Lab J

Pump characteristics

Structure
Lab J1: There are two identical apparatuses; this group will carry out the whole experiment on
the first apparatus.
Lab J2: This group will carry out the whole experiment on the second apparatus.
Health, Safety and Environment
Before switching on any pump, check that the valves are open or closed as required for the test
and that the fluid can pass through the path expected and return to the tank.
Do not look into the stroboscope as the light may cause eye damage. If you are epileptic,
contact a demonstrator at the start of the laboratory session before using the stroboscope.
 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

1. Aim
The aim of this experiment is to identify the centrifugal pump characteristics in the systems of
a single pump, two pumps in series, and two pumps in parallel.

2. Theory
In the water industry, centrifugal pumps are designed to deliver a certain flowrate at a given
elevation, overcoming friction along the way. However, the flowrate a pump is capable of
delivering is dependent on the pressure it has to overcome in the piped system. For example, a
pump will provide its maximum flow to a horizontal pipe, but if the end elevation increases, the
resulting flow will be less; this relationship is non-linear. Also, the efficiency of the pump will
vary, again non-linearly, depending on the head / flow combination, but it will peak at what is
known as its Best Efficiency Point. Design therefore requires knowledge of pump characteristic
curves; the relationship of head, flow and efficiency. Pumps are also used in combination, so
an understanding of pump performance in series and parallel is also important.
The variables to be used are:
g acceleration due to gravity [m/s2]
hp pressure head [m] p2 delivery pressure [Pa]
 pump efficiency [%] p3 delivery pressure [Pa]
N pump speed [rpm] Q discharge [m3/s]
PI input power [W]  density of water [kg/m3]
PO output power [W] T torque [Nm]
p1 suction pressure [Pa]  angular velocity [rad/s]
Consider the pump is shown in Figure 1 below

Figure 1: A single pump

Applying Bernoulli’s equation to this pump gives

p v p v
+ +z +h = + +z
ρg 2g ρg 2g

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 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

Where h [𝑚] is the pump head, energy per unit weight of fluid added to the fluid by the pump,
and other symbols have their common meanings. Ignoring the difference between the two sides
on elevation and velocity, above equation becomes,
p −p ∆p
h = =
ρg ρg
The following then apply:
Pump pressure rise: Dp =pout -pin
Pump speed: ω = 2π N / 60
Rotating body power (input), PI [W]: PI = T ω
Hydraulic power (output), PO [W]: P O = ρ g hp Q
Pump efficiency,  [%]: η = PO / PI
𝑔
Pump discharge Q[m /s]: 𝑄 = 2𝜋𝑟𝑏 𝑈 − ℎ tan(𝛽) ∗
𝑈
𝑔
Hydraulic power (output) 𝑃 [W]: 𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ 𝑄 = 2𝜋𝑟𝑏𝜌𝑔 tan(𝛽) ∙ ℎ 𝑈 −ℎ ∗
𝑈
*See EN2104 Thermofluids 2, Pumps section for more details. The model can be used for
discussion on your characteristics (curves) identified, though no calculation is expected
following the model.

3. Apparatus
The apparatus is as shown in Figure 2 below:

Figure 2: Centrifugal pump test rig

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 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

The apparatus comprises of two identical centrifugal pumps, together with two motors driving
each pump independently. The pumps draw water from the clear acrylic reservoir. The water
travels through a series of valves to be delivered to a flow measurement device. The water then
returns to the reservoir for re-use. There are pressure gauges fitted to the intake and delivery
pipes for measurements, and a visible display of inlet and outlet pressures of the pumps. The
adjustable inlet and delivery valves allow different operating conditions to be created.

4. Experimental procedure
Before you start experiments, preparing by doing the following:
1. Check that the water level in the water vessel is between the minimum and maximum
markers on the side of the vessel.
2. Check that the apparatus is connected to the electrical supply and that power is on.
3. Open all valves V1 to V5
4. Wait 20 seconds whilst the instrumentation auto tares.
5. On first use (or after a period of storage)
a. Switch on Pump 1 followed by Pump 2 and run for one or two minutes to fill the system
with water, flushing out all the air
b. Check the water level in the vessel and top up if necessary
c. Switch off Pump 2 then Pump 1.
d. Close all valves to leave the system primed.
6. To use the Stroboscope, set the flash rate to 2850 flashes per second and increase or
decrease the flash rate until the pump impeller appears to be stationary.

CAUTION: Do not use the stroboscope around explosive gas, vapor, or in damp or wet
environments. Do not use the stroboscope around personnel that are susceptible to
epileptic seizures (contact a demonstrator immediately if you suffer from epilepsy). Do not
look into the stroboscope as the light may cause eye damage.

7. The pump’s torque cannot be recorded, but it can be determined from data on the pump’s
information nameplate, which gives a power of 0.37 kW and a pump speed of 2850 rpm:
T = P /  = 30 P /(N) = 30 x 370 / (2850 x 3.14) = 1.24 Nm
This value applies for the pump operating at full capacity for unrestricted flow; assume this
will reduce linearly to around 1.0 Nm as flow tends to zero. Thus, the pump torque at pump
flow can be estimated using a linear interpolation on torque and flow.

