Project Title: Automated Pump Performance Test Stand

Team Members: Matt Lemmen (ME)Christopher Grote (ME)Erik Diaz (ME)Mitchell McClure (EE)Min Htaw Lawi (EE)Duy Anh Do (EE)

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Donald Mueller and Dr. Hossein Oloomi

Area: Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering

Sponsored By: Tuthill Transfer Systems

Tuthill Transfer Systems in Fort Wayne, Indiana is requesting a new pump test stand to replace the one intheir lab. The new test stand will record data that produces better plots, will have a smaller footprint, and will automate the testing process.

The automated test stand will be designed to test the 12 series of pumps Tuthill currently manufactues, and any future pumps. The following variables will be measured:

flow rate (0-50 gpm) pump voltage (120/240 volts AC, 0-30 volts DC

output pressure (0-25 psi) pump current (0-10 amps AC, 0-40 amps DC)

The current setup includes a flowmeter, pressure sensor, and valve as shown in Figure 1. The valve is used to control the flow. Data is acquired and recorded using LabView. A pump curve produced by the current test stand is shown in Figure 2. The test procedure will run for less than a minute and record at least 20 data points for each variable. The pump curve and the plot of pressure, flow, and current vs time must be smooth and well-defined.

Safety must also be considered, as high electrical currents will be used. The working fluid is Mineral Spirits 140, which is flammable and an irritant.

Figure 1: Current pump test stand Figure 2: Sample pump curve produced by current test stand