CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS -- OPERATIONS

66) What is the start up procedure of a Centrifugal pump?

1) Cheek : General readiness, Lubrication, cooling water
2)Rotate the shaft for free movement.
3)Cheek discharge valve closed.
4)Prime the pump and open the suction valve closed.
5) Start the pump – Cheek the direction of rotation – allow into attain full speed.
6)Cheek the pressure gauge to enure that the pump has developed pressure – It has
picked up suction.
7)Open the discharge valve gradually.
8)Cheek amperage.

67) Why should the pump be primed?

Centrifugal pump work well only when the casing is full of liquid . there fore all
gases must e vented out.

68)How primng is done ?

1) Top casing vent alone will be open and other drains shut.
2)Liquid will be filled in from;
a) suction line by creak opening suction valve .
b) Through the bybass line of the cheek valve in the discharge line.
c) Through the fleshing oil line where it I provided.

69)What privision is given for priming pumps in vacuum service?

Air, will be sucked in to the system ,if the vent is open to atmosphere . hence the
casing vent is connected back to the vapour space of the suction vessel to displace gases.

70)What is the special purpose of smell by pass valve around the discharge cheek
valve ?
There are waem up lines .with a mall flow throught pump in to the suction as spare
pump can always be in readiness.

71)What harm can be done for ahot pump. If the proper warming up is not carried
out?
Uneven expension of the pump elements will cause seizingof parts, it may lead to a
seal leak and also may result in rupture due to the thermal stress,.

72) Is pouring of cold water on ahot pump a desirable practice?

No it is dangerous, since the sudden contraction can cause damage.

73)Should the discharge valve be closed before starting the pump ?

 The intial load on the moter to but the pump into rotation is quite high to overcome
friction of the moving parts. If the discharge valve kept open open the moter can be over
loaded due to the liquid pumping also. So the general practice is to start the pump with
discharge valve closed.

73) What is the purpose of cheek valve ?

To prevent back flow in the event of the stoppage of the pump .The pump can rotate
in the revere direction if there I a back flow . which can lead to damage.

74) What is the shut down procedure of centrifugal pump?

Close discharge valve and stop the pump.

75) why some pumps are provided with fleshing oil connection?
Whan the liquid normally pumped is very heavy and viscous shutting down the pump
may cause congealing and plugging in suck cases ,a thin oil, (gas oil) is provided to flush
out the caing as soon as it is shutdown it should be kept hot by circulation of hot oil from
the discharge.

76) Why cooling water should not be shut off through a hot pump even it is only hot
spare?
The hot pumps are generally provided with cooling water to stuffing boxes and
pedestals. The water will get overheated and salts will deposits plugging the water lines.

RECIPROCATING PUMP
77) What is a reciprocate positive displacement pump?
It is a pump in which liquid displaced by the forward and backward motion of a
piston or plunger It is called positive displacement pump becaue once the liquid is
socked in ,it cannot go back to the suction and to be displaced with every stork to the
discharge .

78)What is the principle of reciprocating pump ?

The liquid is displaced from suction to discharge by amechanical variation of the
volume of the chamber.

79) where is this kind of the pump used?

Where a constant flow is required irrespective of the pressure downsteam a
reciprocating pump is used because they can develop high pressure and can give constant
flow ,if the speed is maintained.

CLASIFICATION

80) What are the two principal parts of reciprocating pump?

The pump and driver.
81)How the reciprocating pumps are classified?
a)respect to the driver == 1)direct aucting pump 2)power pump
b)Respect to the mede of discharge == 1)single aucting 2) Double aucting
c)Respect to the mode of number of cylinders == 1)Simplex pump 2)Duplex aucting
pump 3)Multiplex pump
d) Respect to the pumping clerence ==1)Piston type 2)Plenger type
e)Respect to intalation == 1) Horizontel 2)vertical

82)What is a direct acting pump?

A direct acting pump is the one the piston and driver are connected to a common
shaft. The source of power supply of power is usully steam (or) air.

83) What is a power pump?

In this case the pump is operated through the medium of a crank case and connecting
Rod, by an electric motor.

