FACULTY : ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HYDRAULICS
AND HYDROLOGY
EXPERIMENT:
SERIES/PARALLEL
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

EDITION:
REVISION NO:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
AMENDMENT DATE:

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

HYDRAULICS AND HYDROLOGY LABORATORY

LABORATORY INSTRUCTION SHEETS
COURSE CODE

BNP 20103

EXPERIMENT NO.

EXPERIMENT TITLE

SERIES/PARALLEL CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

DATE
GROUP NO.
LECTURER/ INSTRUCTOR/ TUTOR

1)
2)

DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION

DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS FOR

LABORATORY REPORT

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION/DISPLINE

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INTRODUCTION:

/5%

PROCEDURE:

/5%

RESULTS & CALCULATIONS

/15%

ANALYSIS
DISCUSSIONS:
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
CONCLUSION:

/15%
/20%
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SUGGESTION & RECOMENDATIONS

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REFERENCES:

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FACULTY : ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HYDRAULICS
AND HYDROLOGY
EXPERIMENT:
SERIES/PARALLEL
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

EDITION:
REVISION NO:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
AMENDMENT DATE:

STUDENT CODE OF ETHICS

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

I hereby declare that I have prepared this report with my own efforts. I also admit to
not accept or provide any assistance in preparing this report and anything that is in
it is true.

1) Group Leader
Name
:
Matrix No. :

__________________________________________(Signature)
__________________________________
__________________________________

2) Group Member 1
Name
:
Matrix No :

__________________________________________(Signature)
__________________________________
___________________________________

3) Group Member 2
Name
:
Matrix No. :

__________________________________________(Signature)
__________________________________
__________________________________

FACULTY : ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HYDRAULICS
AND HYDROLOGY
EXPERIMENT:
SERIES/PARALLEL
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

EDITION:
REVISION NO:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
AMENDMENT DATE:

1.0 OBJECTIVES
a) To study the characteristics of single pump operation with variable flow rate
and pump speeds.
b) To investigate the effect of impeller style on pump performance.
c) To study the characteristics of pump-in-series operation with variable
flowrate and pump speeds.
d) To study the characteristics of pump-in-parallel operation with variable
flowrate and pump speeds.
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this experiment students are able to:
a) Demonstrate engineering flow systems confidently by using process fluid
mechanics (C3, PLO2).
b) Display macroscopic and microscopic momentum balances in laminar and
turbulent flows including boundary layer flows effectively (P4, PLO4).
c) Demonstrate the principles of process fluid mechanics in solving problems
associated with process industries (A3, PLO6).

d) INTRODUCTION

3.1Pumps are used in almost all aspects of industry and engineering from feeds
to reactors and distillation columns in chemical engineering to pumping
storm water in civil and environmental. They are an integral part of
engineering and an understanding of how they work is important. Centrifugal
pump is one of the most widely used pumps for transferring liquids. This is
for a number of reasons. Centrifugal pumps are very quiet in comparison to
other pumps. They have a relatively low operating and maintenance costs.
Centrifugal pumps take up little floor space and create a uniform and nonpulsating flow.

3.2Centrifugal Pump Connected in Parallel: If a single pump does not provide

enough flowrate for a given application, connecting two pumps in parallel, as
shown in Figure 1, can rectify the problem. The effective two-pump
performance curve is obtained by adding the flowrates of each pump at the
same head. As shown, when two pumps are connected in parallel, the
operating points shift from A to B, providing not only increased flowrate as
required but also greater head. Figure 1 shows the characteristics of two
identical pumps, but the pumps do not have to be the same.

Figure 1: Two centrifugal pumps connected in parallel

3.3

Centrifugal Pump Connected in Series: On the other hand, if a single

pump does not provide enough head for a given application, two pumps
connected in series, as shown in Figure 2, can be a remedy. The effective twopump performance curve is obtained by adding the head of each pump at the
same flowrate. The operating point shifts from A to B, thereby providing not
only increased head as required but also greater flow. Figure 2 shows the
characteristics of two identical pumps, but the pumps do not have to be the
same.

