Performance Analysis of an Experimental Centrifugal Pump

Abstract

This paper presents results on the performance characteristics of an experimental H47 centrifugal pump. Four dimensionless numbers, namely Reynolds, flow coefficient, head coefficient and power coefficient were used. The pump was operated nominally at Reynolds numbers of 4x107, 3.4 x 107 and 2.7 x 107 respectively. The performance charts show that the maximum possible efficiency of the pump is less than 45% and the best efficiency point is around 42%. The maximum possible power coefficient is 2.48x10-4 at a corresponding flow coefficient of 3.2 x 10-3 giving a head coefficient of 0.078 at the best efficient point (BEP). Electronic sensors on the H47 rig provided measurements that ensured noticing of fluctuations across the Venturi meter caused by the onset of cavitation.