Pump Performance Testing of Centrifugal Pumps

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Pump Performance Testing of Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal pumps are performance tested to verify their design and ensure they match the standards of mechanical integrity. Under controlled conditions, a centrifugal pump is tested to prove its compliance with client and industry standards. VEMC is the leading Kirloskar pump authorised dealer based in Mumbai, and in this blog we tell you all you need to know about pump performance testing.

Key parameters measured during testing

The most important parameters checked during a performance test are:

  1. Flow rate: This simply represents the volume of the liquid that the pump is able to displace.
  2. Head: This is the pressure which the pump is able to generate and will naturally also impact the flow rate.
  3. Power consumption: Both flow rate and head are functions of the power consumption. While doing performance testing of centrifugal pumps, power consumption must be carefully tracked to keep electric bills at minimum levels.
  4. Efficiency: If the pump is operating with limited consumption of electricity, it indicates optimum efficiency levels.

Purpose and benefits of performance testing

  1. Testing mechanical integrity: Performance testing provides insights with respect to the mechanical integrity of the pump. This means that the tested pump has no mechanical problems, say due to high bearing temperatures, vibration levels or leakage of seals and gaskets.
  2. Checking the performance: The pump displays its ability to offer consistent performance. The performance curve is plotted between capacity (X) and head (Y) and enough data must be collected to complete the curve. Vibration is also observed at each data point to ensure it stays in control in real life conditions.
  • NPSH test: This determines the suction performance of a pump. As part of an NPSH test, pressure is reduced until the pump enters the onset of cavitation. Data is collected till the total head begins to decline while capacity is maintained at a constant rate.
  • Efficiency: As energy prices soar, it is necessary to keep energy consumption at a minimum level. This will improve operational efficiency and also to reduce the carbon footprint of the business.

Different test standards and procedures

Certain industry standards are to be followed when testing a centrifugal pump. These are:

  • Hydraulic Institute (HI) “Centrifugal Pump Tests,” American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/HI 1.6-2000
  • American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 610, 12th edition
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Power Test Codes (PTC), ASME PTC 8.2-1990
  • HI “Vertical Pump Tests,” ANSI/HI 2.6-1994

Different standards have different testing procedures. For instance, API pumps measure 6 points while undertaking performance testing:

  1. Shut off point
  2. Minimum continuous stable flow
  3. An intermediate flow (flow between the minimum continuous stable flow to BEP/ rated)
  4. Between 95% and 99% of rated
  5. A point between rated and 105% of rated flow, BEP (if rated flow  is not within 5% of BEP),
  6. A point at the end of the allowable operatio

Performance testing can clearly help unearth a range of pump issues such as efficiency deviations, cavitation, excessive vibration etc. To know more about pump performance testing, call us on 022 43436655 or email us at marketing@vemc.co.in. We are the leading Kirloskar dealer in Mumbai.