Figure 2: Two centrifugal pumps connected in series

4.0INSTRUMENTS /APPARATUS

Flow

Water

Pressure

Pressure

Pump, P2
Speed
Pump, P1
Figure 3: Series/parallel pump (Model:FM07A)

5.0PROCEDURE
Before conducting any experiment, it is necessary to do the following checking to
avoid any misused and malfunction of equipment.
3

5.1 Single pump operation

1. The circulation tank is filled with water.
2. Make sure V5 (Figure 4) is in fully close position.
3. Switch on the main power supply.
4. Turn on the main switch on the control panel. Ensure all digital indicators
illuminate.
5. Check for the following valve position as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Valve and pump position for single operation
Fully close Valve
V2 & V3

Fully open valve

V1 & V4

Running pump
Pump 1, P1

6. Turn the pump speed controller clockwise until maximum and turn on the
pump. Slowly open V5 until maximum flowrate is achieved (follow the
desired flowrate in data sheet).
7. Record the pump speed (use the pump speed selector switch to monitor the
pump speed), power, and pressure (Use the pressure selector switch to
monitor the pressure in the pipe).
8. Repeat step 6 and 7 with other condition: maximum V5 and vary motor
speed (follow the desired motor speed in your data sheet).
9. Regulate the pump speed controller (fully anti-clockwise) to stop the pump
speed.
10.Turn off the pump. Make sure valve V5 is in fully close position. Turn off the
main switch on the control panel and switch off the main power supply.

5.2 Series pump operation

1. Repeat step 1 to 4 in procedure 5.1 above.
2. Check for the following valve position as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Valve and pump position for series operation
Fully close Valve
V2 & V4

Fully open valve

V1 & V3

Running pump
Both pump, P1 & P2

3.

Follow the same step from 6 to 10 in procedure 5.1 to determine the

characteristics of pump in series operation with variable flowrate and
pump speeds.

5.3 Parallel pump operation

4. Repeat step 1 to 4 in procedure 5.1 above.
5. Check for the following valve position as shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Valve and pump position for parallel operation
Fully close Valve
V3

Fully open valve

V1, V2 & V4

Running pump
Both pump, P1 & P2

6. Follow the same step from 6 to 10 in procedure 5.1 to determine the

characteristics of pump in parallel operation with variable flowrate and
pump speeds.

Figure 4: Process diagram for series/parallel pump

6.1RESULTS & CALCULATIONS

6.2 Results

Table 6.1: Single pump operation with variable flowrate

Flowrate

Speed

Power

(LPM)

(RPM)

(Watt)

Pressure

Pressure

PT1

PT3

(bar)

(bar)

Pressure
PT3
PT1
(bar)

Pump
head, H
(m)

Efficiency
(%)

40
50
60
70
80

Table 6.2: Single pump operation with variable pump speed

Speed

Flowrate

Power

(RPM)

(LPM)

(Watt)

Pressure

Pressure

PT1

PT3

(bar)

(bar)

Pressure
PT3
PT1
(bar)

Pump
head, H
(m)

600
1000
1400
1800
2200

Table 6.3: Series pump operation with variable flow rate

Average
Flowrate

speed,

Power

(LPM)

P1 & P2

(Watt)

Pressure

Pressure

Average

Pressure

PT1

PT2

PT1 &

PT3

(bar)

(bar)

PT2

(bar)

(RPM)

Pressure
PT3
PT1
(bar)

Pump
head,

Efficiency
(%)

H (m)

40
50
60
70
80

Table 6.4: Series pump operation with variable pump speeds

Speed

Flowrate

Power

(RPM)

(LPM)

(Watt)

Pressure

Pressure

PT1

PT3

(bar)

(bar)

Pressure
PT3
PT1
(bar)

Pump
head, H
(m)

600
1000
1400
1800
2200

Table 6.4: Series pump operation with variable flow rate

Average
Flowrate

speed,

Power

(LPM)

