INTRODUCTION

Centrifugal pumps are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing

turbomachinery. Centrifugal pumps are used to transport fluids by the conversion of
rotational kinetic energy to the hydrodynamic energy of the fluid flow. The rotational
energy typically comes from an engine or electric motor. The fluid enters the pump
impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing
radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber (casing), from where it exits. [1]

Common uses include water, sewage, petroleum and petrochemical pumping; a

centrifugal fan is commonly used to implement a vacuum cleaner. The reverse
function of the centrifugal pump is a water turbine converting potential energy of
water pressure into mechanical rotational energy. [2]

Like most pumps, a centrifugal pump converts rotational energy, often from a
motor, to energy in a moving fluid. A portion of the energy goes into kinetic energy of
the fluid. Fluid enters axially through eye of the casing, is caught up in the impeller
blades, and is whirled tangentially and radially outward until it leaves through all
circumferential parts of the impeller into the diffuser part of the casing. The fluid
gains both velocity and pressure while passing through the impeller. The
doughnut-shaped diffuser, or scroll, section of the casing decelerates the flow and
further increases the pressure. [3] Figure below shows the part for the centrifugal
pump.

Figure 1: Centrifugal pump part.

1
OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment are to determine the relationship between speed,
torque, flow rate and pressure in a centrifugal pump. And also the relationship
between efficiency and flow rate in a centrifugal pump is also to be determined.

THEORY

A consequence of Newtons second law of mechanics is the conservation of the

angular momentum (or the moment of momentum) which is of fundamental
significance to all turbomachines. Accordingly, the change of the angular momentum
is equal to the sum of the external moments. Angular momentums Qrcu at inlet
and outlet, an external torque M and friction moments due to shear stresses M are
acting on an impeller or a diffuser.

Details of such turbomachinery analysis will be discussed in a separate article.

Here Q is the flow rate and V theta represents tangential velocity component of flow.
From here we can find whats the head rise in meters of fluid. Please note that this is
energy head rise. It comprises of both pressure head and velocity head.

For a centrifugal pump, inlet velocity will be parallel to radius. So tangential

component of velocity at inlet is zero.

Outlet blade angle beta can be derived in terms of velocities.

Also flow rate through impeller is given as flow area times radial velocity.

2
 So head rise in a centrifugal pump, can be derived in terms of flow rate.

Using this equation, we can predict whats the head rise, as we change the flow
rate for particular pump geometry and for a particular impeller angular velocity. Most
important parameter in this equation is, blade outlet angle, beta. There can be 3
different pump characteristics depending upon value of this angle.

APPARATUS

LS-18022 Centrifugal Pump Trainer.

2

10

9 3

6
7
5

Figure 2: Centrifugal pump trainer

1. Reservoir Tank
2. Flow Meter
3. Flow Regulator
4. Pressure Gauge
5. Centrifugal Pump Motor
6. Transparent Pump Housing
7. Main Switch
8. Speed Controller
9. Flow Meter (LPM)
10. Torque Meter (Nm)

3
PROCEDURE

Experiment 1

1.The LS-18022 Centrifugal Pump Trainer was placed on a level table.

2.The mains switch (G) in front of the control panel was switched ON.

3.All digital meters (I, J) were reset to zero by pressing the UP button.

4.The flow regulator (C) was ensured to fully open.

5.The centrifugal pump was started.

6.The frequency of the motor was set to 25Hz.

Experiment 2

1.The LS-18022 Centrifugal Pump Trainer was placed on a level table.

2.The mains switch (G) in front of the control panel was switched ON.

3.All digital meters (I, J) were reset to zero by pressing the UP button.

4.The flow regulator (C) was ensured to fully open.

5.The centrifugal pump was started.

6.The speed of the shaft was set to 50Hz.

4
RESULTS

Experiment 1

Table 1: Values of Frequency, Speed, Torque, Flow rate and Pressure for Experiment 1

Frequency
25 30 35 40 45 50
(Hz)

Speed, N
1365 1638 1911 2184 2457 2730
(rpm)

Torque, T
0.20 0.22 0.26 0.26 0.30 0.30
(Nm)

Flow rate,
5 6 7 8 10 11
Q (lpm)

Flow rate,
8.33x10-5 1.00 x 10-4 1.17x10-4 1.33x10-4 1.67x10-4 1.83x10-4
Q (m3/s)

Pressure,
0.20 0.25 0.35 0.45 0.55 0.7
P (psi)

Pressure,
0.013 0.017 0.024 0.031 0.038 0.048
P (bar)

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Graph 1: Graph of Torque Flow Rate and Pressure in a function of Speed.

5
Experiment 2

Table 2: Values of Speed, Flow Rate, Torque, Input Power, Pressure, Output Power and
Efficiency for Experiment 2

Frequency
50
(Hz)
Speed, N
1638 1911 2184 2457 2730
(rpm)
Flow rate, Q
13 11 8 6 4
(lpm)
Flow rate, Q
2.17x10-4 1.83x10-4 1.33x10-4 1.00 x 10-4 6.67x10-5
(m3/s)

T (Nm) 0.30 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.25

Input
Power, Pi 94.247 87.964 84.823 81.681 78.539
(W)

P (psi) 0.68 0.69 0.71 0.73 0.75

P (bar) 0.0469 0.0476 0.0489 0.0503 0.0517

Output
Power, Po 638.631 502.664 352.277 255.060 166.034
(W)
Efficiency,
6.776 5.714 4.152 3.122 2.114
(%)

0
0 0.00005 0.0001 0.00015 0.0002 0.00025

Graph 2: Graph of Efficiency against Flow Rate

6
DISCUSSION

In centrifugal pumps, the head depends on the flow rate. The rotational speeds
directly affect the flow and the performance of the pump. Velocity in the passage of
the inducer rises with the increase of the rotational speed.

As the flow rate of the liquid flow increases, the pump performance will tend to
be higher. This is due to the increase in performance by the blades causing the pump
head rise to increase.

Depending on the Reynolds number, the flow passing through a pipe shows
specific, typical flow patterns with different physical properties. Low Reynolds
number flows have lower performance, and as the Reynolds number is increased, the
performance of the pump performance increase that is representative of all high
Reynolds number flows. For all high Reynolds numbers flows, the performance did
scale very effectively. Comparison of the flows with the same Reynolds number, but
different viscosity working fluids can affect to different performance. This
demonstrates that viscous effects are also important.

Firstly, is by creating a resistance to the flow to control the kinetic energy of a

liquid coming out of an impeller. Secondly is by using head instead of pressure to
enable the measuring of a centrifugal pump's energy. Total head is related to the
discharge pressure of the pump. Pump manufacturers do not use discharge pressure as
criteria for pump selection. The discharge pressure depends on the pressure available
on the suction side of the pump. If the source of water for the pump is below or above
the pump suction, for the same flow rate it will be a different discharge pressure. The
amount of pressure that a pump can produce will depend on the density of the fluid,
for example a salt water solution which is denser than pure water, the pressure will be
higher for the same flow rate.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we managed to determine the relationship between speed, torque,

flow rate and pressure in a centrifugal pump. And also we had learned the relationship
between efficiency and flow rate in a centrifugal pump is also to be determined.

7
REFERENCE

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrifugal_pump

2. http://www.learnengineering.org/2013/03/centrifugal-pump.html

3. https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pumps-power-d_505.html

APPENDIX

Can be refer to appendix 1 (experimental result table).