MECHSOFT ENGINEERING DESIGN & CONSULTANCY

FIRE PUMP OPERATION AT SHUT-

OFF/NO FLOW CONDITION
EFFECT ON WATER TEMPRATURE &
CAVITATION
(Calculation for Rate of rise of temprature at shut off condition)

( Challenge During No Flow Test Condition in accordance with NFPA 25, Cl. 8.3.2)

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What Causes Temprature Rise of Water in Fire Pump ?

Power (Shaft Power) Input at the shut off condition :

What is Shaft Power ?

The shaft power is the power supplied by the motor to the pump shaft. Shaft power
is the sum of the hydraulic power and power loss due to inefficiencies in power
transmission from the shaft to the fluid.

𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓
Ps =
𝑷𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚
At the shut off condition, as there is no effective work is performed hence Power
input to the pump gets consumed in various ways like,
I. Temperature rise of the liquid inside the pump and its suction and discharge
pipings
II. Pump vibration and noise
III. Conduction of heat to construction parts such as casing of pump
IV. Thermal radiation from surface of the pump

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V. Flushing to shaft seal

VI. Internal circulation through wearing etc.

However, In general, then it is assumed that it stays on the safe side, and shaft
power S is consumed only to the temperature rise of the liquid in the pump, when
the shutoff operation of pump is discussed.

Loaded Shaft Power

No flow

Heat generated from shaft power will be absorbed the water hence,
Heat absorbed by water = m x Cp x T

Where,
m = Mass of Water in kg
Cp = Sp. Heat of Water ( KJ/kg C)
t = Temprature Rise of the water ( C) / min.

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Applying Heat Balancing,

Power input in the form of heat generated at shut off head = Heat abosorbed by water

Ps x 60 = m x Cp x t
Where,
T = Operating time in Min.
For unit Time calculation,

Ps x 60 = m x Cp x t

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Example :

A pump has a casing capacity of 0.0255 m3 and is pumping water at 15 C and the power input at
shut-off is 19 KW.
We have to determine:

a) The rate of temperature rise

b) The time required to boil the water in the casing

Solution :

Given Data :

1. Pump Casing Volume = 0.0255 cubic mtr.

2. Initial water temprature = 15 C
3. Power input at Shut off ( Shaft Power ) = 19 KW

Let’s Calculate the Mass of water,

As we know,
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
Density = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

Mass = Density x Volume

Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
Therefore,
Mass = 1000 x 0.0255

m = 25.5 kg

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Next, lets calculate temp. rise of water per min.

Ps x 60 = m x Cp x t ------------------ ( 1)

Sp. Heat of Water @ 15 C = 4.187 KJ/Kg C

Rearranging Eqn. (1) ,

𝑃𝑠 𝑥 60
t=
𝑚 𝑥 𝐶𝑝

𝐾𝐽/𝑠 𝑥 60
t=
𝑚 𝑥 𝐶𝑝

19 𝑥 60
t=
25.5 𝑥 4.187

Hence,
a) The rate of temperature rise

t = 10.67 per min

b) The time required to boil the water in the casing

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𝐁𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 – 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫

=
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆

𝟏𝟎𝟎 – 𝟏𝟓
=
𝟏𝟎.𝟕
T = 7.95 min.

A temperature rise across the pump of 18 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Centigrade is

considered excessive.

Based on the experimental results obtained for different water temperatures, pump flow rate
ratios and pump speeds, the following important conclusions can be drawn:

1. The pump head decreases with increasing water temperature This drop occurs mainly due to the
increase of vapour pressure value, which in turn reduces the value of NPSH, and then the
cavitation will appear earlier.

2. Increasing water temperature accelerates cavitation occurrence.

3. At low temperature values, the effect of suction pressure is stronger than the effect of vapour
pressure, while at higher temperature values the effect of vapour pressure becomes stronger.

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NO FLOW CONDITION AS PER NFPA 25

INTENT OF ABOVE CLAUSE 8.3.2 :

It is intended to verify that the pump will start and will not overheat.

INTENT OF ABOVE CLAUSE 8.3.1.1 & 8.3.1.2 :

1. The decision by the technical committee to reduce the frequency of the no-flow test for electric
motor–driven fire pumps from weekly to monthly came after much review and discussion of data
presented by owners and maintainers of large numbers of fire pumps. Data submitted showed
that monthly testing of electric motor–driven fire pumps indicated no material change in the
failure rates with these types of pumps and drivers

2. However, there is no substantive data to justify reducing the testing frequency for diesel engine–
driven pumps

INTENT OF ABOVE CLAUSE 8.3.2.3 :

1. When a pump is started, a great deal of heat is generated from the energy needed to bring the
pump up to speed. Cl. 8.3.2.3 requires that the electric motor be run for 10 minutes so that the
motor windings can cool down after starting across the line. Running the motor for less than 10
minutes will shorten the motor’s life.
2. Another reason for the 10-minute requirement is that it allows time to check the pump packing
and bearings to determine if they are overheating or leaking excessively.

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THE CHALLENGE IN NO FLOW TESTING :

 A fire pump is a mechanical device used to transform a chosen potential energy

source whether it is electric or diesel fuel to kinetic energy in the form of flowing
water. By closing the pump outlet valve (during a no-flow or churn test), we
deprive the pump of its originally designed purpose of transforming this energy
into the kinetic form of flowing water into the system piping. This energy then has
to find an alternative transient. At this point, the only alternative for this energy
is to transform into static pressure and localized heat created by the friction of the
water as it churns around in the pump casing.

 Excessive heat in the pump can cause severe damage in a short period of time
causing pump bearings to fail - as the bearings' lubricants typically degrade twice
as fast for each 10 degrees Celsius rise in temperature - while seals and packing
begin to leak.

 In more extreme cases, the rise in temperature can cause the water to flash to
vapor and cause cavitation damage to the impeller and pump internals

THE SOLUTION :

 To avoid this damage, we must lower the temperature of the water being churned in the
pump casing or housing. This can be achieved by allowing a small amount of cooler
water into the pump casing.
 For all fire pump systems, except those using a cooling line to a diesel engine driven pump,
a circulation relief valve should be fitted in order to extract heated water from the pump's
discharge. This valve should be fitted between the pump discharge side and the outlet
control valve.
 This circulation relief valve should be set to open at the pump unit shutoff pressure plus
the minimum pump suction pressure. It should allow a relatively small amount of hot
water to constantly flow out of the pump casing, which is then replaced by an equal
amount of cool unheated water entering the pump through the suction side, thus cooling
the pump and its casing.

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CIRCULATION RELIEF VALVE :

Is it required to be installed on diesel pump as well ?

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