Subject :- Design of Pumps,Blowers and Compressors

Question Bank

Topic No. 1 :- Fundamentals of Fluid Machinery

Q.1 :- Explain the basic equation of Energy Transfer between fluid and rotar ? (5)

Q.2 :- Explain performance characteristics of Pump, fan, blower and compressor

(5) ( Any 1 with neat sketch/graph)

Q.3 :- What is Specific Speed ? Explain it’s Significance ? (5)

Q.4 :- Write a Short note on :- ( 5)

a) Compressible Flow Machines

b) Incompressible Flow Machines

Q.5 :- Write a short note on stage velocity triangles ( 5)

Q.6 :- Write a short note on Dimensionless Parameters.( 5)

Q.7 :- Define and Explain the following terms (4)

a) Pump b) Fan and Blower c) Compressor d) Turbine e) Flow Machines

Q.8 :- Explain the different applications of compressors, fans, blowers ? ( 5)

Q.9:- Differentiate between compressible and incompressible flow machines (4)

 Topic No. 2 :- Reciprocating Pumps
Q.1:- What is Reciprocating Pump ? Give its classification (4)

Q.2:- Explain Construction working of Reciprocating Pumps with neat sketch ?(5)

Q.3:- What are the main components of Reciprocating Pumps ? Explain its

Function.(5)

Q.4:- What is Slip ? Explain the concept of Negative Slip ?(4)

Q.5:- Explain Indicator diagram in Reciprocating Pumps ? (5)

Q.6:- Explain Air Vessel in Reciprocating Pumps ?(5)

Q.7:- Explain Performance Characteristics of Reciprocating Pumps ?(5)

Q.8:- Explain effect of acceleration in suction and Delivery pipes on Indicator(5)

Diagram ?

Q.9:- What are different applications of Reciprocating pumps? Explain any one in

Detail ?(5)
 Topic No. 3 :- Design of Pumps
Q.1:- Explain the design procedure of Centrifugal Pump or Reciprocating Pump(5)

Q.2:- Explain various forms of corrosion occurred in hydraulic machines ?(5)

Q.3:- Explain general design consideration of Pump Casing ?(5)

Q.4:- Write a short note on Pump Selection.(5)

Q.5:- Explain various application areas of Centrifugal Pump or Reciprocating Pump

Q.6:- Write a short note on Pump Impeller and Pump casing (5)

Q.7:- Explain the following Terms:- (6)

a) Static Suction Head b) Static Discharge Head c) Total Suction Head

( Every Question for 5 marks)

Q.8:- Explain the hydraulic design of pumps in details ( 5)

 Topic No. 2 :- Reciprocating Pumps Numericals
1) A single acting reciprocating pump running at 50 r.p.m. delivers 0.01 m3/s of water. The
diameter of the piston is 200 mm and stroke length 400 mm determine a) The
theoretical discharge of the pump b) co-efficient of discharge and c) Slip and the
percentage slip of the pump.

2) A double acting reciprocating pump running at 40 r.p.m. is discharging 1.0 m3 of water

per minute. The pump has a stroke of 400 mm. The diameter of the piston is 200 mm.
The delivery and suction head are 20 m and 5 m respectively. Find the slip of the pump
and power required to drive the pump ?

3) The cylinder bore diameter of a single acting reciprocating pump is 150 mm and its
stroke length is 300 mm. The pumps runs at 50 r.p.m. and lifts water through a height of
25 m. The delivery pipe is 22 m long and 100 mm in diameter. Find the theoretical
discharge and the theoretical power required to run the pump. If the actual discharge is
4.2 liters/s. Find the percentage slip .Also determine the acceleration head at the
beginning and middle of the delivery stroke.

4) The length and diameter of a suction pipe of a single acting reciprocating pump are 5 m
and 10 m respectively. The pump has a plunger of diameter 15 cm and stroke length of
35 cm. The centre of the pump is 3 m above the water surface in the pump. The atm.
press. Head is 10.3 of water and pump is running at 35 r.p.m. determine a) Pressure
head due to acceleration at the beginning of the suction stroke. b) Maximum pressure
head due to acceleration and c) Pressure head in the cylinder at the beginning and at
the end of the stroke .

