Effect of acceleration and friction on indicator diagram of reciprocating pump

As we have discussed in our previous post that the ideal indicator diagram of reciprocating pump will be
basically a graph between the absolute pressure head in the cylinder and stroke length of the piston for one
complete revolution.

Now we must note it here that we have not considered the effect of acceleration during drawing the ideal
indicator diagram of reciprocating pump. Once we will consider the effect of acceleration then the graph will
be changed.

We will see here how the ideal indicator diagram will be changed after considering the effect of acceleration
and friction in suction and delivery pipes.

Following figure, shown here, indicates the reciprocating pump.

Therefore, absolute pressure head will be taken as ordinate and stroke length will be taken as abscissa as
displayed here in following figure.

Let us see here, in following figure, effect of acceleration and friction on indicator diagram of reciprocating
pump.

Where,
Hatm = Atmospheric pressure head
L = Length of stroke
hs = Suction head or vertical height of the cylinder axis from the water surface in the sump
hd = Delivery head or vertical height of delivery point from the cylinder axis
has = Pressure head due to acceleration in the suction pipe
had = Pressure head due to acceleration in the delivery pipe

When piston will execute the reciprocating motion within the tight fit cylinder, it will have acceleration and
deceleration or retardation. Reciprocating movement of piston within the cylinder will be executed by the
connecting rod and crank mechanism.

The connecting rod will be much larger than the crank and the reciprocating movement of piston within the
cylinder could be assumed as simple harmonic motion. So, we can consider that piston will execute the
simple harmonic motion within the cylinder and there will be acceleration and deceleration or retardation.

Therefore, pressure inside the cylinder will not be constant, as in idle case where we were not considering
the effect of acceleration, during the suction and delivery stroke. Pressure inside the cylinder will be
changing during suction and delivery stroke.

Effect of acceleration and friction during suction stroke

Now we will first see here the suction stroke. At the time of starting of suction stroke i.e. when piston will
start to move from inner dead center to towards outer dead center, liquid will have an acceleration and zero
velocity at inner dead center.

Velocity of liquid will be increasing and acceleration of liquid will be decreasing at the beginning of suction
stroke. Because of this acceleration, the suction head will be needed more as compared to the static lift hs.

Liquid velocity and acceleration in the cylinder and in the suction pipe line will be related to their cross-
sectional areas. As the cross-sectional area of suction pipe line will be less than the cross-sectional area of
cylinder, liquid velocity and acceleration in the suction pipe line will be more than the liquid velocity and
acceleration in the cylinder.

Liquid velocity and acceleration in the suction pipe line and in the cylinder will be dependent over the
velocity of the piston.

Therefore, at the beginning of suction stroke i.e. θ = 0, pressure head inside the cylinder will be more than
the static lift hs and it will be equivalent to (hs + has) lower than the atmospheric pressure head as shown in
above figure by EA'.

As we have discussed that Velocity of liquid will be increasing and acceleration of liquid will be decreasing
at the beginning of suction stroke. At the middle of suction stroke i.e. when crank will be rotated by angle θ =
900, velocity of liquid will be maximum and acceleration of liquid will be zero.

Therefore, at the middle of suction stroke, pressure head inside the cylinder will be equivalent to static lift
which will be hs lower than the atmospheric pressure head as shown in above figure by point G'.

Further, velocity will be decreasing from its maximum value at the middle of suction stroke and it will come
to zero at the end of suction stroke.

As we have discussed above that at the middle of suction stroke, acceleration of liquid will be zero and
therefore further, deceleration or retardation will be started and it will be maximum at the end of suction
stroke.

Therefore, at the end of suction stroke i.e. θ = 1800, pressure head inside the cylinder will be equivalent to
(hs - has) lower than the atmospheric pressure head as shown in above figure by FB'.

Therefore, after considering the effect of acceleration in suction pipe, the head requirement during the
suction stroke will be modified in idle indicator diagram. The indicator diagram for suction stroke will be
now shown by A'G'B'.

As we know that there will be viscus losses in the suction pipe and in the cylinder. So, we will also consider
the effect of losses of head due to fluid friction.

As we know that viscus losses or loss of head due to fluid friction will be dependent over the liquid velocity.

Loss of head due to fluid friction, hf α V2

As we have seen above that velocity of liquid will be zero at inner dead center and outer dead center.
Therefore, loss of head due to fluid friction, hf will be zero at these two dead centers i.e. at inner dead center
and outer dead center.

We have also seen that velocity of liquid will be maximum at the middle of suction stroke. Therefore, loss of
head due to fluid friction, hf will be maximum at the middle of suction stroke.

Therefore, after considering the effect of acceleration and friction, the head requirement during the suction
stroke will be modified in idle indicator diagram. The indicator diagram for suction stroke will be now
shown by A'IB'.

Effect of acceleration and friction during delivery stroke

Similarly, at the beginning of delivery stroke, pressure head inside the cylinder will be more than the hd and
it will be equivalent to (hd + had) above the atmospheric pressure head as shown in above figure by FC'.

Velocity of liquid will be increasing and acceleration of liquid will be decreasing at the beginning of delivery
stroke. At the middle of delivery stroke, velocity of liquid will be maximum and acceleration of liquid will
be zero.

Therefore, at the middle of delivery stroke, pressure head inside the cylinder will be equivalent to hd above
the atmospheric pressure head as shown in above figure by point H'.

Further, velocity will be decreasing from its maximum value at the middle of delivery stroke and it will come
to zero at the end of delivery stroke.

As we have discussed above that at the middle of delivery stroke, acceleration of liquid will be zero and
therefore further, deceleration or retardation will be started and it will be maximum at the end of delivery
stroke.

Therefore, at the end of delivery stroke, pressure head inside the cylinder will be equivalent to (hd - had)
above the atmospheric pressure head as shown in above figure by ED'.

Therefore, after considering the effect of acceleration in delivery pipe, the head requirement during the
delivery stroke will be modified in idle indicator diagram. The indicator diagram for delivery stroke will be
now shown by D'H'C'.

As we know that there will be viscus losses in the delivery pipe and in the cylinder. So, we will also consider
the effect of losses of head due to fluid friction.

As we have seen above that velocity of liquid will be zero at inner dead center and outer dead center.
Therefore, loss of head due to fluid friction, hf will be zero at these two dead centers i.e. at inner dead center
and outer dead center.

We have also seen that velocity of liquid will be maximum at the middle of delivery stroke. Therefore, loss
of head due to fluid friction, hf will be maximum at the middle of delivery stroke.

Therefore, after considering the effect of acceleration and friction, the head requirement during the delivery
stroke will be modified in idle indicator diagram. The indicator diagram for delivery stroke will be now
shown by C'JD'.

Therefore, we have seen here the modification in the ideal indicator diagram of reciprocating pump after
considering the effect of acceleration and friction.

Ideal indicator diagram of reciprocating pump which was ABCDA is now modified to A'IB'C'JD'A after
considering the effect of acceleration and friction.