Efficiency improvement of an axial flow propeller pump installed at Kadumpattupadam kole padavu, Thrissur

Abstract

In this study, the axial flow propeller pump installed at kadumpattu padam kole padavu, Karalam, Thrissur were studied in detail and its efficiency and discharge were found out at varying head and voltage conditions. The experiment was conducted by regulating the inflow of water by using a wooden sluice valve installed at the centre of temporarily constructed earthen bund at the inlet side of the impeller. A rectangular weir was installed at the canal about 1.5 m from the discharge end of the delivery pipe for measuring the discharge of the pump. The input energy was calculated using the energy meter fitted in the electrical panel. Study was also carried out to find the improvement in efficiency and discharge due to changing impellers and introduction of a diffuser immediately after the impeller in the delivery pipe. Accordingly the most suitable impeller-diffuser combination (Impeller-3) was selected as its efficiency was 56.69% with a discharge rate of 571.81 lps at head of 3.13 m. A miniature model of the pump was fabricated and tested at hydraulics lab of KCAET, Tavanur to analyze the changes of discharge at laboratory conditions.