AN INTRODUCTION TO PUMPING

EQUIPMENT

Principle, Operation & Maintenance

?WHAT IS THE PUMP

A hydrodynamic pump machine is a device for converting the

energy held by mechanical energy into fluid

Pumps enable a liquid to:

1. Flow from a region or low pressure to one of high pressure.

2. Flow from a low level to a higher level.

3. Flow at a faster rate.

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There are two main categories of pump:

 Rotodynamic pumps.
 Positive displacement pumps.
PUMP

Rotodynamic Positive displacement

Centrifugal

Rotary Reciprocating
Axial flow

Mixed flow
Gear Piston

Turbine
Lobe Diaphragm

Sliding Vane Plunger

Screw 2
Centrifugal Pumps:
centrifugal pumps have a rotating impeller, also known as a
blade, that is immersed in the liquid. Liquid enters the pump
near the axis of the impeller, and the rotating impeller sweeps
the liquid out toward the ends of the impeller blades at high
pressure.
For low flows and high pressures, the action of the impeller
is largely radial.

Positive-displacement Pumps:

A variety of positive-displacement pumps are also available,

generally consisting of a rotating member with a number of
lobes that move in a close-fitting casing. The liquid is trapped in
the spaces between the lobes and then discharged into a region
of higher pressure. A common device of this type is the gear
pump, which consists of a pair of meshing gears. The lobes in
this case are the gear teeth 3
What is the main difference between kinetic and positive
displacement pumps ?

The main difference between kinetic and positive displacement

pumps lies in the method of fluid transfer. 

 A kinetic pump imparts velocity energy to the fluid, which is

converted to pressure energy upon exiting the pump casing

 A positive displacement pump moves a fixed volume of fluid within the

pump casing by applying a force to moveable boundaries containing
the fluid volume. 

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The Table below outlines some of the main differences between centrifugal pumps,
reciprocating pumps and rotary pumps.  Note that “centrifugal”, “reciprocating”
and “rotary” pumps are all relatively broad categories

Rotary Pumps  Reciprocating Pumps Centrifugal Pumps Parameter

Low/Medium Capacity, Low Capacity, Medium/High Capacity, Optimum Flow and
Low/Medium Pressure High Pressure Low/Medium Pressure Pressure Applications
10,000+ GPM 10,000+ GPM 100,000+ GPM Maximum Flow Rate
Yes Yes No Low Flow Rate Capability
4,000+ PSI 100,000+ PSI 6,000+ PSI Maximum Pressure
Yes Yes No Requires Relief Valve
Smooth Pulsating Smooth Smooth or Pulsating Flow
Constant Constant Variable Variable or Constant Flow
Yes Yes No Self-priming
Requires Less Space Requires More Space Requires Less Space Space Considerations
Lower Initial Higher Initial Lower Initial Costs
Lower Maintenance Higher Maintenance Lower Maintenance
Lower Power Lower Power Higher Power
Requires clean, clear, non- Suitable for clean, clear, non- Suitable for a wide range Fluid Handling
abrasive fluid due to close abrasive fluids.  Specially- including clean, clear, non-
tolerances fitted pumps suitable for abrasive fluids to fluids with
   abrasive-slurry service. abrasive, high-solid content.
     
Optimum performance with Suitable for high viscosity Not suitable for high viscosity
high viscosity fluids fluids fluids
     
Higher tolerance for    
entrained gases Higher tolerance for Lower tolerance for entrained
entrained gases gases
 

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Construction of Centrifugal Pumps Volute

1- Casing:-
Impeller Suction

Casing generally are two types:

I. Volute casings for a higher head.

A volute is a curved funnel increasing in area to the

discharge port.

II. Circular casings for low head and high capacity.

have stationary diffusion vanes surrounding the

impeller periphery that convert velocity energy to
pressure energy. 6
2-Impeller

Three main categories of centrifugal pumps exist

Axial flow Radial flow

Mixed flow
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H-Q Carve
Once again, imagine starting a pump and raising the fluid in a
vertical tube to the point of maximum elevation. On the curve this
would be maximum head at zero flow. Now, rotate the running pump
on its centerline 90°, until the vertical tube is now in a horizontal
position.

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Family curves

At times you’ll find that the information is the same, but the presentation of the
curves is different. Almost all pump companies publish what are called the ‘family
of curves’. The pump family curves are probably the most useful for the
maintenance engineer and mechanic, the design engineer and purchasing agent.
The family curves present the entire performance picture of a pump.

