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.
