The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-07-24
Greene Tells
] or PUMPING
|. PROBLEM
Members Of Engineers Associa-
ton Hear interesting Address
on Centrifugal Pumps and Their
Value in Plantation Operations.

/
+. W. Greene presented very inter,
esting technical treatise in regard to
the theory. and application of modern
centrifugal pumps at the meeting Of the
Hawaiian Engineering Association last
night. The meeting was attended by a
number Of well known engineers. r. r,
Hind, president Of the association, pre-.
sided. AZ.
Mr.. Greene said in part:
within the past fifteen years the
centrifugal pump has been developed
from relatively crude and often UNI
reliable machine into the most simple,
reliable and efficient type of pumping
equipment for almost any condition OF
service, this being the result Of extern
sive Investigation by leading engineers,
the development Of the correct theory
and practise applying to the problems
Involved, and the advances in the art
of designing and building this type Of
pump. At the present time centrifugal
pumps are in successful operation under
almost all conditions Of service. IN.
engineering public is recognizing the
many advantages inherent in this type
| Of pump and the field for its application
to the solution of divers kinds Of pump
ing problems is constantly broadening,
Principles Long Known.
''Some OF the principles of operation
| of the centrifugal pump have long been
known. There are records of crude
pump Of this type having been con
structed in Germany in the seventeenth
century In the United States the SO
lealled Massachusetts Pump was built
about 1920 This was a low head pump,
4 for about thirty or forty feet, and was
shown as q curiosity at fairs and ex
hibitions. No attempt was made to de-
velop the centrifugal pump at this time.
AS late as 1894, in book of hydraulics
written by prominent engineer, the
i centrifugal pump was described as a
machine which, BY its very nature, de-
fed the mathematician. At that time
there were some low head centrifugal
pumps in operation, but they were OF
very crude design and we're used only
for contracting work in pumping out
excavations or for similar operations.
The theory that the centrifugal pump
|. could not operate against heads higher
than about seventy.five feet was gen.
orally accepted at that time.
fsIn the course tof the next few years
certain engineers found that the opera
/. ltion Of the centrifugal pump is the
converse of that Of the water turbine.
/ This opened an entirely new field for
1.-THE development of the correct theory
, and practice applying to the centrif'
i IuRal pump, and its successful develop.
, ment dates from this important dis
!. covery. Prior to this discovery cen.
/ ltrifuga1 pumps had been designed along
lines Of the existing IDEAS, and when
entirely unexpected capacities and
heads were obtained the case was giver
l up and empirical formulate used, based
c on the actual results, such as they
c were. With the development Of thu
correct theory aud practise, however
y lit was found possible to accurately fore
! cast the results to be obtained, mo-
} only at given set Of normal eondi
/ tions, but over the whole range Of op
y Grafton. of the pump. i H.
Good Pumping Equipment Important
: In presenting the subject ~ cen
! trifugal pumps for your consideration
= it may be well to 60 over certain essen
7 tial points, even though you may b
!, familiar with them.
: S"The use of the centrifugal pun
= In connection with the production o
= sugar is undoubtedly particularly intel
lesting to the members of this assocla
e ton, and therefore in briefly taking u
Y the application Of this type to the solr
s ton Of pumping problems only this feel
. will be considered. Every engineer
T. anxious to secure the best pumpin
:. leuuipment, for the entire factory
10 dependent upon the continuous and SUI
" cessfuI working Of the pumps. Tn
o. efficiency, continuity Of operation an
~ cost of maintenance of this portion q
" the equipment Affects the total cost q
es manufacture, and therefore the mos
simple, reliable, efficient and econon
ital pGmping equipment should be II
stalled.
atIn the centrifugal pump there
only one moving clement, i. e., the IN
peller and shaft. There are no valve
II rods, pins or springs as in other type
where reciprocating parts ate in dire
: rubbing contact, and the consequeI
wear makes frequent adjustment an
O. replacement of parts necessary, and
rs well tends to decrease the efficiency
ne the unit. The simplicity Of the &c
IS, trifugal pump makes il most reliabl
70 as there is very slight possibility
e breakdown, and there is nothing
= get out Of adjustment. The cost
n upkeep is very low, as there are
points at which wear occurs except Il
~ two shaft bearings and the rim
"a around the impeller hubs, consequent
IA new parts are seldom required. ~
I'm stuffing boxes cause very little we
ID ON the shaft if properly designed, al
er require only small amount Of ate
n. ton, as il is easier TO pack a box I
:, a rotating shaft than for ONE with
II. reciprocating motion. aG .E,f j..
Of Dangerous Pressure Eliminated.
Ii. "The elimination of valves a
.er springs is an important point, and o
lal which has a great effect on the ma
Al tenance and labor cost. The centr
of ugal pump will deliver more water I
in. unit Of space occupied than any 9th
ed typo, therefore requiring the minimr
at space for installation. With CORE
in design the internal parts are easily I
m cessible for inspection. The first co
of the centrifugal pump is comparati'