OBJECTIVES

To demonstrate pump performance when connected in series and

parallel
To show shut off point of pump in parallel and series.
To study about the fluid flow rate and efficiency in parallel and pump
series.
To determine required net head by solving energy equation in parallel
and pump series.

INTRODUCTION
A pump is a device to move fluid through mechanical action. Pumps
consume energy to perform mechanical work in order to move the fluid the
frictional force and gravitational force. A pump can serve to move liquid, as
in a cross country pipeline, to lift liquid as from a well or to the top of a tall
building; or to put fluid under pressure as in a hydraulic brake. In chemical
plants and refineries pumps transfer or circulate oil and a great variety of
fluids.
These two types of pumps have their own advantage and
disadvantage. In serial operation the heads of the pumps are added and in
parallel operation the flow rates (capacities) of the pumps are added. Shortly
said, pumps in series tend to increase head but pumps in parallel tend to
increase capacity.
EQUIPMENT

Pump in Series and Parallel Apparatus

PROCEDURE
For single pump:
1) Turn on valve 1 and 4.

Make sure valve 2 and 3 are closed. The

pressure reading were taken from pumps P1 and P2.

2) The volume flow rates were set to be 20, 40 ,60, 80 and 90 liter per
minute. Make sure the volume flow rate is set to 0 before taking
reading for different values of volume flow rate.
3) For each reading, two set of measurement were taken.
4) Average pressure reading from both sets were calculated and the
difference in the two pressure pumps was determined

For series pump:

3) Turn on valve 1, 3 and 4. Make sure valve 2 is closed. Take the pressure
reading from pumps P1, P3 and P4.
4) Repeat step 4-6 as for single pump.

For parallel pump:

3) Turn on valve 1,2 and 4. Make sure valve 3 is closed. Take the pressure
reading from pumps P1, P2 and P4.
4) Steps 4-6 as for single pump were repeated, but the volume flow rates
were set to be 40, 80, 120, 160 and 180 liter per minute.
RESULT
Single pump :
Volume

Pressure

Net Head

Pump

Average

Average

flow rate

Drop

loss

efficiency,

velocity

velocity

(L/min)

(kPa)

(m)

pump

(m/s)

pressure

20
40
60
80
90

152.72
131.35
119.97
106.18
96.53

15.57
13.39
12.23
10.82
9.84

0.14
0.23
0.32
0.38
0.39

0.68
1.36
2.04
2.72
3.06

(kPa)
103.85
178.64
244.74
288.81
295.38

Series pump :
Volume

Pressure

Net Head

Pump

Average

Average

flow rate

Drop

loss

efficiency,

velocity

velocity

(L/min)

(kPa)

(m)

pump

(m/s)

pressure

20
40
60
80
90

380.94
344.74
309.92
262.00
234.42

38.83
35.14
31.59
26.71
23.90

0.34
0.62
0.83
0.94
0.94

0.68
1.36
2.04
2.72
3.06

(kPa)
259.04
468.85
632.24
712.64
717.33

Parallel pump :
Volume

Pressure

Net Head

Pump

Average

Average

flow rate

Drop

loss

efficiency,

velocity

velocity

(L/min)

(kPa)

(m)

pump

(m/s)

pressure

1.36
2.72
4.07
5.43
6.11

(kPa)
231.15
403.21
540.17
636.45
663.48

40
80
120
160
180

169.96
148.24
132.72
117.21
108.59

17.33
15.11
13.53
11.95
11.07

0.30
0.53
0.71
0.84
0.87

CALCULATIONS
1 psi = 6.895 kPa
Diameter of pipe = 1 inch = 0.025m
SINGLE PUMP
Pressure drop :

P = 22.15 psi

6.895 kPa
1 psi
) = 152.72 kPa

Average velocity :

Vavg =

v
=
A

20

L
1 m3
1 min
(
)
min 1000 L 60 s
( 0.025 m )2
(
)
4

= 0.68 m/s

Head loss :
N
m2
1 kPa

( )
1000

hL =

P
g

152.72 kPa
=

1000

= 15.57 m

kg
m
1N
9.81 2 (
)
3
m
s 1 kgm
s2

)(

pump :

pump =

Vg h
bh p

)(

kg
m
1000 3 0.000333
s
m

average velocity pressure:

P = Vavg (P)
= 0.68 m/s (152.72 kPa)
= 103.85 kPa

)(9.81 ms )(15.57 m) =
2

0.37285 10 W

0.14

Volume flow rate vs Pressure drop

400.0000
300.0000
Single pump
Series pump

Pressure drop 200.0000

Parallel pump

100.0000
0.0000
0

50 100 150 200

volume flow rate

Volume flow rate vs Pump efficiency

1
0.8

pump efficiency

0.6

Single pump

0.4

Series pump
Parallel pump

0.2
0
0

50

100 150 200

volume flow rate

DISCUSSION
Through this experiment we can know which of the pumps is more
efficient. We also can know the advantage and the disadvantage of the
pumps. Pumps are important to provide mechanical work to the fluid to move
against the friction and gravitational force.

Based on the result that we obtained, we can see that the fluid flow
rate remain constant no matter what is the pipe diameter. The total net head
of pumps in series can be calculated by adding up of all pumps head. Usually
pump in series produces higher pressure than pump in parallel. Besides,
pump in parallel produces high volume of flow rate. In parallel pump, the
water going into each of the pumps is at exactly the same state and the
pump may be analyzed individually. What we can say that, as the volume
flow rate increases, the pressure also increase. The pressure drop when the
series pump is bigger than the pump in parallel.
Since the result showed that pump in series connection can increase
net head while pump in parallel can increase volume flow rate. Therefore, we
can say that parallel pump is much more efficient than the pump in series.
Among the safety precautions that should be taken are :In series operation, we can get greater discharge pressure. In all cases
we have to be very careful to have the correct safety interlocks to protect
the pumps from a malfunction of the other pump. Also, we have to be sure
the pumps have the necessary maximum operating pressure capability so
the first pump does not overpressure the second pump. Next, never operate
the pump when there is no liquid in the pipeline because it will cause
damage to the pump which may lead to the error. Other than that, never
operate the pump above its limit of operation.

CONCLUSION
Through this discussion we finally can demonstrate the pumps
performance when connected in parallel in series. We also finally know about
the fluid flow rate and efficiency in parallel and pump series. For series
pump, the total shutoff is the sum of each individual pump while in parallel
pump their individual flow rate is summed. The free delivery of the combined
pumps is equal to the sum of the free delivery of each individual pump. We

also can determine required net head by solving energy equation in parallel
and pump series. All in all, the objectives of this experiment are achieved.

REFERENCE
1) Lab Manual, Biotechnology Engineering Lab 2, BTE 2222
2) Cengel YA, Cimbala JM. Fluid mechanics third edition in SI units.McGraw
Hill Education. Chapter 5 and 8.
3) mimoza.marmara.edu.tr/~orhan.gokyay/enve311/ch7.pdf
4) http://www.alicat.com/alicat-blog/accuracy-and-repeatability/whats-upwith-pressure-drop/