The American University of Madaba

Faculty of Engineering –Civil Engineering Department

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics Lab Report

Name: Nirmeen A. Amoush 110062

Noura Quntar 120287
Sama Nawara 110158

Title of Experiment: Centrifugal Pump Characteristics; two pumps in

parallel and series.
Date of Experiment: 14/11/2016
Objective:
1. To study the functioning of a centrifugal single pump with variable number of
revolutions.
2. To plot the characteristic curve of the pump

Introduction:
The centrifugal pumps are probably the most common type of pumps used in the
industrial applications, because of their construction simplicity, high efficiency and
flexibility of operation. The performance of a centrifugal pump are represented by its
"characteristic curve" that is the graph of the head in function of the flow rate at
constant speed.
𝑃2 − 𝑃1
𝐻𝑚 =
𝜌 .𝑔
Where:
P2 = discharge pressure in pa
P1 = Suction pressure in Pa

 Pumps connected in series

If two or more centrifugal pumps are connected in series, the

total flow rate Q will be the same of a single pump, while
the total head H, will be calculated by the sum of the single
heads, that is:
Qt=Q1=Q2=……=Qn
H=H1+H2+……+Hn
In theory the head at the discharge side of two centrifugal
pumps placed in serial will be double compared to the single
pump, because of the head losses that increase with the
square of the flow rate, the head will be slightly lower than double.
  Pumps connected in Parallel
If two or more centrifugal pumps are connected in parallel, the total flow rate Q, will
be given by the sum of the single flow rates while the total head, Ht will be equal to
the head of the single pump, that is:
Qt= Q1+Q2+……+Qn
H=H1=H2=….Hn
Therefore, in theory the flow rate of two same centrifugal pumps placed in parallel
will be double of the one of the single pump.
Practically, because of the head losses that
increase with the square of the flow rate, the
flow rate will be slightly lower than the
double.

Apparatus:
The main characteristics of the unit are the following:

 Stainless steel centrifugal pump, P= 0.6 KW, Q max = 801/min (4.8 m3/h), H
max = 2m.w.c maximum speed 2800 rpm (values referred to 50 Hz ),
abbreviation G2
 Digital inverter, protection degree IP55
 Pressure gauges, with different pressure ranges, abbreviation P11, P12, P13 and
P14.

Procedure:
Centrifugal Pumps in Series:
 Close the valves V1, V2, V6 and V7 of the hydraulic bench mod. HB/EV.
 Open the valves V3, V4, V5 of the hydraulic bench mod. HB/EV.
 Switch on the pump G2 and set through the inverter the speed (frequency)
at the maximum.
 Switch on the pump G1
 Set with the valve V1 the flow rate at 1000 1/h and report the values of
the pressure at discharge and aspiration of the two pumps.
  Repeat the operation at 1500,2000,2500,3000,3500,4000 1/h.

Centrifugal Pumps in Parallel:

 Close the valves V1, V3, V6 of the hydraulic bench mod. HB/EV.
 Open the valves V2, V4, V5, and V7 of the hydraulic bench mod.
HB/EV.
 Switch on the pump G2 and set through the inverter the speed (frequency)
at the maximum.
 Switch on the pump G1
 Set with the valve V1 the flow rate at 1000 1/h and report the values of
the pressure at discharge and aspiration of the two pumps.
 Repeat the operation at 1500,2000,2500,3000,3500,4000 1/h.
Results and Calculation:
Q (m3/h) For G1 only For G2 only For the pumps For the pumps
in Series in Parallel
P11 P12 P11 P11
4 1.63 1.63 2.80 1.80
3.5 1.70 1.70 3.00 1.85
3 1.76 1.76 3.20 1.90
2.5 1.81 1.81 3.40 1.95
2 1.86 1.86 3.60 2.00
1.5 1.91 1.91 3.70 2.05
1 1.96 1.96 3.85 2.05

Calculating Hm:
P1=0
Convert from bar to pa (1 bar= 105pa)
𝜌=1000kg/m3
g=9.81m/s2
𝑃2 − 𝑃1
𝐻𝑚 =
𝜌 .𝑔
sample calculation for G1, Q=4:
1.6×105
=16.31𝐻𝑚 =
1000 .9.81
 Hm theoretical for series pump, Q=4:
16.31+16.31=32.62
Error%:
34.66 − 32.62
× 100% = 6.25
32.62

Q Q (m3/s) For For For the pumps in Series For the pumps in Parallel
(m3/h) G1 G2
Hm Hm Hm Hm Error% Hm Hm Error%
Theoretical Experimental Theoretical Experimental

4 0.00111 16.6
16.6 33.231 28.54 14.1 18.960 18.35 3.23
16
3.5 0.00097 17.3
17.3 34.659 30.58 11.8 18.86
29
3 0.00083 17.94 17.9
35.882 32.62 9.1 19.470 19.37 0.524
1 41
2.5 0.00069 18.45 18.4
36.901 34.66 6.1 19.88
1 51
2 0.00056 18.96 18.9
37.920 36.70 3.2 19.980 20.39 2.04
0 60
1.5 0.00042 19.47 19.4
38.940 37.72 3.1 20.90
0 70
1 0.00028 19.98 19.9
39.959 39.25 1.8 20.90
0 80

Characteristic Curves:
Discussion:
As seen in the first two graphs for the single pumps, we can tell that the mono-metric
hm, increase as we increase the flow.
Putting your centrifugal pumps in series, or connected along a single line, will let you
add the head from each together and meet your high head, low flow system
requirements. This is because the fluid pressure increases as the continuous flow
passes through each pump, much like how a multi-stage pump works. For example, if
two of the same pumps are in series, the combined performance curve will have
double the head of a single pump for a given flow rate. For two different pumps, the
head will still be added together on the combined pump curve, but the curve will most
likely have a piecewise discontinuity.
Putting your pumps in parallel, or connected to any number of line branches so that
each handles a division of the flow, will help you reach a low head, high flow
operating point that a single pump cannot supply. Additionally, this system
configuration gives you flexibility by permitting the switching of parallel pumps on or
off in order to adjust to variable flow conditions.
Going back to our pump curves, the combined curve for parallel pumps is created
from the addition of the flow capacities of each pump.
Conclusion:
The discharge pressure increase when the flow rate decrease so the Hm that depends
on P2, and the errors for the series and the parallel pumps are as follows:

Q (m3/h) %Error in Series %Error in Parallel

4 6.25 2.62
3.5 2.94
3 2.77 2.55
2.5 1.34
2 2.62 2.49
1.5 2.55
1 1.24