CAPTURE FLUID MACHINES

FM51 Series and Parallel Pumps Demonstration Unit - issue 2

Centrifugal pumps are often used together to enhance either the flow rate or the delivery pressure beyond that available from the single pump.

The unit is designed to demonstrate the operational advantages of parallel or series operation, depending on the required duty.

Ordering Specification

• A small-scale series/parallel pump demonstration unit, comprising of a water reservoir, two pumps, control valves and interconnecting pipework, all mounted on a stainless steel base.
• Equipped with electronic measurement sensors for pump head pressure
(2 off), suction, flow- rate and water temperature.
• Transparent pump volutes for visibility.
• Inlet valve throttling demonstrates air release.
• Supplied with different easily interchangeable impellers.
• Capable of being linked to a PC (not supplied) via a dedicated interface console.
• Supplied with software providing full instructions for setting up, operating, calibrating and performing the teaching exercises. Facilities for logging, processing and displaying data graphically.
• Full theoretical back-up together with a student questions and answers session.

INSTRUCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

> Demonstration of either series, parallel or single pump operation
> Measurement of constant-speed pump performance, including production
of characteristic curves (one pump)
> Comparison of head-flow characteristics with single pump
operation, at inherent speed
> Investigation of impeller styles
> Comparison of student calculations with computer results

Description

Two motor driven centrifugal pumps, mounted on a stainless steel plinth with a water reservoir and pipework for continuous circulation. The pumps can be configured for single pump operation, two pumps in parallel or two pumps in series by using manually operated ball valves. Similarly, manual valves are used to control the flow and facilitate the study of suction effects, including demonstration of air release.

In parallel operation the two pumps draw from a shared inlet pipe of a wider diameter than the pump inlet, reflecting a typical industrial configuration of parallel pumping. Each pump has impellers that can be easily accessed and replaced without tools. The FM51 is delivered with three impellers in total, one with forward curved blades and two with backward curved blades, allowing the students to investigate the effects of impeller characteristics.

Electronic sensors measure the pump outlet pressure of each pump, the shared pump inlet pressure, the flow rate and the water temperature.

The pump speed of the first pump is accurately controlled by an advanced electronic inverter within the IFD7
(an essential accessory) and can be varied over the full range. The inverter also calculates the torque produced at the motor drive shaft, allowing the power used by the pump to be derived. The second pump runs at inherent motor speed. This combination of control facilities allows a wide range of different configurations to be investigated.

The IFD7 also provides the conditioning electronics for the sensors and allows their readings to be displayed on the computer software. Connections to
the IFD7 are a single multi-way connector for the sensors and a connector for the pump motor drive.

The equipment is provided with advanced education and data logging software. See the software section of this datasheet for further details.

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION

Max Flow Rate: 2.2 l/sec
(parallel pumping, both pumps 50 Hz)
Max Head: 6.0 m (single pump)
12.0m (series)
Max pump speed 1800 rpm
(pump1)
1500 rpm
(pump 2 nominal)
Motor Power rating 250W

SOFTWARE

Windows based software is supplied with the CAPTURE range of equipment offering a complete teaching package of coursework and laboratory investigation.

The familiar Windows environment allows the student to explore the principles of each machine quickly and easily, highlighting the difference between theoretical and practical measurements, thus providing a good understanding of the principles involved.

This software runs under Windows operating systems and has been designed for maximum flexibility and ease of use. Comprehensive ‘Help’ screens guide the student through both the theoretical background and the practical investigation of the machine under examination. Suggested laboratory investigations and further questions for the student to answer are included in the software, together with all the information required to set up and run the teaching exercises.

SOFTWARE CAPABILITIES

This software includes a range of functions and capabilities designed to make the operation of the equipment and processing of the results more straightforward, and also to enhance student understanding of the subjects being covered.

It includes:
> Diagrammatic representation of the equipment, complete with real time display of the various sensor outputs
> Presentation screens, giving an
overview of the software, the equipment, the procedure and associated theory
> Detailed ‘Help’ facilities giving in depth guidance
> Automatic data logging of sensor values into a spreadsheet format
> Control over sampling intervals
> Student questions and answers, including a layered ‘Hint’ facility
> Processing of sampled values (this may be linked to the questions and answers to ensure student understanding)
> Sophisticated graph plotting facilities of both measured and calculated values, including comparisons taken under different conditions
> Export of data to Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheets
> Links to user defined word processor
> Calibration facility for sensors
> Real time bar graph display of sensor outputs
> Recent history graphical display

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The analogue output data is digitised and transferred to a computer using the standard USB (Universal Serial Bus). This allows any standard modern Windows computer to be used, including notebooks, and does not require any internal access to the computer.

The equipment is supplied complete with a USB lead for connection to the computer.

The FM51 interfaces to the computer using the IFD7 device and the USB port of the computer.

Also available is a software driver that allows the outputs to be read in other software programs, such as Labview.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

 

• Armfield IFD7 Interface Unit
• PC with spare USB port

 

Shipping Specification

Volume: 1.40m³
Gross Weight: 120Kg

Overall Dimensions

Height: 0.59m
Length: 1.01m
Width: 0.58m

Extended 2 year Warranty on all Armfield Products

DATA SHEET

PRODUCT CATEGORY:
Engineering Education