5) A single acting reciprocating pump has piston diameter 12.5 cm and stroke length 30 cm.
The center of the pump is 4 m above the water level in the sump. The diameter and
length of suction pipe are 7.5 cm and 7 m resp. The separation occurs if the absolute
pressure head in the cylinder during suction stroke falls below 2.5 m of water. Calculate
the maximum speed at which the pump can run without separation. Take atmospheric
pressure head = 10.3 m of water.

6) A single acting reciprocating pump has a plunger of 10 cm diameter and a stroke length
200 mm. The centre of the pump is 4 m above the water level in the sump 14 m below
the level of water in a tank to which water is delivered by the pump. The diameter and
length of suction pipe are 40 mm and 6 m while of the delivery pipe are 30 mm and 18
m respectively. Determine the maximum speed at which the pump may be run without
 separation. If separation occurs at 7.848 N/cm2 below atmospheric pressure. Take
atmospheric pressure head = 10.3 m of water.

7) A double acting reciprocating piston pump is pumping water ( diameter of the piston
250 mm , diameter of the piston rod which is on one side of the piston 50 mm , piston
stroke 380 mm) The suction and discharge head are 4.5 m and 18.6 m respectively. Find
the work done by the piston during the outward stroke. would the work done change for
the inward stroke ?

8) A single acting reciprocating pump has a plunger diameter 250 mm and stroke of 450
mm and it is driven with S.H.M. at 60 r.p.m. The length and diameter of delivery pipe are
60 m and 100 mm respectively. Determine the power saved in overcoming friction in the
delivery pipe by fitting an air vessel on the delivery side of the sump. Assume friction
factor = 0.01

9) A double acting reciprocating pump runs at 120 r.p.m. when its suction pipe of 100 mm
diameter is fitted with an air vessel on its suction side.The diameter of cylinder and
stroke are 150 mm and 450 mm respectively. If the piston is to be driven with S.H.M.
find the rate of flow from or into the air vessel when the crank makes angles of 30 0 , 90 0
,120 0 with the inner dead centre. Find also crank angles at which there is no flow into
or from the air vessel ?

10) A single acting reciprocating pump running at 30 r.p.m. delivers 0.012 m3/s of water. The
diameter of the piston is 25 cm and stroke length is 50 cm. determine a) The theoretical
discharge of the pump b) Co-efficient of discharge and c) Slip and Percentage slip of the
pump
 Topic No. 4, 5 Theory and Design of Fans and Blowers
1) Discuss the various applications of fans & blowers.

2) How does the dust erosion of centrifugal impeller occurs ? What is it’s effect on the
performance ?

3) What are main cause for noise generation ? What are methods for reducing the fan
noise ?

4) State design considerations and empirical relations used to determine various design
parameters ?

5) Explain function of an aerofoil and discuss characteristics curve of airfoil.

6) Explain different criteria for selection of Compressor and Fans –blowers

7) Short Note :- Design procedure & selection, optimization of blower.

8) Short Note :- Design of impeller and dimensions in Aerodynamic design.

9) Explain the different Mechanical losses in fans and blowers ?

10) Explain performance of axial fans with neat graph.

11) Explain the different fan stage parameters with usual notations.

12) Explain UGV and DGV with velocity triangles.

13) Explain different design steps in centrifugal blowers

14) Derive the expression for stage with downstream guide vane.

