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ME 2101: Elements of Mechanical Engineering

PUMPS
What is a Fluid?
A fluid is a substance that can easily flow. A fluid is able to
change shape, therefore liquids and gases are both fluids.
A fluid is a substance which deforms continuously (flows) under
the action of a shear stress, no matter, however small the
shear stress is, i.e., a fluid cannot resist even an infinitesimal
amount of shear stress.

Example - Fluids
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Energy Available in a Flowing Fluid

Kinetic Energy, 𝑣2/2 Energy types 1 to 3 are called ‘Hydraulic

Pressure Energy, p/𝜌

1.
Energy’. Energy type 2 is also called

Potential Energy, 𝑔𝑧
2. ‘Flow Energy’ and type 4 is also called
3.
‘Internal Energy’.
Energy types 1 to 3 combined with 4 are

Energy, 𝑢
4. Thermal (Heat) called ‘Thermo-fluid Energy’ or

ℎ=𝑢+
‘Enthalpy’

Energy types𝑝/𝜌
5. Electrical Energy
5 to 7 are usually ignored in
6. Magnetic Energy Fluid or Turbo-machinery.
7. Chemical Energy,
The machines
etc. in which either input or output form is any combination of these
energy types 1 to 4, are called fluid machines or turbo-machines.

The machines in which either input or output form of energy is of thermal or

thermo-fluid (enthalpy) type, are called heat engines.
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Hydraulic Energy
 Hydraulic energy is what is produced by the water
which is
stored in reservoirs and lakes. If atat aa given
high
altitude
moment (so it falls thatit
to a lower level, this energy is
has gravitational
transformed into potential
kinetic energy and afterwards into
energy)
electrical energy in the hydroelectric plant.

 Kinetic Energy
 Pressure Energy

 Potential Energy
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Turbo Machinery
 Turbo machines are dynamic fluid machines that either
extract energy from a fluid (as in turbines) or add energy to
fluid (as in pumps) as a result of dynamic interactions between
the device and fluid.

 Turbines are also called ‘prime movers ’ since they can produce
mechanical motion. [IC engines, Electric motors are prime movers]
 Pumps ‘auxiliary devices’ since they need other prime
are
movers for their mechanical motion. [fan, blower, compressor, electric
generator are auxiliary devices]
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Classification of Turbo Machines

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Classification of Turbo Machines

 Based on energy addition/extraction:
1.Absorb mechanical energy to produce (increase)
fluid (hydraulic) energy e.g. pumps, fans,
compressors.
2.Produce mechanical energy by absorbing
fluid (hydraulic) energy, e.g. turbines

Turbine Pump Compressor

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Classification of Turbo Machines

 Based on direction of fluid
flow:
1. Axial Flow: E.g. Kaplan Turbine
2. Radial E.g. Francis turbine old
Flow: version
3. Mixed E.g. Francis Turbine
Flow:
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Classification of Turbo Machines

 Based on type of fluid handled:

1. Incompressible fluid (liquid):
Pumps, Hydraulic Turbines, etc.
2. Compressible fluid (gas) : Fan, Blower,
Compressors, Wind Turbine, Gas Turbine,
Steam Turbine

 Based on no. of stages:

1. Single stage – single row of blades/impellers
2. Multi stage – multiple row of blades/impellers
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Pump

 It is a mechanical device which transfers

energy from an external source to the
liquid flowing through a conduit.

MECHANICAL ENERGY  HYDRAULIC

ENERGY
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Pump Classification

(Rotodynamic Pumps)
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Positive Displacement Pumps

 A Positive Displacement Pump makes a fluid move by trapping a

fixed amount and forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the
discharge pipe. The volume is constant through each cycle of
operation
.
 Rotary type: Gear screw, vane pumps
lobe, ,
 Reciprocating type: Piston, plunger, diaphragm pumps
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Reciprocating Pump


A Reciprocating pump is a positive displacement pump which

is driven by power from an external source and consists of
a cylinder in which a piston is moved forwards and
backwards. The movement of the piston creates alternately
a vacuum pressure and positive pressure by means of
which the water is raised.
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Gear Pump
 A Gear Pump uses the meshing of
gears to pump fluid by
displacement Gear pumps are
.widely used for hydraulic fluid
power applications and in chemical
installations to pump high viscosity
fluids. As the gears rotate they
separate on the intake side of the
pump, creating a void and suction External Gear Pump
which is filled by fluid. The fluid is
carried by the gears to the
discharge side of the pump, where
the meshing of the gears displaces
the fluid.

