T.C.

ANKARA YILDIRIM BEYAZIT UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND NATURAL SCIENCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ESE – 40… ENERGY SYSTEMS LABORATORY -…

Serial and Parallel Pumps Experiment Report

Student No :
Name-Surname :
Experiment Date :
Grade :
2.3 Serial and Parallel Pumps Experiment
2.3.1 Objective
1) To develop pump characteristic curves for a single pump, two pumps in series, and two
pumps in parallel by measuring head (h) and flow rate (Q) using the experimental
apparatus.
2) To develop theoretical pump characteristic curves for pumps in series and pumps in
parallel experimentally derived single pump characteristic curve.
3) To compare the experimental and theoretical pump characteristic curves for pumps in
series and pumps in parallel.

Figure 2.3.1. The schematic of the experimental setup

2.3.2 Introduction
Whereas turbines extract the energy from the fluid, pumps adds energy into fluid, increasing
the energy possessed by the fluid. There are two main pump types: positive displacement
pumps—pistons, plungers, diaphragms, vanes, screws, lobes, which have a fixed flow rate per
stroke or revolution; and turbo-hydraulic or kinetic pumps / centrifugal pumps, which convert
fluid kinetic energy into pressure [1].
Today, the design of a centrifugal pump has the water entering the low-pressure center of the
impeller. The vanes then lead the water to the higher-pressure region to the casing. The casing
is designed with a gradually expanding spiral shape so that minimum loss occurs in the
transformation of kinetic energy to pressure. The pump receives the water at a low velocity on
the interior edge of the set of moving impeller vanes and discharges it from the outer edge
with kinetic energy sufficient to raise it to a desired height; and through the gradually
expanding spiral passage transforms the kinetic energy into pressure [1].

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2.3.3 Theory
Pumps are used to lift water up or to increase the energy so that the water can travel farther.
This lab determines the head/flow characteristics of centrifugal pumps operating at a single
speed: a single centrifugal pump, two similar centrifugal pumps operating in parallel and in
series.
Recall the total head is the difference between the total energy head at the outlet and the total
energy head at the inlet (neglecting the small differences in velocity heads). As shown be the
following equation:

 p V2   p V2 
2
  2
 z2    1  1  z1   H P  HL (2.3.1)
 g 2g   g 2g 

where subscripts 1 and 2 refer to inlet and outlet sections. H is the pressure head produced
P

by the pump and HL is the energy loss due to friction and pipe fittings. By conservation of
mass, V1=V2 if the pipe diameters are equal at the inlet and outlet sections.

Total Head: HP = (pressure head increased by the pump)

Total Head Outlet: HP = (pressure head at pump outlet - pressure head at pump inlet)
= (outlet pressure/) – (inlet pressure/)
Total Head Manifold: HP = ({manifold pressure head + datum correction} - inlet pressure head})
= [{(manifold pressure/ + datum correction} - (inlet pressure/)]

Single pump:

Qin =Qout
hpump = hwater

2.3.3.1 Pumps in Parallel

When two or more similar pumps are connected in parallel, the head across each pump is the
same and the total flow rate is shared equally between the pumps, QP/n, where n is the number
of pumps in parallel. For identical pumps in parallel, the pressures at the two inlets and outlets
are identical and the maximum head the two pumps can deliver is no greater than for a single
pump. Theoretically, the flow rate is doubled, although in practice, this will not occur, due to
losses in the piping systems.
Total head (using outlet, not manifold) is determined the in the same manner as for the single
pump. The theoretical curve for the parallel pump configuration is obtained from the single
pump data by multiplying the flow rate by two.
For theoretical parallel pump curve, plot: Hp(single pump) vs. 2*Q(single pump)

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Parallel Pumps:

n= 2 pumps
hpumpA = hpumpB =
hwater
QA + QB = QTotal

Since the head loss across the parallel pumps is equal, the pump curve derived for each should
be the same.
2.3.3.2 Pumps in Series
When two or more similar pumps are connected in series, the same flow rate passes through
each pump and under goes a head boost of total head divided by number of pumps, H P/n.
Therefore, the series configuration of two identical pipes provides a pump characteristic of
twice the head as for a single pump.
For series pumps, the total head can be computed as follows:

Total Head: HP = (pressure head at pump 2 outlet - pressure head at pump 1 inlet)
= [(outlet 2 pressure/) – (inlet 1 pressure/)]

The theoretical curve for the series pump configuration is obtained from the single pump data
by multiplying the head by two. This doubled head is plotted with the measured flow rate.
Serial Pumps:

n = 2 pumps
Qin = Qout = Qtotal
hpumpA + hpumpB = hwater

2.3.3.3 Pump Efficiency

For a pump, the efficiency is defined as

 = Po/Pi

where Po = power out from the pump = power imparted to the fluid
= *Q*Hp = [N/m3]*[m3/s]*[m] = [N-m/s] = [J/s] = [W]
Pi = power input to the pump shaft = power output from the motor = [W]
Output power is determined experimentally. Input power should be given in the manufacturer’s
specifications for the pump.
An important objective when selecting a pump for an engineering system is maximizing the
efficiency for the desired flow conditions.