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Heads of Pump:
where :
Vs = Velocity of fluid in the suction pipe.
Vd = Velocity of fluid in the delivery pipe.
hs = Suction head.
hd = Delivery head.
hfs = head losses in the suction pipe.
hfd = head losses in the delivery pipe.

Static head (Hst)

Hst = hs + hd

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Manometric head (Hm) :

pd  p s p ps
Hm   ( zd  z s ) but d h h and  ( hs  h fs )
  d fd 

V s2 L 2
= Hst + hf + (where h fd  f (Vd 2 g ) )
2g D

where hf = hfs + hfd

V U
Hm  h  H L  w 2 2  H L )where HL = impeller losses(
g
Total head (H)
pd  p s Vd2  Vs2
H  ( zd  z s ) 
 2g
Vd2
H = hs + hfs + hd + hfd +
2g
Vd2
= Hst + hf +
2g

1
Hm = H + (Vs2  Vd2 )
2g
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When Vs = Vd
Hence Hm = H
Type of Impeller

There are three main categories of impeller due type of impeller’s vane, which
are used in the centrifugal pumps as;

Radial vanes, Fig. (a).

Backward vanes, Fig. (b).
Forward vanes, Fig. (c).

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a) when β2 > 90o, the Forwards curved
vanes of the impeller.

b) when β2 = 90o , the radial curved vanes

of the impeller.

c) when β2 < 90o, the Backwards curved

vanes of the impeller.

where :
V = absolute velocity of the water.
U = Tangential velocity of impeller (peripheral velocity).
Vr = relative velocity of water to the wheel.

Vf = velocity flow.

N = Speed of impeller in (rpm).

 = vane angle.
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 = angle at which water leaves.
Pump Efficiencies

1- Hydraulic Efficiency (ζh)

Pump' s Total Head ( H )

h 
Euler Head ( H e )
gH
h  The normal value varies between 60% - 90%
Vw 2U 2

2- Manometric Efficiency(ζm)

Pump' s Manometric Head ( H m )

m 
Euler Head ( H e )
gH m
m 
Vw 2U 2

3 -Volumetric Efficiency (ζv)

Q
v  The normal value lies between 97% to 98%
Q  Q
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 4- Mechanical Efficiency (ζ)
It is due to losses in the shaft, coupling, and other operation losses as vibration
Power in to the impeller
 
Power at the shaft

 (Q   Q ) V w 2 U 2 The normal value is 95% - 98%

 
Power Shaft

5 - Overall Efficiency (ζo)

Pout QH
o  
Pin T .

Pout Pt P QH
o    t 
Pt Pin Pin  (Q  Ql )h

o  m v h The normal value is 71% - 86%

Discharge of a Centrifugal Pump

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Q  D1b1V f 1  D2b2V f 2
6- Power Required to Drive a Centrifugal Pump

QH QVw1U 1
P P (hp)
750 o (hp)
g 750
7 -1 Cavitation
Cavitation is defined as the phenomenon of formation of vapor bubbles of flowing
liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapor pressure
and the sudden collapsing of this vapor bubbles in a region of higher pressure.
When the vapor bubbles collapse, a very high pressure is created. The formation
and the collapse of a great number of bubbles on the surface produce intense local
stresses that damage the surface by fatigue. It may occur at the entry to pumps or
at the exit from hydraulic turbines in the vicinity of the moving blades

Cavitation processes in centrifugal pump 2- 7

The cavitation phenomenon develops in the impeller pump, when the pressure of
liquid falls below the saturated vapor pressure at the prevailing temperature ( Ps< Pv
of liquid), small vapor bubbles begin to form and the dissolved gases are evolved.
The vapor bubbles are caught up by the following liquid and swept into a region of
higher pressure, where they condense. Condensation takes place violently,
accompanied by a tremendous increase in pressure, which has the character of
water hammer blows. These impact follow each other in rapid succession, the vapor
bubbles bursting both in the immediate vicinity of the surface attacked and in the
pores causing cavitation pitting with many effecting.
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 8- The Affinity Law

References:
1-Larry Bachus and Angel Custodio, (2003). Know and Understand Centrifugal Pumps.
2-Val S. Lobanoff Robert R. Ross, (1992). Centrifugal Pumps - Design and Application (2 nd ed.)
3-Igor J. Karassik ,oseph P. Messina,Paul Cooper and Charles C. Heald,2001. Pump Handbook(3 rd ed)

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