15) What is surging and stalling ? What are its effect ? How it is developed ?
Problems on Fans and Blowers

1) A Centrifugal fan has the following data :

Inner diameter of the impeller 18 cm

Outer diameter of the impeller 20 cm

Speed 1450 rpm

The relative and absolute velocities respectively are

At entry 20 m/s, 21 m/s

At exit 17 m/s, 25 m/s

Flow rate 0.5 kg/s

Motor efficiency 78 %

Determine a) Stage Pressure rise b) Degree of reaction c) the power to drive the fan

Take desity of air as 1.25 kg /m3

2) A centrifugal blower with a radial impeller produces a pressure equivalent to 100 cm

column of water. The pressure and temperature at its entry are 0.98 bar and 310 K. The
electric motor driving the blower runs at 3000 rpm. The efficiencies of the fan and drive
are 82 % and 88 % respectively. The radial velocity remain constant and has a value of
0.2 u2. The velocity at the inlet eye as 0.4u 2 . If the blower handles 200 m 3/min of air at
the entry condition determine :-

a) Power required by the electric motor b) impeller diameter c) Inner diameter of the
blade ring d) air angle at entry e) impeller widths at entry and exit f) number of
impeller blades g) The Specific speed.

3) A centrifugal blower takes in 180 m 3/min of air P1 = 1.013 bar and t 1 = 43 0c and
delivers it at 750 mm W.G. Taking the efficiencies of the blower and drive as 80 % & 82 %
respectively. Determine the power required to drive the blower and the state of air at
exit.
4) An axial fan stage consisting of only a rotor has the following data :-

Rotor blade air angle at exit 100

Tip diameter 60 cm

Hub diameter 30 cm

Rotational speed 960 rpm

Power required 1 kW

Flow coefficient 0.245

(Inlet flow conditions P1 = 1.02 bar and T1 = 3.16 K)

Determine the rotor blade angle at the entry, the flow rate, stage pressure rise, overall
efficiency, degree of reaction, and specific speed.

5) The velocities for upstream and downstream of an open propeller fan ( d = 50 cm ) are 5
and 25 m/s respectively. If the ambient conditions are P = 1.02 bar, t = 37 0C determine :

a) Flow rate through the fan

b) Total pressure developed by the fan and

c) The power required to drive the fan assuming the overall efficiency of the fan as

40 %
 Topic No. 6 Design of Compressors
Q.1 What is Compressor? Give its Classification and Applications ?

Q.2 Explain the centrifugal compressor stage with neat sketch ?

Q.3 Explain Enthalpy-Entropy diagram in details.

Q.4 Explain the terms – degree of reaction & slip factor.

Q.5 What is diffuser? Explain the different types of diffuser in details.

Q.6 Explain the different Impeller flow losses ?

Q.7 Explain the performance characteristics curves of Centrifugal

Compressor ?

Q.8 What are basic design features in Axial Flow Compressor ?

Q.9 Explain the velocity triangles of a compressor stage ?

Q.10 Explain performance characteristics curves of an Axial flow

Compressor?

Q.11 What is the work done factor for an Axial flow compressor stage ?

How does it vary number of stage?

Q.12 Draw the velocity triangles at the entry and exit for the following

axial compressor stage:- a) R = ½ b) R < ½ c) R > ½

Q.13 What is the slip factor ? What is its effect on the flow and the

pressure ratio in the stage ?

Problems on Compressor

1) An Axial compressor stage has the following data

a) Temperature and Pressure at Entry 300 K, 1.0 bar

b) Degree of Reaction 50 %

c) Mean Blade ring diameter 36 cm

d) Rotational Speed 18000 rpm

e) Blade Height at entry 6 cm

f) Air angles at rotor and stator exit 250

g) Axial velocity 180 m /s

h) Work done factor 0.88

i) Stage Efficiency 85 %

j) Mechanical Efficiency 96.7 %

Determine:- a) Air angles at the stator and rotor entry b) The mass flow rate of air c) The
power required to drive the compressor d) The loading coefficient e) The pressure ratio
developed by the stage f) Mach number at the rotor entry.

2) Air enters the inducer of centrifugal compressor at Po1= 1.02 bar, To1 = 335 K. The hub
and tip diameters of the impeller eye are 10 and 25 cm respectively. If the compressor
runs at 7200 rpm and delivers 5.0 kg/s of air. Determine the air angle at the inducer
blade entry and the relative Mach number. If IGVs are used to obtain a straight inducer
section, determine the air angle at IGVs exit and the new value of the relative Mach
number.