Chapter Four

Hydraulic Machines
Contents
1- Introduction.
2- Pumps.
3- Turbines. (‫)ﻟﻔﺮع اﻟﻤﻴﻜﺎﻧﻴﻚ اﻟﻌﺎم ﻓﻘﻂ‬
4- Cavitation in hydraulic machines.
5- Examples.
6- Problems; sheet No. 4 (Pumps)
7- Problems; sheet No. 4 (Turbines)

1- Introduction:

There are two basic types of hydraulic machines:

- Pumps: these machines add energy to fluids.
- Turbines: these machines convert the fluid energy into useful
mechanical work.

2- Pumps:

Pumps are used to convert mechanical energy to fluid energy. In

most of the cases pumps are used for raising fluids from a lower to a higher
level. This is achieved by creating a low pressure at the inlet or suction end
and high pressure at the outlet or delivery end of the pump.

Classification of pumps:

a- Positive displacement pumps. (figures (1) through (3))

b- Rotodynamic or (dynamic pressure pumps). (figures (4) and (5))

- Centrifugal pump.
- Axial pump.
- mixed flow pump.
Centrifugal pump:

Consider the impeller of a centrifugal pump shown in figure, friction

is neglected and the relative velocity of the fluid is always tangent to the
blade.

OR

Where V= absolute fluid velocity.

W= relative fluid velocity.
u= peripheral velocity of the impeller.
α= angle between u and V.
β= blade angle.

For pump, the moment-of-momentum equation is:

T = ρQ[(rVt )out − (rVt )in ]

where T is the torque acting on the fluid.

T = ρQ (r2V2 cos α 2 − r1V1 cos α 1 )
The power is:
Power = ρQ (u 2V 2 cos α 2 − u1V1 cos α 1 )

The theoretical pump head is:

u 2V2 cos α 2 − u1V1 cos α 1
H th =
g

The hydraulic (or manometric) efficiency of the pump:

H act
ηh =
H th
where H act = H th − H losses

The hydraulic losses (Hlosses) include shock loss, fluid friction loss, and loss
due to circulatory flow.

Overall efficiency:
γQH act
η=
Tω

In addition to hydraulic losses, the efficiency of a pump is reduced by

bearing and packing friction and by disk friction as well as by the leakage
effect.

Head-Flow rate curves for centrifugal pumps:

The maximum head produced by a centrifugal pump is called:
Pump shutoff head (Ho).

The equation for the (Q-H) curve can be written as:

H = Ho-AQ2 where A = costant

Operating point of a pump:

The actual pump operating head and flow rate are determined by the
intersection of the pump and system curves.
It is important to select a pump such that the intersection of the pump and
system curves is near the BEP.
Pumps operating in series and in parallel:

The figures show the performance curves for two identical pumps in series
and in parallel.
- Pumps in series tend to increase the head (H).
- Pumps in parallel tend to increase the flow rate (Q).
Similarity laws for centrifugal pumps:
⎛ Q ⎞ ⎛ Q ⎞
Flow rate similarity law: ⎜ 3 ⎟
=⎜ 3 ⎟
⎝ ND ⎠ m ⎝ ND ⎠ p

⎛ gH ⎞ ⎛ gH ⎞
Head similarity law: ⎜ 2 2 ⎟ =⎜ 2 2⎟
⎝ N D ⎠m ⎝ N D ⎠ p

⎛ power ⎞ ⎛ power ⎞
Input power similarity law: ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟
5 ⎟
⎝ ρN D ⎠ m ⎝ ρN D ⎠ p
3 5 3

Overall efficiency similarity law: ηm = η p

where: p= prototype ; m= model ; N= pump speed ; D= impeller dia.

