Exp.No:.............. Date......./....../........

RECIPROCATING PUMP
AIM

To conduct a performance test in the given Reciprocating pump and find

out the maximum efficiency of the pump, and plot the following graphs
1. Total head Vs Actual discharge
2. Efficiency Vs Actual discharge
3. Input power Vs Actual discharge
APPARATUS

Reciprocating pump with vacuum and pressure gauges,

stopwatch, meter scale, etc.
THEORY

Reciprocating pump is a positive displacement pump. In this the pressure

of the liquid is increased by the to and fro motion of a piston inside the cylinder.
Total head, (H) = Suction head (Hs) + Delivery head, (Hd) + Z
H = Hs + Hd + Z
Where, Hs = Vacuum gauge pressure reading in m of water.
Hd = Delivery pressure gauge in m of water.

Z = Difference in height of pressure and vacuum gauge points

Nr
Input power, Pi = x
60 x 60
x efficiency of motor (ηm =0.8) in kW
Ne t

Where,
Nr = No of revolution of energy meter disc. (5 revolutions)
Ne = Energy meter constant in rev/kWhr.
t = Time taken for 5 revolution of disc in energy meter.
Output power, Po = (ω × Qa × H )/ 1000 in kW
Where, ω = Specific weight of water (9810 N/m3).
Qa = Actual discharge in m3/s.
H = Total head in m.
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS (Set No: …….)
1. CALCULATION OF TOTAL HEAD
Total Head, H = Hs + Hd + Z m
Where, Hs = Suction head
= ................................................. mm of Hg
=.............................................. m of water

=. ................................................ m of water
Hd = Delivery head
= .................................................kg/cm2
= (kg/cm2) x 10 m of water
= ..............................................
= .................................................m of water
Difference in height of pressure
and vacuum gauge, Z =
Total Head, H = ..............................................
= .................................................m

2. CALCULATION OF ACTUAL DISCHARGE

Actual discharge, Qa = (A x y) / t m3/s
Where, A = Area of collecting tank in m2
=LxB
L = Length of collecting tank in m
= .................................................cm
= .................................................m
B = Breadth of collecting tank in m
= .................................................cm
= .................................................m
A = ..............................................
= .................................................m2
 Axy
Actual discharge, Qa = m3/s
t

Where,
A = Cross sectional area of the collecting tank in m2.
y = Rise of water in collecting tank in m.
t = Time taken for ‘y’ rise in collecting tank in s.
Efficiency of the Reciprocating pump, ƞ = Po ×100 in %.
Pi

PROCEDURE
1. Open the delivery valve and switch on the motor.
2. When the flow becomes steady, note the time for 5 cm of water to rise in
the collecting tank to find the actual discharge.
3. Also note the time taken for 5 revolution of energy meter disc to
determine input power to the pump.
4. For calculating the total head, note down the readings on suction and
delivery pressure gauges of the pump.
5. Repeat these steps for different discharges by varying the delivery valve
opening from zero to maximum and in all these cases measure these
quantities.
6. After tabulating all the readings, plot the required graphs.
 y = Rise of water in collecting tank in m
= .................................................cm
= .................................................m

t = Time taken for ‘y’ rise in collecting tank

= .................................................s
Actual discharge, Qa = ..............................................
= .................................................m3/s

3. CALCULATION OF INPUT POWER

ࡺ࢘ ૜૟૙૙
Input power, Pi = X X ηm
ࡺࢋ ࢚

Where, Nr = No of revolution of energy meter disc

= ..............................................
Ne = Energy meter constant in rev/kWh
= ................................................. rev/kWh
t = Time taken for 5 revolution of disc
= .................................................s
ηm =…………………………
Input power, Pi = ..............................................
= .................................................kW

4. CALCULATION OF OUTPUT POWER

Output power, Po = (ω Qa H/1000) kW
Where, ω = Specific weight of water in N/m3
= 9810 N/m3
Qa = Actual Discharge
= .................................................m3/s
H = Total head
=