Internal Gear Pump

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Lobe Pump
 Lobe Pumps are used in a
variety of industries including pulp
and paper, chemical, food,
beverage, pharmaceutical and
biotechnology. Lobe pumps are
similar to external gear pumps in
operation
flows in thatthe
around fluidinterior of
the casing.
Unlike external gear pumps,
contact is prevented by external
timing gears located in the gearbox.
the lobes do not make contact. Lobe
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Centrifugal Pump
 A Centrifugal Pump is a machine which converts mechanical
energy into kinetic and pressure energy through centrifugal force.
 A centrifugal pump consists of two main parts:
 a rotating element, including an impeller and a shaft.
 a stationary element made up of a casing, stuffing box and bearings.

Impellers
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Centrifugal Pump–Why Priming?

 Total head, H = Suction head, hs +
Delivery head, hd

Priming is done in pumps to remove
any air present in the suction side. For
removing air water is filled in suction
pipe, casing and into a portion
of delivery pipe.As the head developed by
the pump is directly proportional to the
density of fluid to be handled, so with
the presence of air it is not possible to
create pressure. So, if impeller runs in air,
very low pressure will be developed due
to low density of air. As a result, no
liquid will be lifted by the pump.
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Fan, Blower and Compressor

Centrifugal Pump
Pump:
• A machine which imparts energy to a
liquid
level or the liquid to flow or rise to a
causing
• both.
Demour’s centrifugal pump – higher
1730
• Theory
– conservation of angular
momentum
– conversion of kinetic energy to
potential energy
 Rotating elementimpell
– takes
• power
Pump
- er from the
components
(mechanical) the rotating
shaft
and accelerates the
fluid.
 Enclosing the rotating element and
sealing the pressurized liquid inside
or
– casing – acts as a diffuser and
housing transforms
high fluid velocity (kinetic energy) into .
pressure
Schematic Diagram of Basic Elements of a Centrifugal Pump
Main Parts of Centrifugal Pumps
1. Impeller
which is the rotating part of the centrifugal
pump.
It consists of a series of backwards
curved vanes (blades).
The impeller is driven by a shaft which is
connected to the shaft of a prime mover,
e.g., an electric motor, an IC engine, etc.

2. Casing
Which is an air-tight passage
surrounding
the impeller
designed to direct the liquid to
the
impeller and lead it
away casing. It is of spiral type in
Volute
the area of the which
flow increases gradually.
Main Parts of Centrifugal Pumps
3. Suction Pipe
The conduit connecting the sump
(reservoir) up to the centerline of
the pump impeller.

4. Delivery Pipe
The conduit connecting the pump
impeller centerline up to the
delivery point.

5. Impeller Shaft
The shaft which carries the mechanical
power
from the engine/motor drive to the impeller.
6. Engine/Motor Driver
Supplies mechanical power to the
rotating impeller shaft. It can be mounted
directly on the pump, above it, or
adjacent to it.
Application of Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps (radial-flow pumps) are the most used pumps for
hydraulic purposes where high discharge with relatively low head is
required such as irrigation, cooling tower of central A/C system/power
plants, etc. Shrouded Semi-enclosed Fully-open Impeller is
Impeller is Impeller is used used for very thick
used for very for moderately (highly viscous),
Thin (less thick (viscous) stingy liquid, e.g.,
viscous) clear liquid, e.g. thick dredging fluid (mud),
liquid, e.g. oils. paper stock, etc.
water.

Types of Centrifugal Pump Impellers

(a) Volute (casing) (b) Double-volute (casing) (c) Turbine (casing with
pump pump guide vanes) pump
Types of Centrifugal Pumps (casing)
Priming of Centrifugal Pump
When the pump casing and the suction conduit are completely filled with water, as the
impeller rotates, the pressure at the pump suction side becomes lower than the
atmospheric pressure. Due to this difference in pressure head between the water surface
of the sump and the inlet of the pump, the atmospheric pressure pushes the water
from the sump to the pump casing. However, an impeller running in air would produce
only a small head. This cannot create the necessary differential head of water between
the sump and the pump inlet as the density of air is much less than that of water.
Consequently, the pump does not do its work of pumping of water.

Further, dry running of the pump may damage several parts of the pump. This is,
therefore, necessary to ensure that the pump casing, impeller, suction pipe and the portion
of the pump delivery pipe up to the delivery valve are always filled with water before the
start of the pump. Filling is done by pouring water into the funnel or priming-cup
provided for this purpose. An air vent in the casing is provided for the air to escape. This
air vent must be closed after filling. This filling process is called the “priming” of the
pump. Most centrifugal pumps are not self-priming, so they always need priming.

