Centrifugal pumps, operating Capacity

Brake horsepower, centrifugal pumps, 200 Driver horsepower, 201 Burst pressure, 405, 456 Cartridge filters, 274-278 Capture mechanism, 279 Edge filler, 278 Filter media, table, 278 Micron ratings, 277 Reusable elements, 281 Sintered metal, 280 Types, 276, 277, 279 Wound vs. pleated, 276, 277 Centrifugal pumps, operating characteristics, 177-180 Calculations, see hydraulic performance Capacity, 180... 

NPSH requirement [m] = rpm/(5400 volumetric flowrate [L/s]) Centrifugal pumps operate on their operating head-capacity curve. Head capacity curves are independent of the fluid although the curve drops slightly at higher... 

In most pumps, the speed is generally not varied. Characteristic curves for a typical single-stage centrifugal pump operating at a constant speed are given in Fig. 3.3-2. Most pumps are usually rated on the basis of head and capacity at the point of peak efficiency. The efficiency reaches a peak at about 50 gal/min flow rate. As the discharge rate in gal/min increases, the developed head drops. The brake hp increases, as expected, with flow rate. 

From the definition of specific speed (eqs. 9 and 10), it follows that reciprocating pumps operate at high pressures and low flow rates. Conversely, centrifugal pumps are appHed at lower pressures and higher flow rates. Many rotary pumps are selected for viscous Hquids having pressures equal to or less than, and capacities lower than, centrifugal pumps. However, these limits are relative and a gray area exists as some pump types cross boundaries into the domain of other types. 

Tests conducted to operate centrifugal pumps as hydrauhc turbines throughout the head-capacity-speed range show that a good centrifugal pump generally makes an efficient hydraulic turbine. From theoretical considerations it is possible to state that at the same speed... 

The principal types used and their operating pressures and capacity ranges are summarised in Table 10.17 and Figure 10.63. Centrifugal pumps will normally be the first... 

A centrifugal pump with an 8 in. diameter impeller operating at a rotational speed of 1150 rpm requires 1.5 hp to deliver water at a rate of 100 gpm and a pressure of 15 psi. Another pump for water, which is geometrically similar but has an impeller diameter of 13 in., operates at a speed of 1750 rpm. Estimate the pump pressure, flow capacity, and power requirements of this second pump. (Under these conditions, the performance of both pumps is independent of the fluid viscosity.)... 

A centrifugal pump will operate normally at a point on its total head against capacity characteristic curve until the available NPSH falls below the required NPSH curve. Beyond this point, the total head generated by a centrifugal pump falls drastically as shown in Figure 4.6 as the pump begins to operate in cavitation conditions. 

System total heads should be estimated as accurately as possible. Safety factors should never be added to these estimated total head values. This is illustrated by Figure 4.8. Suppose that OAi is the correct curve and that the centrifugal pump is required to operate at point A. Let a safety factor be added to the total head values to give a system curve OA2. On the basis of curve OA2, the manufacturer will supply a pump to operate at point A2. However, since the true system curve is OA, the pump will operate at point Ai. Not only is the capacity higher than that specified, but the pump motor may be overloaded. 

The piping and valves may be arranged to enable two centrifugal pumps to be operated either in series or in parallel. For two identical pumps, series operation gives a total head of 2Ah at a capacity Q and parallel operation gives a capacity of 2Q at a total head Ah. The efficiency of either the series or parallel combination is practically the same as for a single pump. 

Two centrifugal pumps are connected in series in a given pumping system. Plot total head Ah against capacity Q pump and system curves and determine the operating points for... 

Centrifugal pumps require appropriately large circumferential speed of the impellers and a number of serially arranged stages, in order to obtain the high-pressure differences. For efficient and economic operation the specific speed, nq, of the individual pump stages (n<, = n V0,5 / H0 75 V m3/s H, m n, min 1) should stay above 10 to 20. Too small a capacity or hydraulic power transmission will not provide favourable operating conditions and it is then recommended to focus on positive-displacement pumps alternatively. 

Pumps come basically in two types (1) positive displacement and (2) centrifugal. As a rule of thumb, positive displacement pumps operate at high head but relatively low capacity. Centrifugals, on the other hand, operate at low head and high capacity. Typically, positive displacement (PD) pumps may operate at heads from 1 to 10,000 psi and from hundreds of gallons per minute to... 

A centrifugal pump designed for an 1800-r/min operation and a head of 200 ft (61 m) has a capacity of 3000 gal/min (0.19 m3/s) with a power input of 175 hp. What effect will a speed reduction to 1200 r/min have on the head, capacity, and power input of the pump What will be the change in these variables if the impeller diameter is reduced from 12 to 10 in while the speed is held constant at 1800 r/min ... 

---