A process liquid is pumped from a storage tank to a distillation column, using a

centrifugal pump. The pipeline is $80$mm internal diameter commercial steel pipe, $100$m

long with an average roughness of $46$ microns. Losses due to fittings, bends etc., are

equivalent to $600$ pipe diameters. The storage tank operates at atmospheric pressure,

and the column at $1\mathrm{.}7$ bara. The lowest level in the tank is $1\mathrm{.}5$m above the pump inlet,

and the feed point to the column is $3$m above the pump inlet. The properties of the

process fluid are: density $900$ kg$/$m$3$

$,$ viscosity $1\mathrm{.}36$mN m$-2$

s

$($a$)$ Plot the system curve $($use graph paper$)[10$ marks$]$

$($b$)$ For this system, on the same graph, sketch a centrifugal pump curve indicating the

operating point ensuring your operating point is within the general maximum pump

efficiency region. $[5$ marks$]$

$($c$)$ What happens in this system if the pump fails? Suggest a design improvement to

mitigate for this event. $[3$ marks$]$

$($d$)$ Can you think of any reason linked to its performance, why the pump is located

below the lowest level in the tank, and feed point to the column?