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 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

4.1 Experiment 1: Pump performance characteristics (single pump)

To carry out the first experiment, follow these steps:
1. Set the valves on the apparatus for flow through Pump 1 only (see Figure 2 below) and start
the pump.
2. Record flow meter reading (l/m), Pump 1 inlet pressure p1 (bar), Pump 1 outlet pressure p2
(bar) and pump rotational speed (rpm) using a table drawn in your lab books (see Table 1
below). Typical initial values are Q = 81 l/m, p1 = -0.18 bar, p2 = 0.35 bar, N = 2892 rpm, with
T = 1.24 Nm for full flow.
3. Close the delivery valve V5 to increase the outlet pressure in 0.1 bar steps on p2.
4. Repeat steps 2 to 3 until valve V5 is nearly fully closed. Typical final values are Q = 18 l/m,
p1 = 0.00 bar, p2 = 1.4 bar, N = 2941 rpm, with T = 1.00 Nm for near-zero flow.
5. Switch off Pump 1 and close all valves.
6. Calculate torque at intermediate valve closures by assuming a uniform variation of torque
between 1.24 Nm at maximum flow and 1.00 Nm at near-zero flow.

Figure 2. Single pump test set-up

Table 1. Pump characteristics results table

OBSERVATIONS DATA CALCULATIONS
Flow Pressure Pump Pump Flow Power
Head Efficiency
Rate Inlet Outlet Speed torque rate Input Output
Q p1 p2 N T Q hp Pin Pout h
l/m bar bar rpm Nm l/s M W W %
… … … … 1.24 … … … … …
… … … … … … … … … …
More results here
… … … … … … … … … …
… … … … 1.00 … … … … …

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 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

4.2 Experiment 2: Pumps in series

To carry out the second experiment, follow these steps:
1. Set the valves on the apparatus for flow through Pumps 1 and 2 in series (see Figure 3
below) and switch on Pump 1 followed by Pump 2.
2. Record flow meter reading (l/m), Pump 1 inlet pressure p1 (bar), Pump 1 outlet pressure p2
(bar), and Pump 2 outlet pressure p3 (bar) using a table drawn in your lab books (see Table
2). Typical initial values are Q = 81 l/m, p1 = -0.22 bar, p2 = 0.18 bar, p3 = 0.40 bar.
3. Close the delivery valve V5 to increase the outlet pressure in 0.4 bar steps on p3.
4. Repeat steps 2 to 3 until valve V5 is nearly fully closed. Typical final values are Q = 10 l/m,
p1 = 0.00 bar, p2 = 1.5 bar, p3 = 2.8 bar.
5. Switch off Pump 2 then Pump 1 and close all valves.

Figure 3: Pumps in series set-up

Table 2: Pumps in series results table

OBSERVATIONS CALCULATIONS
Pressure Power
Flow rate Flow rate Head
Inlet Outlet Outlet output
Q p1 p2 p3 Q hp Pout
l/m Bar bar bar l/s M W
… … … … … … …
More results here
… … … … … … …

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 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

4.3 Experiment 3: Pumps in parallel

To carry out the second experiment, follow these steps:
1. Set the valves on the apparatus for flow through Pumps 1 and 2 in parallel (see figure 4)
and switch on Pump 1 followed by Pump 2.
2. On table 3, record flow meter reading (l/m), Pump 1 inlet pressure p1 (bar), Pump 1 outlet
pressure p2 (bar), and Pump 2 outlet pressure p3 (bar). Typical initial values are Q = 118
l/m, p1 = -0.08 bar, p2 = 0.82 bar, p3 = 0.63 bar.
3. Close the delivery valve V5 to increase the outlet pressure in 0.2 bar steps on p3.
4. Repeat steps 2 to 3 until valve V5 is nearly fully closed. Typical final values are Q = 21 l/m,
p1 = 0.00 bar, p2 = 1.39 bar, p3 = 1.40 bar.
5. Switch off Pump 2 then Pump 1.

Figure 4. Pumps in parallel set-up

Table 3: Pumps in parallel results table

OBSERVATIONS CALCULATIONS
Pressure Power
Flow rate Flow rate Head
Inlet Outlet Outlet output
Q p1 p2 p3 Q hp Pout
l/m Bar bar bar l/s m W
… … … … … … …
More results here
… … … … … … …

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 Lab J: Pump Characteristics

5. Analysis
1. For experiment 1, calculate Q (l/s), H (m), Pin (W), Pout (W) and h (%).
2. For experiments 2 and 3, calculate Q (l/s), H (m) and Pout (W).
3. For experiment 1, plot a graph of Q (horizontal axis) against hp and h, and identify the Best
Efficiency Point.
4. On the same graph, plot a graph of Q against hp for experiment 2.
5. On the same graph, plot a graph of Q against hp for experiment 3.
6. Comment on the graphs (e.g. are the pump head and efficiency what you expect?),
explain the relationship between multiple pump operation, estimate the values of Q when
hp = 0, explore any erroneous results.
7. Elevation head was ignored in the pump head. Estimate the pump output power error(%)
due to the above ignorance at an operating condition in experiment 1.

6. Laboratory report
When writing your report, consider the following:
- You should limit your background/theory section to less than two pages (800 to 1,000
words) of only the most relevant information for your results.
- For your results/discussion section, give full explanations, detail which equations were
used, and display all relevant results. A table or graph of results without any explanation is
not useful.
- Include estimates of errors where you can and try to explain any fluctuations or differences
in the data which were outside expectations.
- Use your own photographs, screenshots, and diagrams to illustrate your theory and
discussion section.
- Recommended reading includes: (i) Lecture notes EN2104 Thermofluids 2, the Pump
section. (ii) Section 13.4 of Mechanics of Fluids by Massey and Ward-Smith(2012)

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