ChE 2201/2101: Fluid Mechanics

Centrifugal Pump
Safat Anam
Lecturer
Department of ChE, RUET

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Industrial Centrifugal Pump Operation
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Fig: Reciprocating Pump (HP Carbamate pump, Urea Plant, AFCCL)
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Operation of Reciprocating Pump
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 The hydraulic machines which convert the
mechanical energy into hydraulic energy (in the
form of P energy) are called pumps.
 If the mechanical energy is converted into P
energy by means of centrifugal force acting on the
fluid, the hydrostatic machine is called a
centrifugal pump.
 Main parts:
1) Impeller,
2) Casing,
3) Suction pipe,
4) Delivery pipe

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Multi-stage pump
A multi-stage centrifugal pump is one which has two or more identical impellers mounted on
the same shaft or on different shafts. The important functions performed by a multi-stage
pump are:
1. To produce heads greater than that permissible with a single impeller, ‘discharge remaining
constant’. The task can be achieved by ‘series arrangement’ where the impellers are mounted
on the same shaft and enclosed in the same casing.
2. To discharge a large quantity of liquid, ‘head remains the same’. This task is accomplished
by ‘parallel arrangement’ wherein impellers are mounted on separate shafts.

Pumps in series (add head, constant flow)

 Pumps are connected in series if the discharge of one pump is connected to the suction side
of the second pump or mounting multiple impellers on the same shaft.
 Each pump is putting energy into the pumping fluid.
 Centrifugal pumps are connected in series to overcome larger system head loss than one
pump can handle alone.
 Series arrangement of the pump generates more pressure (constant flow rate ) to overcome
the larger system head.
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 The series arrangement is employed for delivering a relatively small quantity of liquid
against very high heads. Multistage pumps are similar to the series combination of pumps.
 For obtaining a high head, a number of impellers are mounted on the same shaft. More
impeller means more discharge pressure.
 The advantages of multi–stage pumps– impellers in series over single-stage pumps-
1. Less loss due to friction.
2. Reduced stresses.
3. Small slip leakage.
4. The number of stages may be chosen so that the pump speed suits the driving motor
speed.
5. By proper arrangement of impellers a thrust can be eliminated.
6. Owing to lower specific speed of individual impellers a higher suction lift is possible.

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Industrial Multistage Centrifugal Pump (BFW Feed Pump, Ammonia plant, AFCCL)
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Pump Side (Suction, Discharge, Intermediate Discharge
line, multi impeller casing, exit & bypass lines) 14
Pumps in parallel (add flow, constant head)
 When a large quantity of liquid is required to be pumped against a relatively small head
(which is impossible for a single pump to accomplish), pumps are connected in parallel.
 Pumps are operated in parallel when two or more pumps are connected to a common
discharge line and shear the same suction.
 For discharging large quantities of liquid, pumps are connected in parallel.

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Pumps are connected in Parallel 16
Specific speed of pump (NS)
Defined as the speed of a geometrically similar pump which would deliver 1𝑚3 of liquid per
second against a head of 1 m. The specific speed is a characteristic of pumps which can be
used as a basis for comparing the performance of different pumps.

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Specific Speed of centrifugal pump

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Model testing & Geometrically similar pump
In order to know the performance of prototypes, the models of centrifugal pumps are tested.
The performance of the prototype pump will be correctly predicted by its model test only if
the following conditions are satisfied:

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Characteristics of centrifugal pump
 Normally a centrifugal pump is worked under its maximum efficiency condition. When
the pump is running in different conditions, it performs differently.
 To predict the behavior of pumps under varying conditions of speeds, heads, discharge
or power, tests are usually conducted.
 The results obtained from these tests are plotted in the form of characteristic curves.
 This curve provides information about the performance of a pump in its installation.
 The following 4 types of characteristics curves are usually prepared for centrifugal
pump:

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1. Main characteristics curve
The main characteristics curve are obtained as follows:
i) The pump is run at a constant speed and the discharge is varied (by delivery valve):

ii) Consists of variation of

head, power and discharge
with respect to speed:

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2. Operating characteristics curve
 When a centrifugal pump operates at the design speed (same as speed of driving motor)
the maximum efficiency occurs. For optimum performance, the pump needs to be operated
at the design speed.
 If the speed is kept constant, the variation of head, power and efficiency gives operating
characteristics curve.
 The design discharge and head are obtained from the corresponding curves where the
efficiency is maximum.

