Pump Specific Speed, NS
Specific speed is the speed at which a
geometrical similar pump must be run so that
it develops a head of 1 m (1 feet) at a
capacity of 1 m3/hr (1 gallon per min.).
For Multistage pumps, the Head (H) in above
equation will be considered as head per stage.
Suction specific speed, NSS
For double suction impeller, the capacity in
above equation will be Q total / 2.
Selection of pump on the basis of Specific speed:
Pump efficiency curves
Multistaging of Pump.
Series arrangement
Parallel arrangement
Example:
Calculate the specific speed of a 4-stage single suction
centrifugal pump, 250 mm diameter impeller that has
a speed of 2950 RPM and develops a head of 600 m
at a flow rate of 540 m3/hr at the BEP. Also calculate
the suction specific speed if the NPSH r is 6.6 m at the
BEP.
Ns = 1600
N ss = 16,648
Total Head Determination
1. Static elevation head
2. Friction head
3. Pressure head
4. Velocity head
Friction head
Friction head is the head necessary to overcome the
friction losses in the piping, valves, and fittings for the
system in which the pump operates.
In theory, friction losses that occur as liquid flows
through a piping system must be calculated by means
of complicated formulae, taking into account such
factors as liquid density and viscosity, and pipe inside
diameter and material.
Luckily, these formulae have been reduced to tables
and charts that, although somewhat tedious and
repetitive,
Friction head in Pipe
Friction head in Valve/fittings
The friction loss in valves and fittings is given
by the formula:
To find K for a particular
size of valve or fitting,
take the nominal size of
the valve or fitting in
inches, read up to the
heavy line on the chart,
and then read on the left
scale to get the K factor.
The K factors for valves
are based on fully open
positioning of the valves.
Common velocity guidelines are 4 to 6
ft/sec for suction piping and 6 to 8
ft/sec for discharge piping.
Pressure Head
Pressure head is the head required to overcome a
pressure or vacuum in the system upstream or
downstream of the pump.
It is normally measured at the liquid surface in the
supply and delivery vessels.
Pressure in pounds per square inch converts to feet by
Equation:
Vacuum, usually expressed in inches of mercury (in. Hg)
using USCS units, is converted to feet of head by the
formula:
PROBLEM: The piping for the system shown in Figure must
be sized, the pump TH must be computed, and a centrifugal
pump selected.
GIVEN:
Capacity = 700 gpm
Liquid = Water at 60°F (s.g. = 1.0)
Pipes = Schedule 40 steel pipe
Atm. press. = 14.7 psia = 29.9 in. Hg
Pump configuration = End Suction
Speeds to consider = 1800/3600 rpm (Refer to
for a given application.)
Pump speed = 1800 RPM
Performance curve
The H-Q relation ship for the Centrifugal pump
for constant pump speed:
Most centrifugal pumps have the capability
to operate over an extended range of head
and flow by trimming or cutting the impeller
diameter from its maximum size down to
some predetermined minimum size.
Thus for a given pump speed, a CF pump
produces an envelop of H-Q performance.
Head–Capacity envelope for a constant-speed centrifugal
pump.
Theconvention for designating the size of a
centrifugal pump is as follows:
Suction size × Discharge size × Maximum impeller
diameter
OR
Discharge size × Suction size × Maximum impeller
diameter
Head–Capacity envelope for a constant-speed
centrifugal pump.