IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Engineering and Modern Technology (IJEMT )

E-ISSN 2504-8848
P-ISSN 2695-2149
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijemt.vol.11.no2.

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Performance Optimization of Centrifugal Chemical Pumps Using Pressure Controllers

Aggo T B Z, Saturday E G, and Ebieto, C E

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Abstract

In this study a traditional centrifugal chemical pump was modified to a self-priming pump by incorporating pressure controller in the operation of the pump to optimize its performance. The model centrifugal pump coupled to an energized motor was tied to a pressure controller that takes input signal from a pressure transmitter at the discharge line of the pump. A normally open solenoid valve installed at the discharge line and a normally closed solenoid valve for priming also at the discharge line downstream of the normally open solenoid discharge valve. With the pump in service and the discharge pressure not meeting the set point of the pressure controller as transmitted by the transmitter, the controller signals the normally closed solenoid valve to open for priming where the condition requires priming. Once the pump is primed with the discharge pressure attained, the controller signals the normally closed solenoid valve to close and open the normally open solenoid valve at the discharge line and the pump delivers the liquid to the users. Performance evaluation was carried out under varying operational conditions, including flow variation and low console levels. Average volumetric flow rate of 12.1m3/hr was recorded for 10 experimental test run instances which is about the design flowrate. The efficiency of the pump improved from 19.2% to 26.5%, a maximum flowrate of 13.2m3/hr as against 10.8m3/hr and a head of 9.2m as against 8.2 were recorded. The results reveal that incorporating pressure controller to self-prime the pump greatly improves its performance. Thus, it is an effective approach to optimize traditional centrifugal chemical pumps characterized with manual priming challenges.

keywords:

Traditional centrifugal pumps; Solenoid valves; Self-priming pumps; Set point;

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