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Pipe Flow Problems

1. A centrifugal pump has a 100 mm diameter suction pipe and a 75 mm diameter


delivery pipe. When discharging 15 l/s of water, the inlet water mercury
manometer with one limb exposed to the atmosphere recorded a vacuum
deflection of 198 mm; the mercury level on the suction side was 100 mm below
the pipe centerline. The delivery pressure gauge, 200 mm above the pump inlet,
recorded a pressure of 0.95 bar. The measured in put power was 3.2 kW.
Calculate the pump efficiency. (See fig.1)

Solution;
Manometric head = rise in total head

p2 V22 p V2
Hm z 1 1 1bar 10.198m of water
g 2 g g 2 g
p2
0.95 *10.198 9.65m of water
g
V22
V2 3.39m / s; 0.588m
2g
V12
V1 1.91m / s; 0.186m
2g
Then Hm 9.69 0.588 0.2 - (-2.793 0.186) 13.09m
output power gQHm( watts )
Efficiency ( )
input power 3200( watts )
3.2 0.015 13.09
0.602 (60.2 percent )
3.2

Fig 1.
(Pipeline selection in pumping system design)

2. As existing pump, having the tabulated characteristics is to be used to pump raw


sewage to a treatment plant through a static lift of 20 m. An uPVC pipeline 10
km long is to be used. Allowing for minor losses totaling 10 V 2/2g and taking an
effective roughness of 0.15 mm because of sliming, select a suitable
commercially available pipe size to achieve a discharge of 60 l/s. Calculate this

power consumption.

Discharge (l/s) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Total head (m) 45 44.7 43.7 42.5 40.6 38 35 31
Overall efficiency
35 50 57 60 60 53 40
(per cent)

Solution;

At 60 l/s, total head = 35.0 m, therefore the sum of the static lift and pipeline losses
must not exceed 35.0 m.

Try 300 mm diameter: A=0.0707 m2 V=0.85 m/s


Re = 2.25*100000 ; k/D = 0.0005 =0.019= f

2
Friction head loss 0.019 10000 0.85 23.32m
0.3 19.62
Hs + hf = 43.32 (> 35) pipe diameter too small

Try 300 mm diameter: A=0.0962 m2 V=0.624 m/s;


Re = 1.93*100000 ; k/D = 0.00043 =0.0185

10 0.624 2
0 .2 m
Hf=10.48m; hm 19.612

Hs + hf + hm =30.68 (< 35 m) O.K

The pump would deliver approximately 70 l/s through the 350 mm pipe and to regulate
the flow to 60 l/s an additional head loss of 4.32 m by valve closure would be required.

Power consumption P 1000 9.81 0.06 35 38.85kW


0.55 1000

(Pumps in parallel and series)

3. Two identical pumps having the tabulated characteristics are to be installed in a


pumping station to deliver sewage to a settling tank through a 200 mm uPVC
pipeline 2.5 km long. The static lift is 15 m. Allowing for minor head losses of
10.0V2/2g and assuming an effective roughness of 0.15 mm calculate the
discharge and power consumption if the pumps were to be connected: (a) in
parallel, and (b) in series.

Pump Characteristics
discharge (l/s) 0 10 20 30 40
Total head (m) 30 27.5 23.5 17 7.5
Overall efficiency (per cent) 44 58 50 18

Solution;
The system curve is computed as in the previous examples; this is, of course ,
independent of the pump characteristics. Calculated system heads (H) are tabulated
below for discrete discharges (Q)

H HsT h f hm

Q (l/s) 10 20 30 40
H (m) 16.53 20.8 27.37 36.48
(a) Parallel operation
The predicted head v. discharge curve for dual pump operation in parallel mode is
obtained as described,.i.e. by doubling she discharge over the range of heads (since
the pumps are identical in this case). The system and efficiency curves are added as
shown in fig. 2. From the intersection of the characteristic and system curves the
following results are obtained:

Fig. 2 Parallel operation

Single pimp operation; Q = 22.5 l/S; Hm = 24 m ; = 0.58


Power consumption = 9.13 kW
Parallel operation, Q = 28.5 l/S; Hm = 26 m ; = 0.51
(Corresponding with 14.25 l/s per pump)
Power input = 14.11 kW

(b) Series operation


Using the method described in section 6.3 (b) and plotting the dual-pump
characteristic curve, intersection with the system curve yields (see Fig 3)
Fig 3. Series operation

Q=32.5 l/S; Hm = 28 m ; = 0.41


Power input = 21.77kW

Note that for this particular pipe system, comparing the relative power consumptions the
parallel operation is more efficient in producing an increase in discharge than the series
operation.

4. A laboratory test on a pump revealed that the onset of cavitations occurred at a


discharge of 35 l/s, when the total head at inlet was reduced to 2.5m and the total
head across the pump was 32 m. Barometric pressure was 760 mm Hg and the
vapor pressure 17 mm Hg. Calculate the Thoma cavitation number. The pump is
to be installed in a situation where the atmospheric pressure is 650 mm Hg and
water temperature 10C (Vapor Pressure 9.22 mmHg) to give the same total
head and discharge. The losses and velocity head in the suction pipe are
estimated to be 0.55 m of water. What is the maximum height of the suction lift?

