CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018

9. NEEDLE VALVE AND CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

Marks:
Experiment done on: 14/08/2018

100
Report submitted on: 21/08/2018

For Instructors use only:

No Section Max. Marks Marks

1 Introduction / background theory

2 Experimental details: materials and methods

3 Experimental observations; Raw data -

4 Sample calculations

5 Results, discussion and conclusions

7 Suggestions for improvement

8 Overall formatting & References

Total

Batch: B (Tuesday)
Group: B8
Name Roll Number

N.Sai Krishna CH16B105

A.Siddharth CH16B106
Chakane Mangesh Rajendra CH16B109
Mohd Faisal CH16B110

1
 CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018

AIM
• To study the internal structure and working of a centrifugal pump.
• To study the internal structure and working of a needle valve.

EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
Materials
● Open End Spanner
● Ring Spanner
● Ruler
● Wire
● Wrench
● Needle Valve
● Motor with inlet and outlet pipe
● Screw driver
INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND THEORY

Needle Valve
A needle valve is used to make relatively fine adjustments in the amount of fluid flow. The
distinguishing characteristic of a needle valve is the long, tapered, needle-like point on the end of
the valve stem. This "needle" acts as a disk. The longer part of the needle is smaller than the orifice
in the valve seat and passes through the orifice before the needle seats. This arrangement permits
a very gradual increase or decrease in the size of the opening. Needle valves are often used as
component parts of other, more complicated valves. For example, they are used in some types of
reducing valves.

2
 CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018

Design:
A typical Needle valve design features a tapered pin to gradually open a space for fine control of
flow, which can be controlled and regulated with a spindle. A needle valve has a relatively small
orifice with a long, tapered seat, and a needle-shaped plunger on the end of a screw, which fits the
seat exactly.
As the screw is turned and the plunger retracted, flow between the seat and the plunger is possible.
However, until the plunger is completely retracted, the fluid flow is significantly impeded. Since it
takes many turns of the fine-threaded screw to retract the plunger, precise regulation of the flow
rate is possible.

APPLICATIONS:
• Needle valves are used to control flow in delicate gauges, which might be damaged by sudden
surges of fluid under pressure. They are also used in situations where the flow must be gradually
halted, and where precise adjustments of flow are necessary or where a small flow rate is desired.
• Needle valves can also be used as on/off valves or for throttling service. They are also ideal in
vacuum systems, when a precise control of gas flow is required, at low pressure, such as when
filling gas-filled vacuum tubes, gas lasers and similar devices.
• Most constant pressure pump governors have needle valves to minimize the effects of
fluctuations in pump discharge pressure. Needle valves are also used in some components of
automatic combustion control systems where very precise flow regulation is necessary.
• Needle valves are usually used in flow-metering applications.
• Needle valves are also commonly used to provide shut off for the pressure gauge.

3
 CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018

• On applicators to shut off the supply of NH3 to the knives in Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3)
applications.
• Since the orifice is small and the force advantage of the fine-threaded stem is high, needle valves
are usually easy to shut off completely, with merely "finger-tight" pressure.
• Small, simple needle valves are often used as bleed valves in water-heating applications.

Pumps
The liquids used in the chemical industries differ considerably in physical and chemical properties,
and it has been necessary to develop a wide variety of pumping equipment.
The two main types being:
● Positive displacement type
● Centrifugal Pumps.
In the former, the volume of liquid delivered is directly related to the displacement of the piston
and therefore increases directly with speed and is not appreciably influenced by the pressure. This
group includes the reciprocating piston pump and the rotary gear pump, both of which are
commonly used for delivery against high pressures and where nearly constant delivery rates are
required.
In the centrifugal type a high kinetic energy is imparted to the liquid, which is then converted as
efficiently as possible into pressure energy.
Centrifugal Pumps
The centrifugal pump is by far the most widely used type in the chemical and petroleum industries.
It will pump liquids with very wide-ranging properties and suspensions with a high solids content
including, The fluid is fed to the centre of a rotating impeller and is thrown outward by centrifugal
action. As a result of the high speed of rotation the liquid acquires a high kinetic energy and the
pressure difference between the suction and delivery sides arises from the interconversion of
kinetic and pressure energy.
Impeller:
The impeller consists of a series of curved vanes so shaped that the flow within the pump is as
smooth as possible. The greater the number of vanes on the impeller, the greater is the control over
the direction of motion of the liquid and hence the smaller are the losses due to turbulence and
circulation between the vanes. In the open impeller, the vanes are fixed to a central hub, whereas
in the closed type the vanes are held between two supporting plates and leakage across the impeller
is reduced. As will be seen later, the angle of the tips of the blades very largely determines the
operating characteristics of the pump.

4
 CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018

Impellers

The liquid enters the casing of the pump, normally in an axial direction, and is picked up by the vanes
of the impeller. In the simple type of centrifugal pump, the liquid discharges into a volute, a chamber
of gradually increasing cross-section with a tangential outlet,
A volute type of pump is shown in Figure. In the turbine pump the liquid flows from the moving
vanes of the impeller through a series of fixed vanes forming a diffusion ring. This gives a more
gradual change in direction to the fluid and more efficient conversion of kinetic energy into pressure
energy than is obtained with the volute type.

It is apparent, therefore, that the required vane angle in the diffuser is dependent on the
throughout, the speed of rotation, and the angle of the impeller blades. The pump will therefore
operate at maximum efficiency only over a narrow range of conditions.

5
 CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018

Advantages:
• Steady delivery [uniform flow]
• Can handles all types of fluids
• Can be mounted horizontally or vertically
Disadvantages:
• Reduced performance when handling viscous fluids.
• Can only handle small amounts of gases in liquids.
• Not effective for high velocities, but multi-stage configuration is expensive.

EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
Needle valve:
• The needle valve was dismantled and each of its parts was investigated. This led to a clear
understanding of its inner structure.
• Opening the valve made the flow control application easier to understand.
• It was observed that the valve can work both ways, but it is advised to be used in a particular
direction as using it in the opposite way makes it susceptible to damage. (Caused due to the
larger pressure build-up which in turn leads to leaking of fluid).
• The tightening mechanism of the needle was observed.
Centrifugal Pump:
• The impeller shape was observed
• The position of inlet and outlet of the pumps was observed. The movement of fluid during
functioning was understood.
• Observed the shape of the inner casing of the pump. It was observed that the casing broadens
towards the outlet to build up pressure.
• Observed the waterproofing gasket.
PRECAUTIONS:
• Care must be taken while dismantling the pump as some parts tend to be heavy and can lead to
injury if dropped on the foot.
• The screws being loosened must be kept track of.
REFERENCES:
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_valve.
● www.coursehero.com
● www.slideshare.net
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrifugal_pump

6
CH3520: Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory-1, Aug-Nov 2018