P1 & P2

(Watt)

Pressure

Pressure

Average

Pressure

PT1

PT2

PT1 &

PT3

(bar)

(bar)

PT2

(bar)

(RPM)

Pressure
PT3
PT1
(bar)

Pump
head,

Efficiency
(%)

H (m)

40
60
80
100
120
140

Table 6.6: Parallel pump operation with variable pump speeds

Speed

Flowrate

Power

(RPM)

(LPM)

(Watt)

Pressure

Pressure

PT1

PT3

(bar)

(bar)

Pressure
PT3
PT1
(bar)

Pump
head, H
(m)

600
1000
1400
1800
2200

6.3 Calculations
a) Table 4 is especially important to convert the pressure readings on the panel
into bar (g).
Table 4: Range and total range of pressure transmitter
Pressure Transmitter
Pressure Transmitter (PT1)

Range, bar
-1 to 1.5 bar

Total range, bar

2.5
8

Pressure Transmitter 2 (PT3)

Pressure Transmitter 3 (PT3)

-1 to 3 bar
0 to 6 bar

4
6

pressure on panel,
x total range ,
100

Pressure,

b) Overall efficiency;

overall =

POWER fluid
x 100
POWER electrical

c) Power (fluid);

Pfluid =g . Q . H . water
d) Volumetric flow rate;

s
m3 /

e) Pump head, H

H ( m) =

PT 3PT 1
g

*Pressure (PT3-PT1) unit is pacsal and unit conversion; 1 bar = 100,000 Pascal.
f)

Water density, water = 1,000 kg/m3 and gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81

m/s2

7.0ANALYSIS
Please analyze the data and results obtained in this experiment. Include the
condition of graft as below in your analysis;
1) Plot pressure difference pump head (m) vs. flowrate for variable flow rate
(single, series and parallel operation).
2. Plot efficiency vs. flow rate for variable flow rate (single, series and parallel
operation).
3. Plot flow rate vs. pump speed for variable pump speed (single, series and
parallel operation).
4. Plot pump head vs. pump speed for variable flow rate (single, series and
parallel operation).

8.0DISCUSIONS
Discuss your results both on the basis of any theory presented and on their
relevance to practical applications and current industrial practice. Compare the
pump performance between single, series and parallel pump operation.

9.0 ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. Why you should use circulating pumps in parallel & series centrifugal
pumping?
2. Describe the performance of a pump?

3. A centrifugal pump has a 100 mm diameter suction pipe and a 75 mm

diameter delivery pipe. When discharging 15 l/s of water, the inlet water
mercury manometer with one limb exposed to the atmosphere recorded a
vacuum deflection of 198 mm; the mercury level on the suction side was 100
mm below the pipe centerline. The delivery pressure gauge, 200 mm above
10

the pump inlet, recorded a pressure of 0.95 bar. The measured in

put power

was 3.2 kW. Calculate the pump efficiency. (See Fig.5).

Figure 5

4. Two identical pumps having the tabulated characteristics are to be installed

in a pumping station to deliver sewage to a settling tank through a 200 mm
uPVC pipeline 2.5 km long. The static lift is 15 m. Allowing for minor head
losses of 10.0V2/2g and assuming an effective roughness of 0.15 mm
calculate the discharge and power consumption if the pumps were to be
connected: (a) in parallel, and (b) in series.
Pump Characteristics
discharge (l/s)

10

20

30

40

Total head (m)

30

27.5

23.5

17

7.5

44

58

50

18

Overall efficiency (per cent)

10.0

CONCLUSION

Conclusion is merely a summary, presented in a logical order, of the important

findings already reported in the discussion section. It also relates to the
objectives.
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Prepared by/Disediakanoleh :

Approved by/Disahkanoleh :

Signature/Tandatangan :
Name/Nama : DR. NOR HASLINA HASHIM

Signature/Tandatangan :
Name/Nama : PROF. MADYA DR. ISHAK BABA

Date/Tarikh : AUGUST 2016

Date/ Tarikh : AUGUST 2016

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