The wide use of centrifugal pumps in the oil industry demands that their performance characteristics for oil be predicted with reasonable assurance. A systematic study of performance changes with increasing viscosities had not been undertaken so far under controlled laboratory conditions. For the purpose of undertaking such a study theoretically and experimentally, the Hydraulic Laboratory of Lehigh University and the Cameron Pump Division of the Ingersoll-Rand Company co-operated in following through a comprehensive program of research at Lehigh University during 1944 and 1945. Over 200 performance tests for viscosities up to 10,000 SSU were completed on four variants of centrifugal pumps, employing a special test stand designed and built under war conditions. The influence of viscosity changes on the head, discharge, and input-power characteristics of the pumps is demonstrated graphically and systematically for a wide range of viscosities and speeds. The usefulness of a special Reynolds number for pumps is demonstrated and test results are correlated on that basis. General conclusions are possible as to the influence of various features of design, since several pumps of different specific speeds were tested. A theoretical analysis establishes definitely the variables to be considered and places the discussion for the problem on a sound scientific basis, especially with regard to disk and ring losses.
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Arthur T. Ippen (1946) studied this question.