Specific speed (Ns):

N Q
In SI system: N s ( SI ) = 3
(gH ) 4
where N in (rad/s)
Q in (m3/s)
g in (m/s2)
H in (m)

N Q
In the US customary system: N s (US ) = 3
H4
where N in (rpm)
Q in (gpm)
H in (ft)

The conversion factor between them is: N s (US ) = 2730N s ( SI )

N s (US )
Also: N s ( Eur ) =
17100

The specific speed of a series is usually defined for the point of best
efficiency (BEP).
3- Turbines:
4- Cavitation in hydraulic machines:
When a liquid flows into a region where its pressure is reduced to
vapor pressure, it boils and vapor pockets develop in it. The vapor bubbles
are carried along with the liquid until a region of higher pressure is
reached, where they suddenly collapse. This process is called cavitation.

Cavitation parameter (σ):

Turbine Pump

p atm − pv − γZ s − γhlosses
σ= cavitation parameter
γH
where:
patm= atmospheric pressure.
pυ = absolute vapor pressure.
Zs = as shown in above figures.
H = net head across the machine.

For cavitation not to occur at (1) the pressure must be greater than the
vapor pressure of the liquid.

or σ 〉σ c where σ c is the critical cavitation parameter.

Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH):

p atm − p v − γZ s − γhlosses
( NPSH ) A =
γ
where (NPSH)A= available net positive suction head.
Pump manufacturers specify a required value of net positive suction head
(NPSH)R.

To avoid cavitation: ( NPSH ) A ≥ ( NPSH ) R

5- Examples:

1- A centrifugal pump impeller has an outside diameter of 200 mm and

rotates at 2900 rpm. Determine the actual head generated if the vanes angle
at outlet is 25o and the radial component of flow velocity is constant
through out the impeller is 3 m/s. Assume hydraulic efficiency as 75%.

Solution:
πDN
u2 = = 30.37 m/s
60
u V cos α 2 u2Vt 2
H= 2 2 = (*)
g g
V
Vt 2 = u2 − r 2 = 23.94 m/s
tan β 2
from equation (*)
30.37 × 23.94
H= = 74.11 m
9.81
H
η h = act
H th
H act = 0.75 × 74.11 = 55.5 m (Ans)

2-

Solution:
University of Technology Sheet No. 4
Mechanical Engineering Dep. Pumps
Fluid Mechanics II (3 rd year) 2008/2009

1- A centrifugal water pump has an impeller with d1=0.2 m, d2=0.6 m, β1=20o, β2=10o,
b1=50 mm, b2=19 mm. For 1800 rpm, neglecting losses and blade thickness, determine:
a- the discharge for shock less entrance when α1=90o. b- α2 and Hth. c- the power required.
d- the pressure rise through the impeller.
[0.216 m3/s ; 15.11o ; 129 m ; 273.4 kW ; 1030 kN/m2]

2- A centrifugal water pump with impeller diameters d1=102 mm, d2=254 mm, and
b1=76.2 mm, b2=38.1 mm, β2=60o is to pump 0.142 m3/s at 19.5 m head. Determine: β1,
the speed, and the power. Neglect losses and assume no shock at the entrance (α1=90o).
[43.56o ; 1146 rpm ; 27.2 kW]

3- The impeller of centrifugal pump has an outer diameter of 25 cm and an effective outlet
area of 170 cm2. The blades are bent backward so that the direction of the outlet relative
velocity makes an angle of 148o with the tangent drawn in the direction of impeller
rotation. The diameters of the suction and delivery pipes are 15 cm and 10 cm
respectively. The pump delivers 1860 l/min at 1450 rpm. The gauge points on the suction
and delivery pipes close to the pump show heads of 4.6 m below and 18 m above
atmosphere respectively. The head losses in the suction and delivery pipes are 2 m and
2.9 m respectively. Find the manometric efficiency assuming that water enters the pump
without shock and whirl. [75%]

4- A three-stages centrifugal pump has impeller 40 cm in diameter and 2 cm wide. If the

blade angle at outlet is 45o and the area occupied by the thickness of the vanes may be
assumed 8% of the outlet area. If the pump delivers 3.6 m3/min when running at 920 rpm,
Calculate: a- power of the pump. b- the head. c- specific speed. Assume mechanical
efficiency as 88% and manometric efficiency as 77%.
[65.75 kW ; 75.69 m ; Ns(U.S)=1033]

