CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS CHARACTERISTICS

1 GOALS
This paper presents the experimental procedure used to establish the internal characteristic for a
centrifugal pump. The pumps are hydraulic generators that are working with liquids. In this way,
they transform mechanical energy supplied by an electrical motor in hydraulic energy. Generaly
speaking, between inlet and outlet, there will be an increase of pressure.
2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Centrifugal pumps consist substantially of one or several impellers rotating in a suitably shaped
casing. In single stage pumps (see figure 1) a single impeller 1 rotates in a casing 2 of spiral or
volute form, whilst in multistage pumps two or more impellers are fitted to a common shaft. Fluid
enters the impeller axially through the eye, the flow continuing radially and discharging around the
entire circumference into the casing. In passing through the impeller the fluid receives energy from
vanes 3 incorporated in the impeller, resulting in an increase of both pressure and velocity. The
kinetic energy of the fluid leaving the impeller is partially transformed into pressure inside the
casing.

Fig. 1 Single stage, single inlet centrifugal pump

According to requirements, a variety of pump designs exist in practice such as single and double
suction pumps, turbine pumps, mixed flow pumps, and so on. If diffuser vanes 4 surround the
impeller, we speak of turbine pumps probably because its construction is similar to that of turbines
having guide vanes. The function of the diffuser is to guide the fluid, whereas in volute type pumps
the fluid, after leaving the impeller, discharges freely into the casing. In double inlet pumps (see
figure 11.2), fluid enters from two sides as if two impellers were placed back to back, thus doubling
discharge for the same head.
1

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

3 PUMP CHARACTERISTICS. DESIGN POINT

Pump characteristics (curves) generally relate to the performance of a pump under varying
conditions. Usually, lift (also called pressure head) H , power P (useful and consumed) and
efficiency are plotted against discharge Q for a constant speed.
A typical set of curves is shown in Figure 2. It appears that lift H decreases and power
consumption Pc increases with increasing discharge. The overall efficiency increases from zero to
a maximum value, then decreases again. The value of the design discharge Qd and the design lift

H d are corresponding for efficiency peak (design point).

Fig. 2 Pump characteristics

Pump pressure head, represents the change of liquid specific energy difference between the outlet

" o" and inlet " i" section of the pump:

H = eo e i =

o2 i2 p o pi
+
+ (zo zi ) [m]
g
2g

(1)

Useful or hydraulic power Pu is computed with the Equation:

Pu = Q H [W]

(2)

It represents the part of the consumed power Pc (the power at pump shaft) converted in hydraulic
(useful) power.

Pc = M [W]
where:

angular speed of the impeller;

torque at the pump shaft.

(3)

In this way, the overall efficiency can be written as:

Pu
[-]
Pc

Generally, the pump characteristics are determined experimentally.

2

(4)

Fig. 3 3D view of the experimental set-up

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

The laboratory principle

The installation (see Figure 3), is composed of: water tank 1 with the discharge pipeline DP,
centrifugal pumps 2, 4, put in action by the electric motors 3, 5 and the pipeline network 6. Also, we
have represented the experimental set-up 8 of the action forces of a water jet on solid surfaces (for
details see laboratory Acting Force on Different Shaped Solid Surfaces).
For this practical work it will be used the centrifugal pump 2, its electric motor being connected to
the power network through the watt-metric bridge 7.
According to relation (1), in order to compute the head pump H, is necessary to know the water
parameters in the pump entry section, respectively in the pump exit section.
The mean velocities in the two calculus sections are determined with the discharge equation for
incompressible fluids:

i ,o =
Q=
where t

4Q

d i2,o

[m/s],

V
[m3/s],
t

(5)
(6)

is the necessary time for passing of the volume V (pre-established) of water

through flow meter CV. For used pump the two characteristics diameters are equal, so the
corresponding speeds are equal too.
The pressure in the inlet section pi is measured using a manovacuumeter M1, and in the outlet
section po with a manometer M2.
Experimental procedure

Check if the water level from tank 1 exceeds the exit section of the return pipeline.

Check the pipeline networks valves: for this work V1, V2, V4, V5 must be closed and V3 and
V6 open; for parallel coupling of the pumps V2, V4, V5 must be closed and V1, V3 and V6
open; for series coupling V1, V4, V5 must be closed and V2, V3 and V6 opened.

Start the installation; are done measurements at the two manometers and at the wattmetric
bridge;

Open tap V1 establishing a flowing regime; is timed t in which a pre-established water

volume V , passes through the flow meter; simultaneously, are made readings at the
manometers and at the wattmetric bridge;

Are repeated the previous operations for at least six flowing regimes; the installation is
stopped;

Compute the discharge (flow rates) Q with equation (6), the velocities v i = v o with relation (5)
for d i = d o = 50 mm , head pump H with equationn (1) for zo - zi = 0.57 m and the useful
powers Pu with equation (2).

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

Is determined the consumed power Pc as function of the electric power in the network Pe
indicated by wattmeter, according to the dependency Pc = f (Pe ), shown in figure 4 and is
computed the pump efficiency with the equation (4);

Are plotted the pump characteristic curves.

Fig. 4 Dependency Pc = f(Pe ),

Table 1

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

V
[m3]
-

t
[s]
-

pi
[kgf/cm2]

po
[kgf/cm2]

Pe
[W]

Table 2

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

i = o

pi

po

[m3/s]
0

[m/s]
0

[N/m2]

[N/m2]

po pi
g
[m]

Pu

Pc

[m]

[kW]
0

[kW]

[-]
0