head the two pumps can deliver is no greater than for a single pump.
Theoretically, the flow rate is doubled, although in practice, this will not occur, due to losses in the
piping systems.
Pumps in Series:
When two or more similar pumps are connected in series, the same flow rate passes through each
pump and under goes a head boost of total head divided by number of pumps, HP/n. Therefore, the
series configuration of two identical pipes provides a pump characteristic of twice the head as for a
single pump. For series pumps, the total head can be computed as follows:
The following formulae are employed.
i) Discharge (Q) = Ah / t
A= Internal plan area of the collecting tank
h= Rise of water level in the collecting tank.
t= Time taken for rise of water level “H” in the collecting tank. (sec)
ii)Total head (H) = Hs + Hd + (Vd2 - Vs2)/2g + X
Hs=Suction head in meters of water (Vacuum gauge reading in mm-Hg x 13.6 /1000 (m)
Hd=Delivery head in meters of water (Pressure gauge reading in kg/ cm2) x 10(m)
X = Vertical Distance between pressure gauge and vacuum gauge (m)
Vd = Velocity of water in delivery pipe (m/s)
Vs = Velocity of water in suction pipe (m/s)

1
APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. Pump set up
2. Stop Watch

DESCRIPTION:
A centrifugal pump which works on the principle of forced vortex flow consists of an impeller
rotating inside a casing. It converts the mechanical energy into pressure energy by means of
centrifugal force acting on the fluid.
Pressure gauges and vacuum gauges are fitted in the delivery and suction pipes to measures the
head. An energy meter and a stopwatch are provided to measure the input to the motor and a
collecting tank to measure the actual discharge.

TEST ON SINGLE PUMP

Experimental Procedure:
a. Prime the pump if necessary
b. Close the regulating valve fully and switch on the motor
c. Adjust the gate valve to get the required head
d. Note down the following readings
i. The pressure gauge reading (kg/cm2)
ii. Time taken for Nr revolution/impulse of the energymeter
iii. Time taken for h m rise in the collecting tank
iv. The vaccum gauge reading (mm of Hg)
v. Repeat the experiments for other heads

TEST SET UP FOR PARALLEL OPERATION

Two similar pumps are connected in such way that they are connected in such that they may be
operated in parallel by manipulating the valves provided. For discharging a large quantity of water
the pumps are connected in parallel.
Experimental Procedure:
a. Prime the pump if necessary
b. Close the regulating valve fully and switch on the motor
c. Adjust the gate valve to get the required head
d. Note down the following readings
i. The pressure gauge reading (kg/cm2) of pump1 and pump 2
ii. Time taken for Nr revolution/ impulse of the energy meter
2
 iii. Time taken for h m rise in the collecting tank
iv. The vacuum gauge reading (mm of Hg)
v. Repeat the experiments for other heads

TEST SET UP FOR SERIES OPERATION

Two similar pumps are connected in such way that they are connected in such that they may be
operated in series by manipulating the valves provided. For developing a high head of water the
pumps are connected in series.
Experimental Procedure:
a. Prime the pump if necessary
b. Close the regulating valve fully and switch on the motor
c. Adjust the gate valve to get the required head
d. Note down the following readings
i. The pressure gauge reading (kg/cm2) of
ii. Time taken for Nr revolution/ impulse of the energy meter
iii. Time taken for h m rise in the collecting tank
iv. The vacuum gauge reading (mm of Hg)
v. Repeat the experiments for other heads

MODEL CALCULATIONS:

Dimensions of collecting tank: 325x500x610 mm ; Distance between gauges: 28 cm

Energy Meter Constant: 3200 imp/kWh ; Speed of Pump: 2880 rpm

Parallel:
i. Discharge= Q= A*h/t= 0.1975*0.1/8= 0.00025 m3/s
ii. Suction Head= Hs= 340*13.6/1000= 4.624 m
iii. Deliver Head= Hd= 0.7*10= 7 m
iv. Distance between gauges= X= 0.28 m
v. Total Head= H= 11.904 m
Series:
i. Discharge= Q= A*h/t= 0.1975*0.1/18.7= 0.00105 m3/s
ii. Suction Head= Hs= 160*13.6/1000= 2.176 m
iii. Deliver Head= Hd= 2.9*10= 29 m
iv. Distance between gauges= X= 0.28 m
v. Total Head= H= 31.456 m
3
GRAPHS:
For series connection
Qact vs total head for series connection and also for single pump

For parallel connection

Qact vs total head for parallel connection and also for single pump

RESULT: Thus the characteristics of multistage pumps and are plotted various graphs.