Centrifugal Pumps 965 > 19.5 MINIMUM SPEED FOR STARTING A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP If the pressure rise in the impeller is more than or equal to manometric head (H,,), the centrifugal pump will start delivering water. Otherwise, the pump will not discharge any water, though the impeller is rotating. When impeller is rotating, the water in contact with the impeller is also rotating. This is the case of forced vortex. In case of forced vortex, the centrifugal head or head due to pressure rise in the impeller “3 (0) Where or, = Tangential velocity of impeller at outlet = us. and ‘or, = Tangential velocity of impeller at inet Head due to pressure rise in impeller ‘The flow of water will commence only if Head due to pressure rise in impeller 2 Hy For minimum speed, we must have (19.13) But from equation (19.8), we have (19.14) Now y= BPN andy, = ON, 0 Substituting the values of u and m, in equation (19.14), Leet) 2 easy Mon RDN 2g\ 60 2g \ 60 Man 60 Dividing by Man ® Vy, X Dy Maan * Vo, X Da 120% Man * Ve, * Ds 7 ee eee 19.15) oi] Equation (19.15) gives the minimum starting speed of the centrifugal pump.Centrifugal Pumps 971 ‘Total manometric head =40.m c+ Manometric head for each stage, H, = 22 = 10.0 m 4 Discharge, 0=02m' Outlet vane angle, o=4s Width at outlet, By =5em=0.05m Dia. at outlet, D, = 60 em=06m RDN _ £x06%400 Tangential velocity of impeller a outlet, uy = “2S = FXOE SIN « 12.56 mis Discharge __ 0.20 0.20 Velocity of flow at outlet, Vj.= coe Area of flow RD,B, TX06X05 Refer to Fig. 19.9. From velocity triangle at outlet, 2.122 mis y = Vyy2 oe = 9.120 vs 2 tang ~ tan 45° Vo, = y= 2122 = 12.56 ~ 2.122 = 10438, SH, _ 981x100 Using quation (19.8), Muy = Hm = OREO = 0.7482 or 74.82%. Ans. > 19.7 SPECIFIC SPEED OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP (N,) ‘The specific speed of a centrifugal pump is defined as the speed of a geometrically similar pump which would deliver one cubic metre of liquid per second against a head of one metre. It is denoted by ty 19.7.1 Expression for Specific Speed for a Pump. ‘The discharge, Q, for a centrifugal pump is given by the relation Q = Area x Velocity of flow = DX BXV, or Q = DX BXV; 0 where Diameter of the impeller of the pump and B = Width of the impeller. We know that BoD =. From equation (i), we have Q e D? x V, an) ‘We also know that tangential velocity is given by DN ue DN iil) Now the tangential velocity (u) and velocity of flow (V) are related to the manometric head (H,) as ue Vjo JH iv)972 Fluid Mechanics Substituting the value of w in equation (iii), we get i, = DN or D = * N Substituting the values of D in equation (ii), Q= xy From equation (iv), Vj JHy 1 ra ey OK ol) where K is a constant of proportionality. If H,,= mand Q = 1 m’Js, N becomes = Substituting these values in equation (»), we get text ek : K=NZ Substituting the value of K in equation (v), we get, aH? g=w2Ha or wy, aN NYO a (19.18) » 19.8 MODEL TESTING OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Before manufacturing the large sized pumps, their models which are in complete similarity with the actual pumps (also called prototypes) are made. Tests are conducted on the models and performance of, the prototypes are predicted. The complete similarity between the model and actual pump (prototype) ‘will exist if the following conditions are satisfied : Tepe ged tess (teen acacia con, (MB) . (a2 (ND m= (Nop (we \ a“ ( Hs i (19.19), 2, Tangential velocity (u) is given by u = ™ Ag = DN lig a YS" = Constant (19.19 A) DNCentrifugal Pumps _973 : (5) .() oo DN Jy \ DN), 3. From equation (ii) of Art. 19.7.1, we have O«Dxv, where Vou «© DN =DXDxN =D XN ; = Constant or (921) 4.Powerof the pump, P= PXEXOX Ha, 5 Pa Oxy = DXNX Hy, Cs Q= DN) < DN x DN (Vi, = DN) = DNS Pe Pe P z = Constant or (P| =(—P 19.22) pig comm (aie) = (ai) wean Problem 19.18 A single-stage centrifugal pump with impeller diameter of 30 cm rotates at 2000 r-p.m. and lifts 3 m’ of water per second to a height of 30 m with an efficiency of 75%. Find the number of stages and diameter of each impeller of a similar multistage pump to lift 5 m’ of water per second to a height of 200 metres when rotating at 1500 r.p.m. Solution. Given : Single-stage pump = Diameter of impeller, D, = 30cm = 0.30 m Speed, ‘Nj; = 2000 rpm. Discharge, 2, =3 ms Height, H,, = 30m Efficiency, Mun = 75% = 0.75. ‘Multistage similar pump Discharge, Q,=5 mis ‘Total height 200 m Let the height per stage =Hy, Speed, jp = 1500 rp.m. Diameter of cach impeller = D, Specific speed should be same. Hence, applying equation (19.19) as 8) 8 me) = ase978 Fluid Mechanics » 19.9 PRIMING OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Priming