Chapter II – 4 .

1 Pipe-Pump Systems for Pipelines

II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System
II.4.2. Momentum Relations in a Hydraulic Machine
II.4.3. Dimensional Analysis and Similitude for a Hydraulic Machine
II.4.4. Specific Speed and Typification
II.4.5. Performance Characteristics
II.4.5.a Operating Point
II.4.5.b Flowrate Adjustment in a Pumping System
II.4.5.c Similar Pumps with Speed Change
II.4.5.d Similar Pumps with Diameter Change
II.4.6. Cavitation
II.4.1. System Characteristics and Operating Point
II.4.2. Pump System Combinations
II.3.8.a Series Combination of Pumps
II.3.8.b Parallel Combination of Pumps
II.3.8.c Single Pump and 2 Parallel Systems
II.4.3. Selection of Pumps
II.4.4. Operational Problems in Pumping Systems
II.4.1.1 Energy Relations for a Pumping System

Pdr
Ps : Pump suction end Pressure
Pd : Pump discharge end Press.
Dischar Discharge
Reservoir
Psr : Suction Reservoir Press.
ge side Hgd
Pdr : Discharge Reservoir
Pd Press.
Hgt : Total geometric head
Ps Hgp Hgt Hgd : Discharge geometric head
Hgs : Suction geometric
head
Suction Side Hgp : Pump geometric head
zs Hgs
zd
Psr

Suction zsr
Reservoir Datum
II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System
Extended Bernoulli equation written between the reservoir
free surfaces;
Pdr

pet Vet 2 N
pbt Vbt 2
  Zet  H   h j    Zbt Discharge
Discharge Reservoir

 g 2g  g 2g
side
Hgd
j 1
Pd
Total head Loss in the
System, j : Element with Ps Hgp
Hgt

head Loss ( Pipe, elbow,

valve, etc.)
Suction Side
zs Hgs
2 2
For Large Vet Vbt zd

Reservoirs :  0 Psr
2g 2g
Suction Reservoir
zsr
If reservoirs are open Datum

to atmosphere ; p et p bt

g g Typical Pumping System
II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System
Extended Bernoulli equation written between the reservoir
free surfaces;
Total Geometrical Head Hgt H gt  Z bt  Z et
Thus the Pump Head; H
N
H  H gt   h j
Pump Head “H” reguired j 1
in a system between two
large reservoirs open to
atmosphere is equal to the H  H gt  ht
sum of total geometric
head “Hgt“ and total head
loss in the system “ht”
II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System
Total head loss in a system can be expressed as the sum
of total head losses in the suction(s) and discharge(d)
sides. N
h     hj 
N N

h
j 1
j 
j 1
j s
j 1
d

Extended Bernoulli equation written between the suction

and discharge sides of the pump gives the total pump
head, H.
p1s V1s 2 p2 d V2 d 2
  Z1s  H    Z2d
 g 2g g 2g

 p2 d V2 d 2   p1s V1s 2 
H    Z2d    Z1s 
 g 2g    g 2g 
II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System
For small pumps or when the suction and discharge
side of a pump are at the same geometrical head
and of equal pipe diameter; the pump head can be
mesured and the differential static pressure between
them is:
p2  p1
H 
g
The Power transformed to the fluid is the product of
Specific Weight, ( g ≡ g) ; volumetric flowrate, Q
and total pump head H, and referred to as
Hydraulic Power Ph.
Ph   gQH
 II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System

The effective power to operate the pump, Peff is

referred to as ; brake horse power (bHP) or is
Shaft Power. The shaft power can be expressed as:

Psh  T  : shaft rotational speed

T : torque
As the shaft power is tranformed to hydraulic power,
some portion of it is lost due to various reasons. The
loses expressed as the ratio of input to output powers
and defines the pump efficiency η.
PH gQH
 
