Armfield Engineering Education
CAPTURE FLUID MACHINES
FM50 Centrifugal Pump Demonstration Unit - issue 2
The centrifugal pump is the machine most commonly used to move liquids from one place to another. As such it is a particularly instructive unit with which to introduce students to the whole subject of rotodynamic fluid machines.
Discovering the relationship between head, flow, rotational speed and power
provides a framework of general applicability. For example, matching the
required duty point to the conditions of maximum energy efficiency may be
explored as a creative student project.
Ordering Specification
• A small-scale centrifugal pump demonstration unit, comprising of a water reservoir, the pump, control valves and interconnecting pipework all mounted on a stainless steel base.
• Equipped with electronic measurement sensors for pump head pressure, suction, flow-rate and water temperature.
• Transparent pump volute for visibility
• Capable of being linked to a PC
(not supplied) via the IFD7 interface console (available as an essential
accessory).
• Supplied with software providing full instructions for setting up, operating, calibrating and performing the teaching exercises. Facilities are provided for logging, processing and displaying data graphically. Full theoretical back-up is included together with a student questions and answers session.
INSTRUCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
> Demonstration of a single-stage centrifugal water pump in operation.
> Measurement of constant-speed pump performance, including production
of characteristic curves:
• pump total head
• motor shaft power
• impeller speed
• pump efficiency
> Introduction to pump speed laws.
> Investigation of impeller styles.
> Comparison of student calculations with computer results.
Description
A motor driven centrifugal pump, mounted on a stainless steel plinth with a water reservoir and pipework for continuous circulation. The pump volute and the water reservoir are manufactured from clear acrylic for maximum visibility. Similarly the pipe runs are made from transparent pvc. Manually operated valves at the pump inlet and outlet allow control of the flow and also facilitate the study of suction effects.
The pump volute has been designed so that the impeller can be easily accessed and replaced without tools. The FM50 is delivered with two impellers, one with forward curved blades and one with backward curved blades, allowing the students to investigate the effects of impeller characteristics.
Electronic sensors measure the pump inlet pressure, the pump outlet pressure, the flow rate and the water temperature.
The pump speed is accurately controlled by an advanced electronic inverter within the IFD7 (an essential accessory). This inverter also calculates the torque produced at the motor drive shaft, allowing the power used by the pump to be derived. 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 multiway 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: 1.6L/sec typical
Max head: 9.0m
Max pump speed: 1800rpm
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 FM50 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: 1.10m³
Gross Weight: 110kg
Overall Dimensions
Height: 0.6m
Length: 0.88m
Width: 0.51m
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