SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. The discharge pressure gage of a pump reads 1020.42 Kpa. The suction pressure gage is
attached 1.22m below the centerline of the discharge gage and reads 50.8mm Hg vacuum. The
pump is delivering 2.273 m3/min of water. The diameters of suction and discharge pipes are
127mm and 102mm, respectively. The power input to the pump is 61KW and electrical input to
the driving motor is 74KW. Determine (a) WP, (b) ŋp, c. ŋc

Solution: Pd=1020.42kPa

d=102mm Discharge gage

3
Q=2.273m /min

1.22
m

Datum

Ps=50.8mm Hg s=127mm
vacuum

-50.8mm Hg

Energy head equation from pt. 1 to 2

H S  h  H d  H Lsd

Ps Vs2 Pd Vd2
  Zs  h   Z d  H Lsd
 2g  2g

Pd  Ps Vd2  Vs2
h   Z d  Z s   H Lsd
 2g

Pd  1020.42 KPa
 101.325 
Ps   50.8 mm Hg     6.77 KPa
 760 
 2.273 
Q  Q s  Qd     0.0378 m s
3

 60 

0.0378
Vs   2.98 m s
  127 
 
4  1000 
Vd  4.63 m s
Zs  0 ; Z d  1.22m
1020.42   6.77  4.63  2.98
2 2
 h   1.22  0  0
9.81 29.81
 106.57 m

(a) WP  Qh  0.03789.81106.57   39.52 KW

WP 39.52
(b) p    0.648 or 64.8%
BP 61
 WP 39.52
(c ) c    0.5341 or 53.41%
EPi 74

Note: 5 psi vacuum = -5 psi

PUMP CHARACTERISTICS

1. Specific Speeds; Ns = the speed required to produce a discharge of 1gpm through a head of 1ft.

N  pump, rpm
N Q
Ns  rpm Q  pump capacity a disch arg e , gpm / suction
h3/ 4
h  pump head , ft / stage

2. Affinity Laws

a) Same Pump
 Ns are equal, Ns1 = Ns2
 Effect of speed with constant impeller diameter
Q N ; h N2 ; BP  N 3
 Effect of impeller changes with constant rotative speed
Q  D ; h  D2 ; BP  D 3

b) Homologous or geometrically similar pumps

 Ns are equal, Ns1 = Ns2
 Q  ND 3  ; h  N 2 D 2  ; BP  N 3 D 5 

3. Size of Pump Impeller

V  DN
D
For ideal energy conservation
N KE  PE
1 2
mv  mgh
2
v  2 gh
DN
 2 gh
60
60 2 gh
D
N

60 2 gh
 If friction losses are considered, D 
N
  peripheral speed factor or bucket coefficient
PROBLEM
1. A single suction pump has a capacity of 19 liters/second with maximum developed head of 61m.
Equivalent rotative speed is 1200rpm. It is proposed that same type of pump is to be installed
but with double suction & to operate at a head of 30m & a discharge of 25 liter per second.
Determine the speed of the proposed pump at which it will operate.

Solution:

For single suction pump:

1960 s / m 7.483.28
3
Q1   300.91gpm
1000
h1  613.28  200.1 ft
N 1  1200rpm
N 1 Q1 1200 300.91
N s1  3/ 4
  391.31rpm
h
1 (200.1) 3 / 4

For double suction pump

Q2  25 liter / s or 395.93 gpm

h2  30m or 98.4 ft.

For the same type of pump

N s are equal ; N s1  N s 2
395.93
N2
391.31  2  868.91 rpm
(98.4) 3 / 4

2. A centrifugal pump design for a 1800 rpm operation and head of 60m has a capacity of 11.36
m3/min with a power input of 132KW.
a. What effect will a speed reduction to 1200 rpm have on the head, capacity and power input
of the pump?
b. What will be the change in these variables if the impeller diameter is reduced from 304mm
to 254mm while the speed is held constant at 1800 rpm?

Solution:

a) For constant Impeller diameter:

N   1200 
Q N ; New capacity, Q2  Q1  2   11.36    7.57 m / min
3

 N1   1800 
2
N 
2
 1200 
h N 2
; New head, h2  h1  2   60   26.67 m
 N1   1800 
3
N 
3
 1200 
BP  N 3
; New brake power , BP2  BP1  2   132   39.11KW
 N1   1800 
 b) For Constant Speed:
D   254 
Q  D ; New capacity, Q2  Q1  2   11.36    9.5m / min
3

 D1   304 
2
D 
2
 254 
h D 2
; New head , h2  h1  2   60   50.13m
 D1   304 
3
D 
3
 254 
BP  D 3
; New brake power , BP2  BP1  2   132   70 KW
 D1   304 

3. A centrifugal pump discharges 25liters/s against a total head of 15 m at 1400 rpm and the
diameter of the impeller is 0.45m. A geometrically similar pump of 0.30 m diameter is to run at
2800rpm. Calculate the head, the discharge, and the brake power ratio required.

Solution:

3
N  D2 
3
 2800  0.30 
Q  ND 3
; Q2  Q1  2    25     14.81liter / sec
 N1  D1   1400  0.45 
2 2
N   D2 
2 2
 2800   0.30 
h N D 2 2
; h2  h1  2     15     26.7 m
 N1   D1   1400   0.45 
3 5
BP2  N 2   D2 
3 5
 2800   0.30 
BP  N D 3 5
;           1.053
BP1  N 1   D1   1400   0.45 