5- Tests of a 0.57 m diameter centrifugal water pump at 2134 rpm yield the following
data:
Q (m3/s) 0 0.054 0.108 0.162 0.216 0.27
H (m) 102 102 102 99 90 66
Power (kW) 100.6 119.3 153 190 246 246
What is the BEP? What is the specific speed? Estimate the maximum discharge possible.
[0.162 m3/s ; Ns(U.S)=1412]

6- A pump with a critical value of σ of 0.2 is to pump against a head of 20 m. The

barometric pressure is 98.5 kPa abs, and the vapor pressure is 5.2 kPa abs. Friction losses
from the reservoir to the pump are 0.5 m. Find the maximum allowable height of the pump
relative to the water surface in the reservoir. [no more than 5 m]
7- A centrifugal pump is installed above an open water tank. The pump is to provide a
flow rate of 0.015 m3/s. Under this flow condition, the pump manufacturer specifies
(NPSH)R of 5 m. Determine the maximum elevation that the pump can be installed above
the water free surface without pump cavitation. The head loss hl in the 100 mm dia.
suction pipeline is due to a pump inlet strainer having a loss coefficient of 15. Other head
losses are negligibly small, patm= 101 kPa, pυ= 2.3 kPa. [no more than 2.28 m]

8- A centrifugal pump with a 91.5 cm impeller dia. operates at 800 rpm. If the speed is to
be increased to 1200 rpm, determine the impeller diameter that should be used so that the
same shaft input power would be required. [71.7 cm]

9- A 30 cm diameter centrifugal water pump is geometrically similar to a 38 cm diameter

pump. The larger pump has the following test performance characteristics at the best
efficiency point: speed=800 rpm, pump head=15 m, flow rate=0.126 m3/s, eff.=80%, input
shaft power=23.6 kW. Determine the following for the smaller pump operating with water
at 1000 rpm: a- flow rate, b- pump head, c- input power, d- maximum efficiency.
[0.0775 m3/s ; 14.6 m ; 14.14 kW ; 80%]

10- The 330 mm dia. centrifugal pump whose performance curves for water are given in
figure (1) has been selected to operate in the fluid system of figure (2). The following data
are given for this system:
Pipe dia.= 152.5 mm
Total pipe length= 91.5 m
Suction pipe length= 7.6 m
Pipe friction factor= 0.03
Loss coefficients (Kstrainer+K1 elbow)= 3
and (Kvalve+K2 elbow)= 1.5
Elevation difference (Z2-Z1)= 4.6 m
Elevation difference (Z3-Z1)= 1.55 m

Determine:_
a- the pump flow rate.
b- the pump efficiency.
c- whether or not the selected pump is suitable for this application.
(take: patm= 101 kPa, pυ= 2.3 kPa)
d- the input power required to drive the pump.
[54.25×10-3m3/s ; 74% ; suitable ; 10.5 kW]
11- A centrifugal pump has the following approximate expression for the characteristic
curve: H=24.4-470.66Q2
where H in (m) and Q in (m3/s).
Find the discharge through the system of figure for two pumps in parallel.
(Note: minor losses in the system can be neglected). [0.254 m3/s]

12- Find the discharge through the system shown in figure of problem (11) for pumps A
and B in series; (L=1600 m, d= 300 mm, H= 30 m, f= 0.02). Neglect minor losses in the
system. [79.5 l/s]
Pump A:
Q (l/s) 0 56.6 72.5 85.8 108 116 127 134
H (m) 21.3 18.3 16.8 15.2 12.2 10.7 9.1 6.1

Pump B:
Q (l/s) 0 74 112 140 161 174 177
H (m) 24.4 21.3 18.3 15.2 12.2 9.1 6.1

* Approximate expressions for the characteristic curves:

Pump A: H=21.3-787.75Q2
Pump B: H=24.4-470.66Q2 where H in (m) and Q in (m3/s).