UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEHB221 - FLUIDS MECHANICS LAB

Experiment No. 7

PUMP PERFORMANCE - SINGLE PUMP

AUTHOR : Kemal Vekiloglu

SID : ME088669

SECTION : 01

GROUP :C

INSTRUCTOR : Ms. Siti Sarah

Performed Date Due Date* Submitted Date

2/7/2013 16/7/2013 16/7/2013
*Late submission penalty: Late 1 day: 10%, Late 2 days: 20%, Late 3 days: 30%, More than 3 days: 50%
 Table 1: Single pump operation with variable flowrate.

Pump
Flowrate Power PT3- Flowrate Power
Speed PT1 PT3 head
Q (pump) PT1 Q (fluid) Efficiency [%]
[RPM] [bar] [bar] H
[LPM] [Watt] [bar] [m3/s] [Watt]
[m]
49.6 2008 247.6 1 1.9 0.9 9.18 8.267x10^-4 74.45 30.07
60.8 2000 259.6 1 1.8 0.8 8.16 1.013x10^-3 81.09 31.23
70.3 1985 263.7 1 1.7 0.7 7.14 1.172x10^-3 82.09 31.13
80.5 1982 264.4 0.9 1.6 0.7 7.14 1.342x10^-3 93.99 35.55
90.6 1977 268.3 0.9 1.5 0.6 6.12 1.510x10^-3 90.65 33.79
100.7 1985 278.9 0.9 1.2 0.3 3.06 1.678x10^-3 50.37 18.6
110.3 1992 269.8 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04 1.838x10^-3 36.78 13.63

Table 2: Single pump operation with variable pump speeds.

Flowrate Power Pump head

Speed PT1 PT3 PT3 - PT1
Q (pump) H
(RPM) [bar] [bar] [bar]
(LPM) [Watt] [m]
2103 113.5 314.8 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
2004 108.3 285.9 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
1905 103.9 228.4 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
1801 95.8 197.8 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
1703 91.6 159.9 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
1602 85.5 139.5 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
1503 79.6 101.5 0.9 1.1 0.2 2.04
1401 73.5 84.3 1.0 1.1 0.1 1.02
Graph 1:

Pump head vs Flowrate

10
9
8
Pump head, H(m)

7
6
5
4 Flowrate Q [m3/s]
3 Pump head H [m]
2
1
0
0.002 2.002 4.002 6.002 8.002 10.002
Flowrate,Q(m^3/s)

Graph 2:

Efficiency vs Flowrate
40.001
35.001
30.001
Efficiency,%

25.001
20.001
Efficiency [%]
15.001
Flowrate Q [m3/s]
10.001
5.001
0.001
0.007 2.007 4.007 6.007 8.007
Flowrate,Q(m^3/s)
Graph 3:

Flowrate vs Pump speed

2500

2000
Pump speed ,(RPM)

1500

1000 Speed (RPM)

Flowrate Q (LPM)
500

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Flowrate,Q(LPM)

Graph 4:

Pump head vs Pump speed

2500

2000
Speed (RPM)

1500

1000 Pump head H

Speed (RPM)
500

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Pump head,H(m)
7.0 Discussions

Pumps are devices that transfer mechanical energy from a prime mover into fluid
energy to produce the flow of liquids. The same functions go to the centrifugal pump that
we used in this experiment. When the prime mover rotates the driveshaft, the impeller fluid
is drawn in axially through the center opening of the housing. The fluid then flows radially
outward. As energy is added to the fluid by the rotating blades (centrifugal action and actual
blade force), the pressure and velocity increase until the fluid reaches the outer tip of the
impeller. The fluid then enters the volute-shaped housing whose increased flow area causes
the velocity to decrease. This action results in a decrease in kinetic energy and an
accompanying increase in pressure. In this stage, a portion of the energy goes into kinetic
energy of the fluid motion, and some into potential energy, represented by fluid pressure or
by lifting the fluid, against gravity, to a higher altitude.

First we look at the graphs for variable flow rate case. Based on the graphs obtained
for pump head versus flow rate (graph 1), the shape of the graph shows that the pump head is
inversely proportional to the flow rate. When look at the graph of efficiency versus flow rate
(graph 2), the results shows that the efficiency of the pump is decreases when the flow rate
increasing.

Now we look at the graph for variable pump speed case. Graph of flow rate versus
pump speed (graph 3) shows that pump speed is linearly proportional to the flow rate. When
look at the graph of pump head versus pump speed (graph 4), the graph is remains constant.

Possible Sources of Errors

a) Human error when taking readings.

b) Obtained zero error in the equipment.
c) Parallax error and fluctuating errors when taking readings.

Safety Precautions

a) Make sure the all the switches were turned off after the experiment.
b) Avoid any contact with the pumps when it is on use.
8.0 Conclusions

As a conclusion and as for the objective of the experiment, the study of the
characteristics of single pump operation with variable flow rate and pump speeds were
achieved. The pump efficiency, pump power and head pump can be defined by using
different speed of pump and also which a different of flow rate. The pump head is
inversely proportional to the flow rate. Similarly, the graph of efficiency versus flow rate
shows that the efficiency inversely proportional to the flow rate. These two conditions are
for the variable flow rate case. When look at the variable pump speed case, the flow rate
linearly proportional to the flow rate while the graph of pump head pump versus pump
speed is remains constant. Although the results that we obtained in this experiment might
be inaccurate due to some certain errors that occur during the experiment, it was acceptable
as we are still able to achieve the objective of this experiment.

9.0 References

a. Book

 Thermo-Fluid Lab Manual (Experiment 7) 


 Thermo-Fluid Mechanics Lab Prelab (Experiment 7) 

 Munson, Young & Okishi, John Wiley & Sons. 2006. Fundamentals of Fluid
Mechanics. 5th Edition. 




b. Internet

 Learning about centrifugal pumps. 2012.

http://www.mcnallyinstitute.com/home- html/Learning_about_pumps.html 


 Centrifugal Pump Theory, Analysis and Perfomance, 2008.
http://accessengineeringlibrary.com/browse/pump-handbook-fourth-edition. 
10.0 Appendices

Figure 1 : Pump Test Rig