1. Pump Performance Testing

2. DISCLAIMER & USAGE
The content of this presentation is for informational purposes only and is intended for students attending Louisiana Tech University only.
The authors of this information do not make any claims as to the validity or accuracy of the information or methods presented.
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3. Pump Testing System switch for DC power to pump
digital scale to weigh water
water collection column
wiring to allow connection of multimeters
water collection bucket
12VDC power supply
container to prevent water leakage
tubing with valve to connect pump to bucket
terminals for pump power

4. Connect pump to see if it runs
connect black leads together
connect lower leads to pump
connect red leads together
flip the switch to power pump very briefly just to see if it turns
don’t run pump dry

5. Can you hear or feel the pump try to run?
What if your pump doesn’t run?
Can you hear or feel the pump try to run? no
yes
You probably aren’t getting any power to the motor
is the power supply plugged in?
check your alligator clip connections
is the switch on?
if these things fail, then use your multimeter to see if you have power at the motor leads when the switch is turned on
Your shaft or impeller is stuck and can’t freely rotate
look through the clear faceplate to see if you can see the problem
your impeller may be touching the faceplate
unscrew the faceplate screws some you just need to slightly compress the o-ring to prevent leaking out the front
get an oversized o-ring from instructor if needed
sand impeller so it is flush with the top of the pump body to prevent contact
the bushing may be squeezing the motor shaft too tightly → ream out the bushing with a #42 bit
the barbed fitting may be contacting the impeller → try unscrewing the fitting a few turns

6. Fill water to the bottom of the tape measure
Fill your bucket to the correct level
Fill water to the bottom of the tape measure
7 inches

7. inlet (from water bucket) outlet (hooked to long tube)
Connect the pump to the water supply
open valve until water flows freely through pump this “primes” the pump
inlet (from water bucket)
outlet (hooked to long tube)
the pump should ALWAYS stay below the water level in the bucket … it is not a self-priming pump

8. Turn the pump on to see what happens
if water doesn’t rise at least one foot, then . . .
make sure water runs freely through pump when it is off (is it primed?)
turn water outlet upward, and tap pump against water bucket to allow bubbles to float out
try reversing the polarity of the motor to see if that helps
if none of these things work, you likely have an air leak
most air leaks are at the faceplate o-ring (keep uniform gap between pump body and faceplate)
it is also possible that you have an air leak at the bronze bushing → the small o-ring may have been pushed out
you may also have an air leak around a barbed fitting did you use Teflon tape?
see how high the water is pumped
exit tube

9. Pump testing See how high your pump can pump water
Measure electrical current and voltage as well as the mass of water collected at eight or more heights (or pump heads) up to a maximum of 72 inches
Generate a plot of pump head versus flow rate
Generate a plot of pump efficiency versus pump head
h = head
m = mass of water collected
head or height that water is pumped
(in)
electrical current needed to power pump
(A)
voltage across pump leads
(V)
length of time that water is collected
(s)
mass of water collected over 20 seconds
(g)
height 1 20
height 2
… height 8 (or more)

10. voltage is measured between the + and – power leads
Current and voltage measurement
voltage
current
voltage is measured between the + and – power leads
current is measured by “breaking a lead” and letting the current pass through the multimeter

11. Collect water at different heights for 20 seconds and weigh the water
let water run back down pipe between measurement
head or height that water is pumped
(in)
electrical current needed to power pump
(A)
voltage across pump leads
(V)
length of time that water is collected
(s)
mass of water collected over 20 seconds
(g)
height 1 20
height 2
… height 8 (or more)
Should you leave mass in grams?

12. Actual weight of the water is displayed
Remember to zero the digital balance to account for container weight
Actual weight of the water is displayed

13. SAFETY
Keep water away from all electrical equipment except the pump, and do your best to keep the pump motor dry.
Don’t handle the wall adapter or other power supply with wet hands or wet feet (or when in contact with water).
Mop up any water that leaks onto the floor.
Report any problems encountered to the helpdesk attendant or to your instructor.

14. Cleanup empty bucket and catch pan into the sink in your classroom
mop up any water that leaked or spilled onto the floor
put the station back in its original configuration

15. Individual versus team
Group Assignment: Fabrication and testing of your pump
The pump fabrication was completed in groups of two students
Pump testing is to be completed by groups of two to four students
Two pump fabrication teams should combine to test the better of the two pumps fabricated
It is common for four students to share the same raw data from pump testing
Individual Assignment:
The pump project counts as a significant percentage of your overall grade
The work that you submit for this grade must be your own
Please be aware that the pump assignment is not a “regular” homework assignment
You are allowed to discuss your work with other students, but no direct copying of work and no sharing of computer files is allowed (such as Excel and Mathcad files)
Please type in the raw data collected into Excel yourself
You may share photographs that you took of your group during fabrication and testing

16. Start your analysis