Pm T
II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System
The losses in a pump are:
 Losses in the mechanical transmission system
(shaft, bearing, sealing and windage). Expressed in
terms of the mechanical efficiency ( ηm )
 Fluid losses inside the pump (impeller, diffuser,
volute, casing) due to friction turbulence and
seperation. Expressed in terms of the hydraulic
efficiency (ηh).
 Leakage losses between the impeller and the
casing. These are expressed in terms of the
volumetric efficiency ( ηv ).
II.4.1. Energy Relations for a Pumping System

The pump efficiency (overall) is the product of

these three efficiencies.
η = ηm ηv ηh

The pump designer aims to design a pump which

has the highest efficiency in a wide range of
flowrates.
 II.4.1.2 Operating Point

Operating Point (OP) is defined as the intersecting point of

Pump Characteristic and System Characteristic
System ¢ ( H = Hgt + C Q2 )
H
Operating Point

CQ2
Pump ¢
Hgt

Q
Figure : Pump Characteristic, System Characteristic
& Operating Point
II.4.1.2 Operating Point
Change of Operating Point due to Changes in System
Characteristics

1.System ¢ Change due to Geometrical Head (Hgt) Variations

H
Operating Points
2
1

Pump ¢

Hgt2
η
Hgt1

Q
II.4.1.2 Operating Point
2.System ¢ Change due to Valve Throttling (CQ2 Variations)

Operating Points
H

3
2
1

Q
Example
What will be the flow rate through the following system and the
required pump head (pump operating point)?

Pipes Ltot = 1000m; D=0,4 m

f = 0.015 ; ke = 0.5 ; KELB = 0.35 Kd =1 2

Z2 = 230 m

1
Z1 = 200 m

P
 Pump Characteristics is given by :
Hp = 60 – 375Q2
To find the system characteristics, Extended
Bernoulli equation between 1 & 2:
2 2
P1 V 1 P2 V 2
  Z1  h p   + Z2 +  h k
g 2g g 2g
2
 fL  V
0  0  200  h p  0 + 0 + 230 +  + Ke + K b  K E 
D  2g
2
Q  0.015x1000 
h p  30 + 2  + 0.5 + 0.35 + 1
2gA  0.40 
 Q2 2 m.
hP= 30 +  * 39.3 = 30 m + 16 Q
2 x9.81 x x(0,4) 2
4

Thus the “System Characteristics” is found as:

H= 30 +16 Q2 where the head is in m(meters) and the
flow rate is in m3/s.

Solving the system and pump characteristics

simultaneously, one gets the operating point of the pump
(and the system).
Hp = 31.2 m ; Q = 0.28 m3/s
 II.4.1.3. Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
in Turbomachinery
• Turbomachinery performance is a function of many
physical parameters; which are geometric,
dynamic or fluid property parameters.
• Full performance can hardly be analytically
expressed through these parameters, so an
empirical approach is necessary to obtain the
characteristics of a turbomachine.
• A “Dimensional Analysis” is very useful in reducing
the number of parameters and especially the
number of experiments and thus the results.
II. 4.1.3 Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
in Turbomachinery
•The physical parameters of interest are given below
Q : Volumetric flowrate [ m3 / s ]
gH : Energy per unit weight [ m2 / s2 ]
D : Size of the turbomachine, Impeller diameter [ m ]
Ω : Rotational speed [ rad / s ]
P : Power of the turbomachine [W ]
 : Fluid density [ kg / m3 ]
 : Fluid viscosity [ Pa - s ]

Power of the turbomachine can be expressed as :

P  Q, gH , D, ,  ,  
II. 4.1.3 Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
in Turbomachinery
A dimensional analysis method such as
Buckingham pi (π) teorem can be used to obtain the
non-dimensional parameters as:
Here the 7 physical parameters effective in
turbomachinery performance are expressed in
terms of 4  terms as non-dimensional performance
parameters.
P Q gH 
 D
3 5
D 3
 D
2 2
D 2