However, a one-way valve, called foot valve is used at the entrance of the suction pipe,
which keeps the suction conduit filled-up even when the pump is stopped. Thus when the
pump is restarted, it does not need priming.
 Head Losses in Centrifugal Pumps
Mechanical losses are the frictional losses
in bearings, glands, packages, etc. and the
disc friction between the impeller and the
liquid which fills the clearance space
between the impeller and the casing.
Some leakage loss also take place
between impeller and casing, at
mechanical seals, glands, etc.

Hydraulic losses are due to:

 Circulatory flow at the passages of the impeller and independent of the discharge.

 Fluid friction at the flow passage: this loss depends on the fluid contact area and

roughness of the surface and hence equal to 𝐾1𝑄2 where 𝐾1 is a coefficient.

the

 Shock losses at the entrance to impeller: this loss occurs due to improper entry angle of
the
flow with respect to the blade angle. At design condition, this loss is practically zero and
increases at reduced or increased flow from normal values.
Main Characteristics Curve of Actual Centrifugal Pumps

Head (Duty Point)

𝜼𝒎𝒂𝒙
(𝑩𝑬𝑷)

Discharge (Duty Point)

Pump manufacturers provide information on the performance of their pumps in the form of curves,
commonly called pump characteristic curve (or simply pump curve). In pump curves the following
information may be given:
(i) the discharge on the x-axis, (ii) the head on the left y-axis, (iii) the pump efficiency as a percentage
on the right (or left) y-axis, (iv) the pump power input on the left (or right) y-axis, (v) the NPSH of the

The discharge-head (𝑸, 𝑯) values corresponding to BEP (𝜼𝒎𝒂𝒙) is called the ‘Duty Point’ of the
pump on the y-axis (vi) the speed of the pump one the y-axis.

pump.
Specific Speed
𝑵
Specific Speed, 𝑵𝒔
 Specific Speed of a pump is defined as the speed of an imaginary pump
𝑸
𝑯
=
which will produce the same amount of discharge under unit
𝟑/  head.This is a numerical engineering tool for the selection of the type
𝒎𝟒
Note that The values of 𝑵, 𝑸 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒎 are
of the pump for installation*.
Best Efficiency Point
taken at (BEP)

𝑵
There is another expression for non-dimensional specific speed (also called shape factor or shape

𝑺𝒒
number)

𝒈𝑸� 𝟑/
=
This does not indicate the size, rather indicated the shape or type of the fluid
𝑯�
𝟒 machinery.

rpm is also known, then using these values 𝑁𝑠 can be calculated and a particular type of pump suitable in this 𝑁𝑠
*For instance, in an application, if the required discharge and head are known, the prime mover (motor or engine)

range can be selected for installation.

Cavitation of Pumps and NPSH
• In general, cavitation occurs when the liquid pressure at a given location is reduced to the
vapor pressure of the liquid.
• For a piping system that includes a pump, cavitation occurs when the absolute pressure at
the inlet falls below the vapor pressure of the water.
• This phenomenon may occur at the inlet to a pump and on the impeller blades, particularly
if the pump is mounted above the level in the suction reservoir.
• Under this condition, vapor bubbles form (water starts to boil) at the impeller inlet and
when these bubbles are carried into a zone of higher pressure, they collapse abruptly and
hit the vanes of the impeller (near the tips of the impeller vanes). causing:
 Damage to the pump (pump
impeller)
 Violent vibrations (and noise).
 Reduce pump capacity.
 Reduce pump efficiency

• To avoid cavitation, the pressure head at the inlet should not fall below a certain minimum
which is influenced by the further reduction in pressure within the pump impeller. The
parameter used for the determination of cavitation is called ‘Net Positive Suction Head
(NPSH)’.
Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH)
NPSH is the difference between the total head at the pump inlet and the water vapor
pressure head 𝐻𝑣 = 2.5 𝑚 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

the datum is taken through the centerline of the pump impeller inlet
(eye).
There are two values of NPSH of interest. The first the required NPSH, denoted
is
(NPSH)R , that must be maintained or exceeded so that cavitation will not occur and
usually determined experimentally and provided by the manufacturer.
The second value for NPSH of concern the available NPSH, denoted (NPSH)A ,
is
This value can be determined experimentally, or calculated if the system
which represents
parameters the head that actually occurs for the particular piping
are known.
system.