of a centrifugal pump is defined as the operation in which the suction pipe, casing of the pump and a portion of the delivery pipe upto the delivery valve is completely filled up from outside source with the liquid to be raised by the pump before starting the pump. Thus the air from these parts Of the pump is removed and these parts are filled with the liquid to be pumped. The work done by the impeller per unit weight of liquid per sec is known as the head generated by the pump. Equation (19.1 gives the head generated by the pump as = 1 Vt metre. This equation is independent of the density of the liquid. This means that when pump is running in air, the head ‘generated is in terms of metre of air. If the pump is primed with water, the head generated is same ‘metre of water. But as the density of air is very low, the generated head of air in terms of equivalent ‘metre of water head is negligible and hence the water may not be sucked from the pump. To avoid this. difficulty, priming is necessary. > 19.10 CHARACTERISTIC CURVES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Characteristic curves of centrifugal pumps are defined as those curves which are plotted from the results of a number of tests on the centrifugal pump. These curves are necessary to predict the behaviour and performance of the pump when the pump is working under different flow rate, head and speed. The following are the important characteristic curves for pumps : 1. Main characteristic curves, 2. Operating characteristic curves, and 3. Constant efficiency or Muschel curves. 1910.1 Main Characteristic Curves. The main characteristic curves of a centrifugal pump consists of variation of head (manometric head, H), power and discharge with respect to speed. For plotting curves of manometric head versus speed, discharge is kept constant. For plotting curves of discharge versus speed, manometric head (H,) is kept constant. And for plotting curves of power versus speed, the manometric head and discharge are kept constant. Fig. 19.14 shows main characteristic curves of a pump. P{QAND H CONSTANTS) Han H(Q = CONSTANT) Qen —> poner p) HEAD. (H.) —_piscHarce,o a (H,= CONSTANT) —— sPeED(N) Fig. 19.144 Main characteristic curves of a pump.Centrifugal Pumps _979 For plotting the graph of Hy, versus speed (N), the discharge is kept constant. From equation (19.19 A) itis clear that JF7, /DN is a constant or Hye N*. This means that head developed by a pump is proportional to N*, Hence the curve of H,, v/s N is a parabolic curves as shown in Fig. 19.14, From equation (19.22), itis clear that P/D°N*is a constant. Hence P o N° This means thatthe curve P vis N isa cubic curve as shown in Fig. 19.14. Equation (19.20, shows that 79 = constant. This means Q = 1 fora given pump. Hence the curve Q vis Nis a straight line as shown in Fig. 19.14. 19.10.2 Operating Characteristic Curves. If the speed is kept constant, the variation of ‘manometric head, power and efficiency with respect to discharge gives the operating characteristics of the pump. Fig. 19.15 shows the operating characteristic curves of a pump. ‘The input power curve for pumps shall not pass through the origin. It willbe slightly away from the origin on the y-axis, as even at zeto discharge some power is needed to overcome mechanical losses. ‘The head curve will have maximum value of head when discharge is zero. ‘The output power curve will start from origin as at Q = 0, output power (p QgH) will be zero. ce pe Outut ( ‘ ar ‘The efficiency curve will start from origin as at Q= 0,1 HEAD (H) EFFICIENCY, 1 SPEED = CONSTANT ‘ourpur POWER + EFFICIENCY, 1) — Power, e —* HEAD. H > DISCHARGE, a Fig. 19:5 Operating characteristic curves of a pump. 19.10.3 Constant Efficiency Curves. For obiaining constant efficiency curves for « pump, the head versus discharge curves and efficiency versus discharge curves for different speed are used. Fig. 19.16 (a) shows the head versus discharge curves for different speeds. The efficiency versus discharge curves for the different speeds are as shown in Fig. 19.16 (b). By combining these curves (H~ Q curves and 1 ~ Q curves), constant efficiency curves are obtained as shown in Fig. 19.16 (a). For plotting the constant efficiency curves (also known as iso-efficiency curves). horizontal lines representing constant efficiencies are drawn on the 1) ~ Q curves. The points, at which these lines cut the efficiency curves at various speeds, are transferred to the corresponding H1 ~ Q curves. The points having the same efficiency are then joined by smooth curves. These smooth curves represents the iso- efficiency curves.980 Fluid Mechanics — va CONSTANT EFFICIENCY CURVE —> HEAD, H ® =e