[Chemical Engineering Laboratory II]

SEGi University EXPERIMENT 4 : Centrifugal Pump

Lecturer/ Supervisor: DR YAP POW SENG Date of Submission:10 /2 /2014

Abstract
The objective of this experiment is to study the characteristics of a centrifugal pump. First, the suction valve is opened which cause the fluid flow to the impeller and fill the volute of the centrifugal pump. The power supply to the pump is started. The delivery valve is slowly opened until the pump reached the desired flow. The pressure reading is observed. The pressure gauge is checked to ensure that the pump quickly reached the correct discharge pressure. The flowrate and pressure values are recorded when the condition is stable. These steps are repeated using different flowrates. The flowrates used in this experiment are, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40 and 30 LPM.

Introduction
Centrifugal pump is defined as a rotary dynamic type of pump in which a dynamic pressure is developed which enables the lifting of liquids from a low datum height source to a higher position. The basic principle on which a centrifugal pump works is that when a certain mass of liquid is made to rotate by an external force, it is thrown away from the central axis of rotation and a centrifugal head is impressed which enables it to rise to a higher level. If more liquid is constantly made available at the center of rotation, a continuous supply of liquid at higher level may be ensured. Since in these pumps the lifting of the liquid is due to centrifugal action, these pumps are called centrifugal pumps. A centrifugal pump consists of an impeller and a casing. The impeller consists of vanes, mounted on a shaft which is connected to the shaft of an electric motor. Fluid enters the impeller axially near the shaft and has energy, kinetic and potential, imported to it by the vanes. The action of the impeller both increases the kinetic energy of the fluid and increases its pressure by centrifugal motion. As the fluid leaves the impeller at a relative high velocity, it is collected in a volute or series of diffusing passages which transform the kinetic energy into pressure.

Apparatus
The unit is constructed on a stable stainless steel base plate, comprises of a fixed speed centrifugal pump, a water sump tank and all required pipe works. It is installed with pressure gauges and flow meter for pump characteristic studies. The pump casing is made of transparent material; therefore the pump mechanism can be clearly visualized.

Procedures
1) The circulation tank is filled with water up to at least the end of the pipe output is submerged with water. 2) The suction valve is opened. 3) The power supply is switched to the pump. 4) The delivery valve is regulated to achieve the desired operating condition. 5) The delivery valve is regulated slowly until the flowrate reached 90 LPM. 6) The pressure reading on the pressure gauges is observed. The flow rate and pressure values are recorded when stable condition is achieved. The observation is repeated by decreasing the flow rate as follows.

Results
Rotameter (FI1) LPM 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 Suction Pressure (P1) cmHg 7.8 5.2 2.6 kgf/cm2 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.05 Delivery Pressure (P2) kgf/cm2 0.15 0.25 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.65 0.70

Rotameter (FI1) LPM 90 80 70 60 50 40 30

Water flow rate, Q (m3/s) 1.50x10-3 1.33 x10-3 1.17 x10-3 1.00 x10-3 8.33 x10-4 6.67 x10-4 5.00 x10-4

Difference in pressure, P (Pa) 4310.84 17583.87 35760.22 49033.25 58839.90 58839.90 63743.22

Hydraulic power, Pi (W) 6.47 23.39 41.84 49.03 49.01 39.25 31.87

Rotameter (FI1) LPM 90 80 70 60 50 40 30

Pump efficiency, (%) 3.59 12.99 23.24 27.24 27.23 21.81 17.71

Discussion
Pressure difference versus flowrate graph

70000 60000

Pressure difference, P (Pa)

50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 5.00 x10-4 6.67 x10-4 8.33 x10-4 1.00 x10-3 1.17 x10-3 1.33 x10-3 1.50x10-3

Flowrate ,Q (m3/s) Pump efficiency versus flowrate graph

30 25 20

Pump efficiency,n (100%)

15 10 5 0 5.00 x10-4 6.67 x10-4 8.33 x10-4 1.00 x10-3 1.17 x10-3 1.33 x10-3 1.50x10-3

Flowrate, Q (m3/s)

The objective of this experiment is to determine the centrifugal pump performance characteristics by for different flow rates of centrifugal pump. Using the results obtained, the hydraulic power and the pump efficiency are calculated. The hydraulic power is calculated using the equation Pi = Q P (W). The pump efficiency is calculated using this equation

Pi 100% . P

From the result obtained, as the flowrate decreases, the suction pressure decreases while the delivery pressure increases. From the pressure difference versus flowrate graph, we can see that as the flowrate increases, the pressure difference decreases. As the flowrate increases the efficiency of the pump increases, this relationship only works within certain limits. If the flowrate is further increased after the limit, the efficiency will decrease. In this experiment, the maximum pump efficiency is 27.24% while the minimum pump efficiency obtained is 3.59%.

Conclusion
In conclusion, when there is an increased of speed of a centrifugal pump it will cause the properties and characteristics to varied accordingly which will affect the overall efficiency. When there is an increased of speed, the efficiency also increases.

References

(Mansour, 2006) 2) Joe Evans. (2012). Centrifugal Pump Efficiency- What is Efficiency?. [Online]. 1st February 2012. Available from : http://www.pump-zone.com/topics/pumps/pumps/centrifugal-pump-efficiency-whatefficiency [Accessed on 31st January 2014]