Mechanical Engineernig Lab III
Experiment No: 7 PERFORMANCE TEST ON A CENTRIFUGAL
PUMP
Course Code: ME3484
Submitted By
Deepmoy Rudra Sarma
Roll Number: ME22B120
IIT Madras
Date of Submission
2nd April, 2025
Aim:
• Study experimental setup and draw schematic diagram
• Conduct performance test at constant speed and plot:
– Discharge vs Head
– Discharge vs Power Input
– Discharge vs Overall Efficiency
• To find out the parameters of the pump at its best efficiency point, calculate its specific speed,
shape number and determine the desirable range of operation at the given speed from the
plotted results.
Apparatus:
• Centrifugal pump system with sump, measuring tank, pipes, valves
• Drive motor with control panel
• Pressure gauges, flow meters, power measurement instruments
Schemetic Diagram
Procedure:
1. Prime pump and start at closed valve position
2. Switch on the motor and bring it to the desired speed keeping the flow control valve in fully
closed condition. Note down the operating parameters.
3. Gradually bring the flow control valve to its full open position and note down the operating
parameters.
1
4. Choose a parameter and divide its range suitably to get the desired number of readings.
5. Adjust the flow control valve to get the desired value of the chosen parameter and note down
the operating parameters.
6. Repeat the above for all the values of the chosen parameter.
7. For a given valve position, note down the operating parameters at the given speed and also at
a different speed specified.
8. From the readings tabulated, flow rate, head, power input and overall efficiency have to be
calculated and presented in another table.
9. Use affinity laws to find out the parameters at the specified speed. Compare the values with
the measured ones and comment on the same.
10. Model calculation has to be presented for one of the readings.
11. Plot the graphs in a single graph sheet taking discharge in the abscissa and head, power input,
overall efficiency in the ordinate.
12. Extract desired values from the plotted graphs.
Observation Tables:
Table 1: Experimental Measurements
Delivery Suction Input
Discharge
pressure pressure Power
(L/min)
() (inHg) (W)
1 0.1 -0.1 70 242
2 0.2 -0.1 56 214
3 0.3 -0.1 42 200
4 0.4 -0.1 28 196
5 0.5 -0.1 14 190
6 0.5 0 0 172
Table 2: Calculated Parameters
Delivery Suction Output
Discharge Head Efficiency
S.No pressure pressure power
(L/min) (m) (%)
(Pa) (Pa) (W)
1 70 9807 -338.77 1.185 13.55 5.60
2 56 19614 -338.77 2.185 20.00 9.34
3 42 29421 -338.77 3.185 21.86 10.93
4 28 39228 -338.77 4.185 19.15 9.77
5 14 49035 -338.77 5.185 11.86 6.24
6 0 49035 0.00 5.150 0.00 0.00
2
Formulae Used:
P 1 − P2
H= + z1 − z2
ρg
Output Power = ρgQH
√
N Q
Ns =
H 3/4√
N Q
Shape Number =
60(Hg)3/4
2
Q1 N1 H1 N1
Affinity Laws: = , =
Q2 N2 H2 N2
Sample Calculation:
For discharge = 56 L/min, N = 1500 rpm, Pinput = 214 watts
19614 + 338.77
H= + 0.15 = 2.185m
103 × 9.81
56 × 10−3
Output Power = 103 × × 2.185 × 9.81 = 20watts
60
20
η= × 100 = 9.34%
214
p
1500 56 × 10−3 /60
Specif icSpeed = Ns = = 25.5rpm
(2.185)3/4
p
1500 56 × 10−3 /60
ShapeN umber = = 0.0077
(9.81 × 2.185)3/4
Results:
• Maximum Efficiency: 10.93%
• Shut off head of Pump= 5.150 m of water
• Discharge corresponding to maximum efficiency = 0.0007 m3/sec
• Specific speed of Pump corresponding to maximum efficiency = 16.65 rpm number of pump
corresponding to maximum efficiency = 0.05
• Head Corresponding to maximum efficiency= 3.185m of water
3
Graphs
Conclusions:
• Head decreases as discharge increases: The head value reduces progressively from 5.185 m to
1.185 m as the discharge increases from 14 l/min to 70 l/min.
• Delivery pressure increases with discharge: Delivery pressure rises steadily, indicating that
higher flow rates demand greater pressure.
• Efficiency initially increases and then decreases: Efficiency peaks at 10.93% when the discharge
is 42 l/min and declines thereafter.