84) What is the difference between singe acting and double acting pumps ?
The delivery of the liquid takes place only at one end of the pump and only in one
direction of the stroke, in a singe acting pump.Where as in a double acting pump, there is
displacement of liquid at every stroke forward or reverse.

85) What is the different between a simplex and duplex pump (both direct acting
pump?
In a simplex pump there is one steam cylinder and one liquid cylinder.
Duplex pump there is two simplex pumps, set side by side and interconnected such
that the main piston rod of one pump operates the valverod of the other.

86) What is the difference between a plunger and piston pump?

The piston is shorter tha the stroke, Where as the plunger is longer.
With a piston, the seal rings are inlaid on itsrun inide the cylinder where as the
plunger is packed outside mostly.
The plunger pump can be desiged to develop higher pressures than with ordinary
piton pump.
Capacity in the piston pump is usually with the speed.(Number of stroke per
minute) Where as in a plunger type, it usually done by varying the strpke length.

87) What are the maor advantages of a power pump?

1. High efficiency, Almost 90 % at minimum cost of maintenance.
2. Ability to develop high pressure with out losing efficiency, even at small
capacities.
3. Simplicity and reliability.
 4. Good for vicous fluids.

PARTS & FUNCTIONS.

88) What are the maor parts of a direct acting pump?

1. Steam end
Cylinder
Piston & piston ring
Piston rod & packing
Slide valve and valve rod & packing
Steam chest
Steam inlet & exhaust
2. Liquid end
Cylinder
Piston ring & rod for piston type
Lever
Packing
Valves
Suction and discharge nozzles
Air chamber (sometimes)

89) What is the purpose of a gas chamber?

This is called as cushion chamber.
The flow rate of a reciprocating pump goes through a periodic variation. The
pulsation can be minimized. Considerably by the contraction and expansion of the gas
imside the chamber.Although it is more common to have only a discharge cushion
chamber, there are pump provided with both suction and discharge cushion chambers

90) What gas is used in the pulsation chamber?

1. Air for liquid where it I not a hazard
2. Nitrogen for all inflamable liquid.
3. The pumping liquid vaporized by steam jacket to form its own cushion.

91) What decides the size of the cushion chamber?

Pumps with smoother discharges requires proportionally maller gas chambers.
EX : A single acting simplex pump requires. Twice to the troke volume.
A Duplex double acting pump requires equal the stroke volume.
The size will be bigger for higher pressures.

92) Will the gas stay in gas chamber at all times? If not, How is it maintained?
1. No. There may be small leak. The liquid may absorb and camy away the gas
gradually. Therefore it will be necessary to recharge it periodically with the gas.
 2. If a bladder is used, direct contact between gas and liquid is avoided.Hence the loss
will be only on the account of leaks
.
93) What is the purpose of gas chamber in the suction lines?
They are used as suction stabilizers. A teady pressure prevents the suction liquid from
hammering at the cylinder valve and piping.

94) Suction chambers are normally used in what service?

In high speed and high pressure pumps.

PACKINGS
95)What is packings?
Material used to control leakage between the moving and stationary parts. It is.
1. Expandable for temperature variation.
2. Flexible to provide a tight seal or fit.
3. Soft to reduce wear
4. .
96) What is piston packings?
Ring made of cat iron with gap for expansion. Sometimes other material are ued
where a metallic ring I undersirable.
EX: Leather, Hard rubber, Fibre for corrosive liquids.

97) How pachings are lubricated?

Usually with its own liquid being pumped in which case a small leak will be
permitted. But if the liquid is hazardous or is a poor lubricant then and external source
may be used to lubricate; by using a lantern ring or grease cup or a drip oil lubricator or
forced feed system
FOUNDATION BOLTS
98)Why the steam end hold down bolts are kept purposefully lose?
As a provision for expansion.

VALVES
99) What are the different types of valves used to reciprocating pumps?
(a) Ball valve – Guided by cage wall.
(b) Disc valve – Spring and stem guided.
(c)Wing valve – Wing guided disc valve.
(d) Rollo or Bowl valve- Spring leaded.

100) What is the basis of the choice of valves?