Power Flow Load Reynolds

parameter parameter parameter Number
 II. 4.1.3 Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
in Turbomachinery
In geometrically similar machines full similitude can be
obtained if all  terms are the same. This can be
hardly satisfied, so the equality of Reynolds number is
relaxed. The error made due to this, is later corrected
by empirical correlations. Thus for similitude ;

P  Q gH 
 , 2 2
 D  D  D 
3 5 3

Thus, for the similitude of geometrically similar

turbo-machines it is enough to have the flow and
load parameters to be the same in both machines.
 II. 4.1.3 Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
in Turbomachinery
The performance parameter efficiency as previously defined
may be obtained by modifying the  terms.
Q gH
 Q H  3
 2 2  gQH Pump Efficiency
   D D    pump
P
P P P
3 D5
P
P 3 D5 P Turbine
     turbine Efficiency
 Q H
t
Q gH  gQH
D3 2 D 2

For a pump (or turbine) opreating in similitude disregarding

Reynolds Number effects, the efficiencies are the same.
II. 4.1.3 Dimensional Analysis and Similitude in Pumps
Simplified Non-Dimensional Groups
In practice the non-dimensional parameters are simplified
to form dimensional performance parameters.

Q
 Q  3
Flow
ND parameter
N : rpm
H
 H  2 2 Load parameter
N D

These can be used as similarity parameters.

 Speed Change in Pumps
As the rotational speed of the pump (N) changes, Pump ¢
changes. As a consequence O.P. changes. Pump ¢ at this
new N can be found through similitude. İf the change in N is
too large, a Re correction may be necessary. For this case
the simplified similarity parameters for pumps are;

Q 
Q  H  P
H  2 P  3
N N N
These dimensional π’ terms have to be the same for similar
operating points at two different N values.
H1 H2 P1 P2
Q1 Q2
 2
 2 3
 3
N1 N 2 N 1 N 2 N1 N 2
 Speed Change in Pumps
If the pump ¢ at N1 is known, ¢ at N2 could be found using
the similarity parameters. If N is eliminated between these 2
similarity relations, a relation between H and Q can be found.
This is the “Similarity Curve for geometrically equivalent
(same) pumps operating at different speeds.
 H' H
H  Q  CQ
2 2
C  2
   
2
Q
 Q 
This relation gives similar operating points at different
N values.

The efficiencies of similar operating points can be

taken to be the same.
 Speed Change in Pumps

Similar OP

Pompa ¢
N=1500 rpm

Figure : Similar Operating Points in Pumps with Speed

Changes.
H
H=kQ2

OP1 System ¢( H = Hgt + CQ2)

(H1,Q1) OPo
Ho (Ho,Qo)

H2 OP2
(H2,Q2)
N1

N2 (1500
rpm)

Q2 Qo Q
 Diameter Change in Pumps

For Geometrically similar pumps the Pump impeller

diameter, D can be changed, keeping the pump speed,
N constant.

If the geometric similarity is not disturbed by this

diameter change, the similarity parameters (“affinity
laws”) may be used to obtain the modified
characteristics.
Thus ;
 Q  H  P
Q  3 H  2 P  5
D D D
 Diameter Change in Pumps

The π” terms given above are dimensional. For the

similar operating points of two different diameters
they have to be the same.
Q1 Q2 H1 H2 P1 P2
 3 2
 2 5
 5
3
D1 D2 D1 D2 D1 D2
If the characteristics of a pump of diameter D1 at speed
N is known, the characteristics of another geometrically
similar pump of diameter D2 operating at the same
speed N can be found through the above relations.
 Diameter Change in Pumps

From these relations if “D” is eliminated, a relation

between H and Q may be obtained.
 H  Q
H  2 Q  3
D D
 H
2 2

H  Q  CQ
3 3 H
2 C
   
2
3
3
 Q
 Q
This relation gives the locus of similar operating points
for geometrically similar pumps of different size ( D ),
but operating at the same rotational speed ( N ).
 Diameter Change in Pumps

Pump ¢ ( D )

Similarity curve
H3 = KQ2

Figure : Similar OP in Similar Pumps with Diameter Change

Example
A centrifugal pump is to be operated at 300 rpm to give
6.75 m3/s flowrate at 123 m head. A model will be
designed for production, but the max. flowrate to be
sustained in lab is 0.135 m3/s and max. power
consumption value is limited to 225kW. If model and
prototype efficiencies are same and 80 %, find the
operating speed of the model pump and Dprototip/Dmodel.