icy G CONSTANT ‘EFFICIENCY - UNE a N, WN © > DISCHARGE, Fig. 19.16 Constant efficiency curves of a pump. > 19.11 CAVITATION Cavitation is defined as the phenomenon of formation of vapour bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapour pressure and the sudden collapsing of these vapour bubbles in a region of higher pressure. When the vapour bubbles collapse, a very high pressure is created. The metallic surfaces, above which these vapour bubbles collapse, is subjected to these high pressures, which cause pitting action on the surface. Thus cavities are formed on the metallic surface and also considerable noise and vibrations are produced, Cavitation includes formation of vapour bubbles of the flowing liquid and collapsing of the vapour bubbles. Formation of vapour bubbles of the flowing liquid take place only whenever the pressure in ‘ny region falls below vapour pressure. When the pressure of the flowing liquid is less than its vapour pressure, the liquid starts boiling and vapour bubbles are formed. These vapour bubbles are carried along with the flowing liquid to higher pressure zones where these vapours condense and bubbles collapse. Due to sudden collapsing of the bubbles on the metallic surface, high pressure is produced and metallic surfaces are subjected to high local stresses. Thus the surfaces are damaged. 19.111 Precaution Against Cavitation. The following precautions should be taken against cavitation : (D_ The pressure of the flowing liquid in any part of the hydraulic system should not be allowed 10 fall below its vapour pressure. Ifthe flowing liquid is water, then the absolute pressure head should not be below 2.5 m of water.Centrifugal Pumps 981 (ii) The special materials or coatings such as aluminium-bronze and stainless steel, which are cavitation resistant materials, should be used. 19.11.2 Effects of Cavitation. The following are the effects of cavitation (D The metallic surfaces are damaged and cavities are formed on the surfaces. (i Due to sudden collapse of vapour bubble, considerable noise and vibrations are produced. (iti) The efficiency of a turbine decreases due to cavitation. Due to pitting action, the surface of the turbine blades becomes rough and the force exerted by water on the turbine blades decreases. Hence, the work done by water or output horse power becomes less and thus efficiency decreases. 19.1.3 Hydraulic Machines Subjected to Cavitation. The hydraulic machines subjected to cavitation are reaction turbines and centrifugal pumps. 19.11.4 Cavitation in Turbines. In turbines, only reaction turbines are subjected to cavita- tion. In reaction turbines the cavitation may occur at the outlet of the runner or at the inlet of the draft- tube where the pressure is considerably reduced (/-e., which may be below the vapour pressure of the liguid flowing through the turbine). Due to cavitation, the metal of the runner vanes and draft-tube is gradually eaten away, which results in lowering the efficiency of the turbine. Hence, the cavitation in a reaction turbine can be noted by a sudden drop in efficiency. In order to determine whether cavitation will occur in any portion of a reaction turbine, the critical value of Thoma’s cavitation factor (@, sigma) is calculated. Thoma’s Cavitation Factor for Reaction Turbines. Prof. D. Thoma suggested a dimensionless number, called after his name Thoma’s cavitation factor 6 (sigma), which can be used for determining the region where cavitation takes place in reaction turbines. The mathematical expression for the Thoma’s cavitation factor is given by Hy—Hy _ (Ham ~ Hs)~ Hy H a where H, = Barometric pressure head in m of water, tmospheric pressure head in m of water, H,, = Vapour pressure head in m of water, H, = Suction pressure at the outlet of reaction turbine in m of water or height of turbine runner above the tail water surface, H = Net head on the turbine in m. 6 (19.23) 19.1.5 Cavitation in Centrifugal Pumps. In centrifugal pumps the cavitation may occur at the inlet of the impeller of the pump, or atthe suction side of the pumps, where the pressure is consid- erably reduced. Hence if the pressure at the suction side of the pump drops below the vapour pressure of the liquid then the cavitation may occur. The cavitation in a pump can be noted by a sudden drop in efficiency and head. In order to determine whether cavitation will occur in any portion of the suction de of the pump, the critical value of Thoma’s cavitation factor (0) is calculated, Thoma’s Cavitation Factor for Centrifugal Pumps. The mathematical expression for ‘Thoma’s cavitation factor for centrifugal pump is given by (Hy) Hs ~lus _ (Han = Hy) = Hs ~ his H H (19.24)