Here, at the point of

maximum efficiency,
we select the desired
head loss, power,
pressure drop and
discharge.

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3. Constant efficiency curve
 The constant efficiency curves depict the
performance of a pump over its entire
range of operations.
 These curves are obtained from the main
characteristics curve.
 The constant efficiency curves help to
locate the region where the pump would
operate with maximum efficiency.

4. Constant head and Constant

discharge curve
The performance of a variable speed pump
for which the speed constantly varies can
be determined by these curves.

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Priming of pump
Priming of a centrifugal pump is the process of filling the liquid at the suction pipe and the
impeller. Priming is done to put the pump into working order by filling or charging with
liquid.
Priming Process:
1) First of all the suction pipe and impeller is completely filled with water.
2) The delivery valve is closed and the pump is started.
3) The rotating impeller pushes water in the delivery pipe, opens the delivery valve and
sucks water through the suction pipe
Why is priming required?
Pressure developed by the impeller of the pump is proportional to the density of the fluid in
the impeller. If the impeller is running in air it will produce only a negligible pressure. This
pressure will not suck water from its source through the suction pipe. To avoid this, pump is
first filled up with water.
If no priming:
Pump will run dry, leading to mechanical seal failure or damage to the pump component.
Create pump cavitations.
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Cavitation
 When a fluid is flowing through a pump, if the suction pressure is less than the vapor
pressure of the fluid, the vapor bubbles form and they move towards the higher pressure
area (impeller blades) and get collapsed.
 Due to this, impeller blades get eroded and erosion takes place.
 This phenomenon is called cavitation. Cavitation begins to appear in centrifugal pumps
when the pressure at the suction falls below the vapor pressure of liquid.
 The intensity of cavitation increases with the decrease in value of NPSH..
Condition: Vapor pressure of fluid > Suction pressure of pump.
Symptoms of cavitation:
1. Abnormal noise & vibration
2. Higher power consumption
3. Reduced discharge pressure
The harmful effects of cavitation are:
1. Pitting and erosion of impeller surface (due to continuous hammering action of
collapsing bubbles).
2. Sudden drop in head, efficiency and the power delivered to the fluid.
3. Noise and vibration (produced by the collapse of bubbles)
4. Reduced pump capacity and efficiency.
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The factors which facilitate onset of cavitation are as follows:
1. Restricted suction,
2. High runner speed,
3. Too high specific speed for optimum design parameters, and
4. Too high temperature of the flowing liquid.
Cavitation factor:
Thomas cavitation factor is used to indicate the onset of cavitation. For pumps, the Thomas
cavitation factor is defined as-

 The cavitation will occur if

the value of σ is less than the
critical value σc at which the
cavitation just begins.
 The cavitation parameter σ is
a function of specific speed,
efficiency of the pump, and
number of vanes.
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To reduce the risk of cavitation:
 Ensure that NPSH-A is at least 0.5m greater than NPSH-R during operation. For
example, if the pump is fed from a tank, ensure that the level of liquid in the tank (or
pressure above it) is sufficient.
 Lower the temperature of the liquid at the pump intake
 Reduce pump speed.
 Clean suction-side filters regularly to ensure that the flow is not restricted by
blockages.
 Regularly check seals, joints and valves for leaks and wear.
 Choose pump materials that are resistant to cavitation damage.
To avoid cavitation, the pump must maintain a certain NPSH.

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NPSH (Net Positive Suction Head)
 It is the minimum suction condition.
 Net positive suction head is the difference between the inlet stagnation pressure head and
vapor pressure head.
 NPSH is a measure of the head necessary to transfer water into impeller blades efficiently
and without cavitation.
 For any pump there is a minimum value head below which the pump cannot be operated.
This value is called NPSH.
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑎 = (𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 + 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑) − 𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑃 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑
 For proper pump performance and eliminate the risk of cavitation: NPS𝐻a > NPS𝐻𝑟
Where, NPS𝐻a = Net positive suction head available
NPSHr = Net positive suction head required

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Generally, 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑎 = 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑟 + 0. 5(𝑚) 31
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 Problem

Find the power required to drive a centrifugal pump which delivers 0.04 m3/s of
water to a height of 20 m through a 15 cm diameter pipe and 100 m long. The
overall efficiency of the pump is 70% and coefficient of friction is 0.15.

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