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 A) EXPERIMENT NO: 01
B) EXPERIMENT NAME: Single pump characteristic curve
C) THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: Total pressure height provided by the pump. In
practice the differences in pump in and out, potential and speed, pressure, are
negligible. So, the total pressure height can be considered pressure height.

Discharge
measurements 𝑉̇ [m3/h]
Number of Flowmeter
Head
H [mWc]
1 2,8
2 3,7
3 4,6
4 5,2
5 5,9
6 6,7

*** X axis flowmeter ([m3/h]), Y axis Discharge head [mWc]

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 A) EXPERIMENT NO: 02
B) EXPERIMENT NAME: Finding pump specific speed
C) THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: The pump's specific velocity allows it to
compare different pumps to similarities, but also to be a function of the type of wheel.
Pump wheel types are classified according to their specific speed at maximum
efficiency. The experimental availability of pump specific speed will enable this
information to be reinforced.

Calculate
Discharge Head
𝑉̇ [m3/h]
Number of Flowmeter Ns
H [mWc]
measurements (Specific
(Measured above) Speed)
1 2,8
2 3,7
3 4,6
4 5,2
5 5,9
6 6,7
𝑁√𝑉̇
𝑁𝑠 = 0,75
𝐻

𝑉̇ = Flowmeter (m3/h)
N = The speed at which the wheel rotates (rpm) (2900 rpm)

H = Pressing pressure at all levels (mWc)

*** X axis flowmeter ([m3/h]), Y axis Ns

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 EXPERIMENT NO: 03
A) EXPERIMENT NAME: Finding pump efficiency
B) THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: Pump efficiency is described as the ratio of
hydraulic power to pump engine electrical input power. Pumps operate at different
yields in different working conditions. These yield zones are shown as islets on the
characteristic curve. It is important to choose from the right side of the maximum
yield curves in the pump selection. Because pressure losses will increase as the system
is contaminated, the point of operation shifts to the left and works with higher
efficiency.

Engine
measurements 𝑉̇ [m3/h]
Number of Flowmeter Voltage
Current cos Efficiency
[Vm] ()
Im [A]
1 2,8 220 2,76 1
2 3,7 220 2,88 1
3 4,6 220 3,06 1
4 5,2 220 3,16 1
5 5,9 220 3,27 1
6 6,7 220 3,37 1
Efficiency (): The efficiency of a pump is the ratio of fluid power generated to pump

𝑚̇𝑔𝐻
input power. This is defined by the following formula.

𝜂=
𝑉𝑚𝐼𝑚 cos 𝜑
ṁ (kg/s)= ρ ∗ V̇/3600
𝑚̇ : [kg/s]
ρwater: 998,2 kg/m3 at 20°C
g : Gravitational acceleration 9,81[m/s2]
H : Discharge Head [mWc] Vm : Engine voltage [V],
I m : Current [A] cos : Engine power coefficient

*** X axis flowmeter ([m3/h]), Y Efficiency ()

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 A) EXPERIMENT NO: 04
B) EXPERIMENT NAME: Drawing the characteristic curve of the serial pump
C) THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: Although there is a significant increase in
pressure with the serial attachment of the pumps, the debit does not increase to that
extent. The new characteristic curve can be theoretically drawn as well as
experimentally found by the serial binding of two identical parallel pumps. This
experiment can reveal the relationship between theoretical and experimental graphics.

Discharge
measurements 𝑉̇ [m3/h]
Number of Flowmeter
Head
H [mWc]
1 2,8
2 3,7
3 4,6
4 5,2
5 5,9
6 6,7

*** X axis flowmeter ([m3/h]), Y axis Discharge head [mWc]

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 A) EXPERIMENT NO: 06
B) EXPERIMENT NAME: Drawing the characteristic curve of the parallel pump
C) THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: Pressure does not increase to such an extent,
although there is a significant increase in debates with parallel attachment of pumps.
The new curve can be found experimentally with the serial attachment of two identical
parallel pumps.

Discharge
measurements 𝑉̇ [m3/h]
Number of Flowmeter
Head
H [mWc]
1 2,8
2 3,7
3 4,6
4 5,2
5 5,9
6 6,7

*** X axis flowmeter ([m3/h]), Y axis Discharge head [mWc]

2.3.5 Report
In your laboratory, reports must have the followings;
a) Cover page
b) All the necessary calculations using measured data.
c) Discussion of your results and a conclusion.