CHG 3122
Chemical Engineering Practice
Pumps Characterization
1. Introduction
Centrifugal pumps are widely used by the chemical industry for transfer of liquids during
manufacturing and for general service duties such as cooling water, boiler feed supply or
condensate return. Centrifugal pumps are available through a large range of sizes and flow rates
varying from 10 to 100,000 L/min while developing pressures fairly low pressure heads.
2. Background Theory
Basically a centrifugal pump consists of an impeller rotating inside a casing. The centrifugal
energy imparted to the liquid produces the desired flow rate against a given head. The impeller
and casing are designed to minimize energy losses. Actual pump selection depends on flow rate
and discharge head requirements, suction conditions and liquid physical properties. All centrifugal
pumps operate along a characteristic curve as shown in Figure 1. A chemical engineer can be
required to select a pump in conjunction with the curves supplied by the manufacturer or test a
pump in order to compare its actual and rated performances.
3. Objective
The objective of this experiment is to determine the operating and performance characteristics of
two types of centrifugal pumps relative to each other and to the manufacturer’s data.
4. Equipment
The two types of pumps provided for testing are a Gould G & L centrifugal pump and a SIHI
turbine pump. The speed of the centrifugal pump can be varied by a DC-controller while the
turbine pump is coupled directly to a drive motor. Power delivered to either motor is measured by
a Volt and Ampere meters.
Liquid is taken from a supply tank into the pump and discharged through a short line back to the
liquid supply tank. Flow rates are measured usually by a rotameter or electronically with an orifice
or paddle wheel. Flow rates are controlled by ball valves. Normally discharge flow rates in a
turbine pump are controlled by means of a by-pass line as the pump can be damaged if the pump
is dead-ended. Thus, the flow control valve in the turbine pump discharge line MUST NEVER
BE COMPLETELY CLOSED while the pump is running. Pressures are measured by pressure
gauge transducers. The pump rotational speed is determined with a tachometer.
Figure 1. Centrifugal pump characteristic curve and system demand curve.
5. Experimental Procedures
Before beginning the experiment, check the equipment layout and determine how to take the
necessary readings so that the data for each experiment can be entered into the computer
spreadsheet. Three sets of runs will be carried out:
1) Gould G & L centrifugal pump operating at 875 rpm
2) Gould G & L centrifugal pump operating at 1750 rpm
3) SIHI turbine pump operating at 1725 rpm
For each run, bring the pump up to speed and generate its characteristic curves by throttling the
valve downstream of the pump. Two sets of data should be taken for each run, i.e. take readings
at the same flow rates and use average values for your calculations. For the Gould G & L pump
only, determine the discharge head when the pump is dead-ended. Be sure to operate the pumps at
constant speed as far as possible, i.e. with the valve fully open. Make sure that all physical
dimensions have been recorded.
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Parameters and Raw Data Required for Pumps
The computerized spreadsheet provided calculates the total dynamic head, the net positive suction
head, the hydraulic power, the efficiency, the motor power, the gauge pressure, the velocity head
and the total head for both the suction and discharge sides. (Please see spreadsheet before starting
the experiment).
Enter all raw data on the worksheet and the required calculations for each pump will appear on the
respective worksheet. The following raw data and parameters are required for the calculations:
• Specific gravity of water
• Specific gravity of mercury
• Specific gravity of mineral oil
• Density of water (kg/m3)
• Atmospheric pressure in (mm Hg)
• Motor efficiency (%)
• Inner diameter of inlet pipe for Gould G & L pump (in)
• Inner diameter of outlet pipe for Gould G & L pump (in)
• Inner diameter of inlet pipe for SIHI pump (in)
• Inner diameter of outlet pipe for SIHI pump (in)
• Vapor pressure of water (mm Hg)
• Vapor pressure of mineral oil (mm Hg)
• flow rate (US gal/ min)
• suction pressure (mm Hg)
• discharge pressure (mm Hg)
• current supplied to the pump motor (amps)
• voltage supplied to the pump motor (volts)
Note: the oil used in the oil pump is mineral oil ISO 46, which has a vapor pressure of 3 x 10-3
bar, Viscosity index of 121, kinematic viscosity of 0.6731 cm2/s @ 40 oC, and relative density of
0.875. (You can assume the effects of temperature on oil properties are negligible in the
operational temperature range).
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6. Questions for the Report
Set 1:
1. For the SIHI pump, plot the pump characteristic curves showing: (a) the total dynamic head;
(b) the power used; (c) the hydraulic power; (d) the efficiency; and (e) the actual net positive
suction head, all against the volumetric flow rates.
2. Discuss your results considering the pump mechanism. Compare results to the pump rated
curves given by the manufacturer.
3. Discuss qualitatively how the total dynamic head would change if the SIHI pump were
operated at 875 rpm.
4. Explain the difference in the mechanistic operation of the Gould G & L and SIHI pumps and
the resulting impact on the pump characteristic curves.
Notes on the pump performance data
▪ The data was obtained with water as the working liquid. Numerical values are relatively
invariant for small liquid viscosity changes. The power scales with liquid density, whereas
the TDH and efficiency do not.
Set 2:
1. For the Gould G & L pump operated at 1750 rpm, plot the pump characteristic curves
showing: (a) the total dynamic head; (b) the power used; (c) the hydraulic power; (d) the
efficiency; and (e) the actual net positive suction head, all against the volumetric flow rate.
2. For the Gould G & L pump operated 875 rpm, plot the total dynamic head as a function of the
volumetric flow rate.
3. Discuss your results considering the pump mechanism. Compare results to the pump rated
curves given by the manufacturer.
4. Explain the difference in the mechanistic operation of the Gould G & L and SIHI pumps and
the resulting impact on the pump characteristic curves.
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SIHI Turbine regenerative pump
Working fluid: Water
Hydraulic
Flow rate TDH NPSH_actual Efficiency power
(USGPM) (ft) (ft) (%) (horsepower)
4 99 30.5 11.5 0.095
6 88 30 18.5 0.12
8 73 29.5 22.5 0.14
10 56 29 23.5 0.14
12 42 28 22.5 0.12
14 29 27 18 0.1
16 16.5 26 12 0.06
100 0.25
90
80 0.2
TDH(ft)/Flowrate (USGPM)
Power (HP)/Efficiency
70
60 0.15
50
40 0.1
30
20 0.05
10
0 0
0 5 10 15 20
Axis Title
TDH (ft) NPSH (ft) Efficiency (%) Power (HP)