Prototype: Model Find:

N p  350 rpm Pm  225 kW Nm  ?
H p  123 m Qm  0.135 m3 / s Dp / Dm  ?

Q p  6.75 m3 / s
 For model:
 .g.Qm .H m P . 225.103[W ]  0.8
Pm   Hm  m m   135.9 m
m  .g.Qm kg m m 3
1000[ 3 ]  9.81[ 2 ]  0.135[ ]
m s s
Using load parameter:
Hm Hp Np H p Dm 123 [m] Dm Dm
H  2 2  2 2   .  .  0.9513
N m Dm N p Dp Nm H m Dp 135.9[m] Dp Dp

 N p  0.9513 Dm Equation A
Nm Dp
 Using flow parameter:
Qm Qp N p Q p Dm3 6.75 Dm3 Dm3
Q  3
 3
  . 3  . 3  50 3
N m .Dm N p .D p N m Qm D p 0.135 D p Dp

Np Dm3
 N  50 D 3 Equation B
m p

Dm Dm 3
From A and B: 0.9513   50 3
Dp Dp

So Dprototip/Dmodel : Dm  0.138
Dp
From A: Np Dm
 0.9513  0.9513  0.138  0.131
Nm Dp

Model pump speed: 350

Nm   2667 rpm
0.131
 II.4.1.4. Specific Speed and Typification

When the performance of geometrically similar

pumps (of different sizes) are expressed in terms of
similarity parameters, they collapse to a single
curve. Any deviation from this is due to ;

• Measurement errors
• Scale factor effect
• Reynolds number effect.
II. 4.1.4. Specific Speed and Typification

Experimental Eliminating D between

Results πQ ve πH a Non
Dimensional parameter
independent of size
factor can be obtained.

1
1  Q  2
1
Q  3 
Q 2
2
 D 
Ns  3
 3
 3
H 4  gH  4  gH  4
 2 2
 D 
 II. 4.1.4. Specific Speed and Typification

For a given type (family) of turbomachinery the typifiying

“Specific Speed NS” is defined, based on H and Q values at
the best efficiency operating point (design point).

Thus the Specific Speed typifying the pump Ns is

defined based on the H, Q and N values at the best
efficiency (design) point and expressed as;

2  N [rpm]/ 60  .  Q [m / s]
* * 3 1/ 2

Ns  2 * 3/ 4
( g[m / s ]. [m])
II. 4.1.4. Specific Speed and Typification

Specific speed is the

type parameter
Radial Mixed Flow Axial
corresponding to the
required flowrate
and Head to
designate the shape
of the pump giving
Radial Mixed Axial the highest
flow flow flow efficiency.

Pump typification
according to NS
II. 4.1.4. Specific Speed and Typification

Specific speed is the

Radial Mixed Axial
type parameter
corresponding to the
required flowrate
and Head to
designate the shape
of the turbine giving
Impulse
Francis Axial the highest
flow efficiency.

turbine typification
according to NS
 II. 4.1.4. Specific Speed and Typification
The Specific Speed is used in a dimensional form in practice .
1
Q 2
Ns  3
For Pumps

H  4 Ω: rotational speed (rad/s)