For proper pump operation (no cavitation) : (NPSH)A > (NPSH)R

NPSHavailable (at the installation site) > NPSHrequired (for pump)

As stated above, NPSHrequired is usually given for a particular pump by the manufacturer
for its installation without cavitation. NPSHavailable is calculated at the installation site.
Calculation of NPSH
𝑵𝑷𝑺𝑯 =𝒑𝒊𝑯 𝑽+
𝟐
𝟐
datum
− 𝑯 equation between
𝒗 𝒔
𝒈
𝐻
Applying the Bernoulli’s hs
point (1) and (2), datum at pump center
𝑠
𝐻 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝐻 𝑎𝑡𝑚 − 𝐻𝑠 − 𝐻𝐿 + 𝑉
line
𝑠
2
𝑯𝑳 = 𝑯𝒇 +
2 𝒇𝒍𝒗 𝒗𝟐
= 𝐻𝑝𝑖 + 𝜮𝒌
∴ 𝑵𝑷𝑺𝑯𝑨 = 𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒎 −𝑔 𝑯𝒔 −
𝜮𝑯
𝟐
= 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝟐
𝟐𝒈 𝒈
A𝑯 𝑳 − 𝑯𝒗parameter called “Thoma’s cavitation number” is defined as:
𝒅
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 𝐻𝑎𝑡𝑚 − 𝐻𝑠 − 𝐻𝐿
cavitation
− 𝐻𝑣
= =
𝐻𝑚 𝐻𝑚
A critical value 𝜎𝑐 (for no cavitation, 𝜎 ≥ 𝜎𝑐)defined as 3% criteria,
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅
corresponds to critical value of NPSH. This critical value of NPSH is known as
𝜎� = 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 =
⇒� 𝐻
NPSHR.
𝜎𝑐𝐻𝑚
𝑚
Thus, NPSHR is defined as the excess absolute head above 𝐻𝑣 , required by the
pump (i.e., no more than 3% reduction in head or
to obtain satisfactory
efficiency pumping
at constant flow) and head
to prevent cavitation. It is determined by the pump
manufacturer through tests.
Multiple-Pump Operation
To install a pumping station that can be effectively operated over a large range of
fluctuations in both discharge and pressure head, it may be advantageous to install
several identical pumps at the station in parallel or in series operation.
Pumps in Parallel: Pumping stations frequently contain several (two or more)
pumps in a parallel arrangement.
 Any number of the pumps can be operated simultaneously.
 The discharge is increased but the pressure head remains the same as with a
single pump.
 A common feature of sewage pumping stations where the inflow rate
varies
during the day.
Multiple-Pump Operation
Pumps in Series:
 Increases the pressure head keeping the discharge approximately the same as that of a
single pump.
 Basis of multistage pumps; the discharge from the first pump (or 1st stage) is delivered to
the inlet of the second pump (or 2nd stage), and so on.
 The same discharge passes through each pump receiving a pressure boost in doing so..
 Note that, however, all pumps in a series system must be operated simultaneously
Multi-stage Pump
 Similar to series arrangement of identical pumps;
series of impellers mounted on a single compact
shaft instead to save space. the discharge from the
1st stage impeller is delivered to the inlet of the 2nd
stage impeller and so on.
 Usually even numbers of impellers are used , the
inlets of one-half of the impellers are facing
opposite to the inlets of the other half of the
impellers to produce zero axial thrust on the shaft
which is known as ‘opposed mounting’.
 Used
when
high
heads
 The performance analysis is done per stage are basis as for a single-stage pump.
 The specific speed is calculated based on required
manometric head per stage.
but
 The total manometric head is calculated by multiplying manometric head per
stage both impeller speed and size limitations are
with the number of stages. prohibitive.
 Multi-stage
Applicationspump
includewith
Boiler feed,
four deep-well pumping, water supply to very high-rise buildings, etc.
stages
 Submersible pumps, Deep-well turbine pumps are some of the examples.
Multi-stage Centrifugal Pumps

Submersible Deep-well
Pump Turbine Pump
Other Types of Pumps

Propeller
pump
(axial-
flow/roto-
dynamic
type)
Jet Pump - uses a jet, often of steam, to create
arranged in a
vertical low pressure. This low pressure sucks in fluid and
operation propels it into a higher pressure Liquid is. trapped
region between threads
at the suction
end…
Screw pump (positive displacement
type) - a screw pumps works across
one pair of mating threads as shown in
the figure. The liquid is similarly
carried across all the pairs of mating
threads.
Selection of a Centrifugal
Pump
 The system (demand) curve of a particular hydraulic system is calculated based on
its
design. It shows how much head is required to produce a certain quantity of discharge.
point

Selection of a Centrifugal Pump