Solution;
pv
H suc 2.5m H suc 2.5 0.23 2.27

2.27
0.071
32
p 5 V52 p V2
z 5 hL 1 1 z1
2g 2g
p5 p p p V2
v 1 v z 5 z1 5 hL NPSH
2g

0.55

p p
z 5 z1 1 v 0.55 NPSH 8.84 0.1254 0.55 2.27 5.89m

5. The pump of Fig 4a.is placed in a 10-in- diameter pipe (f=0.020), 1300 ft long,
which is used to lift water from one reservoir to another. The difference in water
surface elevations between the reservoirs fluctuates from 20ft to 100ft. Plot a
curve showing delivery rate versus water surface elevation difference. Plot also
the corresponding efficiencies. The pump is operated at a constant speed of 1450
rpm. Neglect minor losses.

Solution;

Plot the pump characteristic curve and pipe system curves for a variety of zs.

z,ft Q, gpm efficiency, %


20 2500 68
40 2320 76
60 2100 81
80 1860 84
100 1350 77
110 940 66

See plotted curves in fig 4b


6. Suppose a pump is to pump water at a head of 130ft, the water temperature
being 100F and the barometric pressure being 14.3 psia. At intake the pressures
is a vacuum of 17 in Hg and the velocity is 12 fps. What are the values of NPSH
and ?

Solution;

NPSH p s abs / Vs2 / 2 g p v /


p s abs p 0 / p s / 14.3144 / 62.0 17 / 12 847.3 / 62.0 13.85 ft
Vs2 / 2 g 12 2 / 2 * 32.2 2.24 ft p v / 135 / 62 2.18 ft
NPSH 13.85 2.24 2.18 13.91 ft 13.91 / 130 0.107

7. A pump is delivering 7500 gpm of water at 140 F at a head of 240 ft, and the
barometric pressure is 13.8 psia. Determine the reading on a pressure gage in
inches of mercury vacuum at the suction flange when cavitation is incipient.
Assume the suction pipe diameter equals 2 ft and neglect the effects of
prerotation. Take c=0.085

Solution;

p s abs / Vs2 / 2 g p v / / h
let p gage pressure at suction flange
p s abs p atm p 13.8 p

Vs Q / As 7500 0.002228 / 2 2 / 4 5.319 ft
p v / 416 / 61.4 6.775 ft

0.085 13.8 p 144 / 61.4 5.319 2 /( 2 * 32.2) 6.775 / 240
p 2.400 lb / in 2.400 29.9 / 14.7 4.88 inHg
2
or 4.88 in Hg vacuum

8. Water is being pumped from a reservoir to the top of a hill, where it is


discharged, as shown in Fig. The pump, which is 70 % efficient, is rated at
150kW. Find the flow rate at which water is being discharged from the pipe.
Neglect minor losses
Solution;
p1 / V12 / 2 g z1 E p p 2 / V 22 / 2 g z 2 h L
E P P / Q 150 0.7 / Q9.79 10.725 / Q
2

V Q/ A V2 Q /
500
/ 4 5.093Q
h L h f f L / D V 2 / 2 g
1000
Assume
500
f 0.018, hL 0.018 975 /
5.093Q) / 2 * 9.807 46.42Q
2 2

1000
.

0 0 111 .0 10.725 / Q 0 5.093Q) 2 / 2 * 9.807 150.2 46.42Q 2
Q 0.254 m / s (by trial and error)
3

This solution was based on the assumed value of f of 0.018. However, the value of f is
dependent on the Reynolds number and relative roughness. Therefore a new value of f
should be determined based on the computed value of Q of 0.254 m3/s.

/ D 0.00030 / 500 / 1000 0.00060



V Q / A 0.254 / 500 / 1000 / 4 1.294 m / s
2


N R DV / v 500 / 1000 1.294 / 1.02 * 10 6 6.34 *10 5
From Fig, f=0.018. Hence, the computed flow rate of 0.254 m3/s is correct.

9. Oil with a specific gravity of 0.87 is being pumped from a lower reservoir to an
elevated tank as shown in Fig. The pump in the system is 78% efficient and is
rated at 185 KW. Determine the flow rate of the oil in the pipe if the total head
loss from point 1 to 2 is 12 of oil.
Solution;
p1 / v12 / 2 g z1 E p p 2 / v 22 / 2 g z 2 hL p1 / p 2 / v 22 / 2 g 0
z1 150m
P QE P 0.78185 Q * 0.87 * 9.79 E P EP 16.94 / Q
v 22 / 2 g Q / A / 2 g Q / 0.160 / 4 /( 2 * 9.807) 126.12Q 2
2 2 2

z 2 200m hL 12m 0 0 150 16.94 / Q 0 126.12Q 2 200 12


126.12Q 2 16.94 / Q 62 0

By trial and error solution, Q= 0.244 m3/s

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