1 For Turbines
1
 P  2
1
 3 D5  Nsp is the
P 
  
2 2
P
N sp  5 5 1 5 Power
H 4  gH  4  2  gH  4 Specific
 2 2
 D  Speed
II.4.1.5. Performance Characteristics
Pump performance Characteristics are obtained
through extensive tests. Characteristics expressed
interms of non-dimensional parameters help the user
to compare the types of pumps without including the
effect of size factor.
In the figure a comparison of 3 different pumps having
specific speeds ;
NS =0.4 → Centrifugal,
NS =3.0 → Mixed Flow,
NS =5.8 → Axial Flow,
are given for comparison.
II.4.1.5. Performance Characteristics

Ns=0.4 Ns=3

Ns=5.8
 II.4.1.5. Performance Characteristics
H
Figure : Volumetric (Positive
Displacement) Pump Characteristic

Figure : Turbine
Characteristics
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
• Cavitation refers to the conditions at certain
locations within the hydraulic machinery (pumps,
turbines etc) where the local pressure drops to the
vapor pressure of the liquid.
• As a result of the cavitation, vapor filled cavities are
formed.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
• As the cavities transported through the machinery
in forms of bubbles into higher regions of pressure,
they collapse rapidly and generate extremely high
localized pressures.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
• Those bubbles that collapse close to the solid
boundaries can weaken the solid surface, and
fatigue can occur.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
• This may demage the turbomachine, or may result
in fatal errors.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
Signs of cavitation in pumps (or turbines):
• Noise,
• Vibration,
• Lowering of the head-discharge and efficiency
curves.
Cavitation is encountered at the inlet of pumps, at
the exit of turbines where the pressure is low.
The net positive suction head (NPSH) is used to
designate the potential for cavitation.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
• The NPSH of the system calculated (available)
should be higher than the NPSH required in order
to prevent cavitation.
NPSHa > NPSHR
NPSH is defined as,
2
ps V pv
NPSH    s

g 2 g g
where s denotes the suction side of the pump and
is the vapor pressure of the liquid.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
• For the following figure Bernoulli equation can be
written between the points sr and s.
s
P

zs
sr
reservoir

2 2
p sr V ps V
  z sr 
sr
  z s   h fs
s

g 2 g g 2 g
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary
s
P

zs
sr

reservoir

Eeservoir surface is opened to the atmosphere. p sr  Patm

By selecting the reservoir surface as the reference z sr  0
 h fs = head loss due to frictional losses at the inlet
p s Vs2 Patm
piping.    hs   h fs
g 2 g g
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary

pv
Substracting term from both sides,
g
Notice that the left hand side is NPSH, as a result the
NPSH becomes,
Patm  p v
NPSH   hs   h fs
g
For a given system NPSH condition should be
satisfied by exceeding a required number. As can be
interpreted from the above equation the NPSH
decreasesn by the increase in pump elevation and total
friction.
 II.4.1.7. Caviation in Turbomachinary

Paramters affecting caviation:

1. Velocity and Flow rate

2. Pump Geometry
3. Change of the Impeller Diameter
4. Properties of the Fluid
5. Suction Piping
6. Pump Material
Example: A conventional centrifugal pump has a specific speed
of Ns = 0.45 to pump Q = 0.85 m3/s to H = 165m at its design
point. Pa=100 kPa
For water Pv = 0.039 bar
For N (rpm) consistent with
data
Hs = ? if Sreq = 3.2 H
1
1 2 s
NQ 2 NQ
Ns  S
 gH sv 
3/ 4
 gH 
3/ 4

Solution :

Eliminating NQ1/2, we have

4/3
H sv  N s 
  H Thoma Cavitation Coefficient
H  S 
Thus,
4/3 4/3
 Ns   0.45 
H sv  H    165    12.07m  NPSH req  NPSH available
 S   3.2 
Pa Pv
But, NPSH available   Hs  assuming no loss in suction pipe
g g

NPSH req  NPSH available

100000 Pa 3900 Pa
12.07m   Hs 
1000  9.81 1000  9.81 Hs

100000 Pa  3900 Pa
Hs   12.07m  2.3m
1000  9.81

For no cavitation, pump has to be placed below tail water level.

(Hs is negative)