Alexandria University

Faculty of Engineering
Special Scientific Programs (Electromechanical Engineering 7th Term)
Fluid Machinery Exercise Sheet

SHEET 3: POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS

1. Calculate the volumetric and mechanical efficiencies of a gear pump rotating at
1200 rpm and discharging 1.27 lit /sec using 0.7 hp motor. The gear is 6 cm
diameter and 4 cm thick and when one gear was put in a vessel full of water, 80
cm3 of the water was spilt. The pump is working at a suction pressure = 0.2
Kg/cm2 and delivery pressure = 2.3 Kg/cm2.
2. A constant speed gear pump lifts oil of sp. gr. 0.9 from low level tank to a higher
tank. The pump level is 2 m above suction level and 5 m below delivery level. The
manometers at suction and delivery read - 0.4 and 2 kg/cm2 respectively.
Calculate:
a. The manometers readings when the suction level drops 3 m.
b. The percentage change in S.P in this case.
c. The maximum possible drop in the suction level if the oil vapour
pressure at working temperature = 0.22 Kg/cm2 and atmospheric
pressure = 1.03 Kg/cm2.
3. i - Show that for highly viscous oil flowing through a pipe the pressure drop is
directly proportional to the oil flow rate.
ii - A gear pump driven by 5 Kw variable speed motor transmits highly viscous oil
from tank A to tank B where their levels are 1 and 26 m above pump level
respectively. When the pump rotates at 1000 rpm its discharge was 2 lit/sec and
the reading of the pressure gauges in the suction and delivery sides of the pump
were 0.88 & 3.88 bar (abs) respectively. Estimate the maximum allowable speed
of this pump.
Given that: oil sp. gr. = 0.9, vapour pressure = 0.3 bar, pump volumetric & mech.
efficiencies = 95 % & 90 % respectively.
4. A parallel cylinder rotary pump is driven by a 40 hp motor. Calculate the
maximum possible inclination of the fixed housing to the vertical when the pump
works against a pressure of 5 kg/cm2. Given that the number of cylinders = 11,
diameter of cylinders = 6 cm, pitch circle diameter = 30 cm, slip = 3 %, efficiency
= 70 %, speed of pump = 300 rpm and sp.gr. of oil used = 0.95.

Alexandria University
Faculty of Engineering
Special Scientific Programs (Electromechanical Engineering 7th Term)
Fluid Machinery Exercise Sheet

5. A three cylinders piston pump having a ram of 30 cm diameter and 60 cm stroke,

is used to lift 80 liter of water per second against a static head of 85 m. The
friction loss in the suction pipe is 1.2 m and in the delivery pipe is 12 m. The pipe
velocity is 1 m/sec. The mechanical efficiency of the pump is 90% and the slip is
2%. Calculate the speed at which the pump should run and the power required to
drive it.
6. A piston pump of 7.5 cm diameter, 12 cm stroke and speed 50 rpm has a suction
pipe of 3 cm diameter and 6 m long. The delivery pipe is 2.5 cm diameter and 14
m long. Estimate the highest possible position for the pump above the suction
level.
Given that (hatm - hvap = 9 m of water), f = 0.03 and Hst = 12 m.