Ball valve- Abrasive and viscous fluids – Less abstraction.
Rollo valve – Also with a spherical face but another operation with spring loaded
arrangements.
 Disc valve – For low & medium pressure service.
Wing valve – For high pressure (Beveled wing ) Synthetic inserts in double seated
likely to be rapid due to the type of fluid (thick & gritty

101) Are suction and discharge valves are different?

No. They are usually the same type.

102) How are they installed?

They open only in one direction like non – return valve . The sucton valve opens into
the cylinder and discharge valve opens into the discharge line.

103) How are the suction and discharge valve designed or difference in their
pressure?
If valve are the same then the springs a heavier on the discharge side.

104) Is a check valve desirable on the discharge of a reciprocating pump ?

It is not essential but a cheek valve may avoid unnecessary pressure on the pump
valves when the pump is idle .

CHARECTERTICS SUCTION
105) Can the pump sucks fluid from a lower level ?
No machine or device can suck fluid from a level , it can lower the pressur with in
the cylinder . So that the atmospheric pressur can push the liquid up/

106) What is the maximum practical suction lift?

The maximum theroretical lift is about 10 meter or 34 feet of water equal to the
atmospheric pressure but due to pressure loss in valves ones stainerstetc, the practical lift
isles then theoretical .an average pump can operate on a suction lift 22 feet or 6.5 meter.

107) How does NPSH affect the perfomance of the pump?

The available NPSH should be higher then the required NPSH.Otherwise the pump
will get vapour locked.

108) Should there be a stainer on the suction on the pump?

Yes, This will prevent forgen boides entering the cylinders and causing damage
to the internal parts.

109) Is a foot valve desirable?

Yes, especially if the suction lift high.

PRESSURE
110) Why control valves are not desirable on the discharge of the reciprocating
pump?
Since they are positive displacement pumps any inadvertent closing of the control
valve can cause a high pressure to devolope and will result in damage if not stalled.

111)what factor govern the maximum pressure?

Avilable steam pressure ,,
Ratio of steam and liquid piston area ,,
Operating speed,
Exhaust pressure and suction pressure.

111) How much pressure can a reciprocating pump develop?

It depends on the driver.
a)In a steam direct aucting pump the product of area and pressure will e equal at
both ends. In other words, if the steam piton area is more the liquid piston area the pump
can develop a higher pressure than steam pressure.
b)A power pump can develop much higher pressure than the pump is rated to
handle.

112)How much pressure the discharge of a reciprocating pump will develop in a

system?
This will depend upon the back pressure of the discharge system.

113) Is it neccsary to have a safety valve on the discharge of a reciprocating pump?

Yes, even if the discharge valve is open ,it is possible that the discharge system is
blocked . due to wrong line up or chocked by dirt or congealing of the liquid .The
safety valve will release the pressure to auction.

CAPACITY
114) How the capacity is calculated?
3.14 r 2 h *n* 60 = M 3/ Hr
r =Radius of the cylinder in meter.
h =the stock lenth in meter ,
n = Number of stockes per minute.

115) Does variations in pressure affects the flow?

No, if the speed is maintained constant.

116) how is the flow controlled or regulated?

 In the case of the steam direct acting pump the flow is contrlled regulating the
speed .for this a control valve can be installed in the steam inlet line. Or the power pump
the speed is constant. There fore flow can be regulated by a by bass line with a pressure
control valve from discharge to suction.
Plunger pump flow regulated by 1)variable speed
2)variable stock
3)automatic by bass.

116) Why does the flow fluctuatp How is fluctuation reduced?

1)since the displacemeh=nt of liquid is the end of every other yoke the pulsation of
low is maximum in a single acting simplex pump.
2)The fluction is reduced in a single in simplex double acting and duplex double
acting pumps becase the flow is more continuous…
3)Instalation of pulsation on suction and discharge.

EFFICIENCY

117)How is efficiency determined ? what does depends on?

Efficiency == H .P X 100 / B.H.P
H.P is horse power output= wt .pounds per minitue (feet)33000.
Normel efficiency ofa Rceprocating pump is about 85% and varies
depending on condition like
a) viscosity of the fluid b)condition of the pump internals ,c) suction
line coditions d)discharge side pressure.