Proceedings of the ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition

IMECE2014
November 14-20, 2014, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

IMECE2014-38985
Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Centrifugal Pump with
Different Impeller Vane Geometries

Susanta K. Das*
Department of Mechanical Engineering and
Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integrations, Kettering University
1700 West Third Avenue, Flint, MI 48504, USA.
Tel.: (810) 762-9916, Fax: (810) 762-7860
*
Corresponding author: sdas@kettering.edu
geometries. The results show that the pump
performance as well as efficiency varies significantly
for each of the impeller vane geometries. The results
help to understand how to determine appropriate
operating conditions and design parameters for
different impeller vane geometries for obtaining
optimized pump performance.

ABSTRACT
Centrifugal pumps vane geometry plays an
important role in pumps overall performance. Thus,
to know the impeller vane geometry effects on the
performance of a centrifugal pump are essential from
pumps design point of view. In this study, an
experimental investigation is carried out to judge the
impeller vane geometry effects on the performance
of a centrifugal pump. The performance of three
different impeller vane geometries is evaluated in
this investigation. To acquire pump performance and
characteristics curves, inlet and outlet valves were
manually adjusted and the pumps rpm were varied
remotely through computer control. The pressure
data were obtained via installed flow rotameter for
different flow rates with constant pump speed 1800
rpm. Experimental data were used to calculate
different physical parameters, such as the pump
head, water horsepower the power added to the
fluid, power input to the pump brake horse power,
and pump efficiency for each of impeller vane
geometries. The pumps performance curves and the
system curves were then plotted for each of the vane

INTRODUCTION
The most useful mechanical rotodynamic
machines in fluid works are the centrifugal pumps
that widely used in a variety of industrial
applications, such as water supply and irrigation,
sewage handling and treatment, powergenerating
utilities, flood control, process industries and
transporting liquid-solid mixtures [1-4]. Because of
its wide-range of applications, it is very important to
ensure that the centrifugal pump works with high
efficiency, reliably and effectively. Conventional
design methods of centrifugal pump proposed by
various successful designers are mainly based on the
application of empirical and semi-empirical rules in
the form of different types of charts and graphs [5-6].

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Downloaded From: http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

Since the design of centrifugal pump involve a large

number of interdependent variables, many alternative
designs are possible for the same duty. Pump
designers are actively looking for optimized design
of centrifugal pump to improve its performance
efficiency and to reduce various losses such as
turbulent flow loss, shock losses, impeller friction
losses, volute friction losses, disk friction losses,
recirculation losses and power consumption. The
effect of geometry modifications of the impeller and
volute in centrifugal pumps to improve the pump
performance and efficiency were studied by a
number of investigators both experimentally and
numerically [7-10]. Even though investigators have
placed continuous efforts to improve the
performance of centrifugal pumps there are still
many unresolved issues associated with the
performance and efficiency enhancement in these
pumps that need to be investigated. Some of the key
studies performed on centrifugal pumps are based on
the design modification of pump geometry,
especially impeller and diffuser [8-10]. Since the
impeller is an active part that adds energy to the
fluid, impeller vane geometry plays a major role in
the centrifugal pump performance and efficiency
improvement. Any changes in the impeller vane
geometry would have an impact on the impeller inlet
or exit fluid velocity, which may result in significant
performance change. Improvements in impeller
performance of various centrifugal pumps have been
achieved by numerous researchers. Experimental and
numerical studies were performed by Shojaeefard et
al [12-13] with different viscosity fluids and different
impeller vane geometries. They concluded that
improvement in the pump performance related to
increasing of impeller outlet angle. Numerical
simulation to study the model of centrifugal pumps
was performed by various researchers [14-15]. The
total radial loads on the impeller of centrifugal
pumps were estimated by means of the numerical
simulation of the unsteady flow with an appropriate
CFD code under different operating conditions [16].
Prediction methods of pump as turbine performance
was carried out in theoretical, numerical and
experimental investigations [12,15]. An unsteady

flow in the near-tongue region in a volute-type

centrifugal pump for different operating points were
also discussed and analyzed numerically [13,16].
In this study, three different impeller vane
geometries were examined experimentally to
investigate its effect on the centrifugal pump
performance and efficiency. The objective of this
work is to optimize centrifugal pumps impeller vane
geometry design that will achieve best pump
efficiency without significant loss in the
performance.
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP AND PROCEDURE
In this study, three different impeller vane
surface geometries were investigated as shown in the
Figure 1. The vane geometries were: (a) rearward
swept (yellow color), (b) straight bladed (red color)
and (c) forward swept (black color) The diameter of
all the impellers are the same, however, the vane
curvatures of each impeller varies.

(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 1: Impeller vane geometry used in the
experimental study: (a) straight bladed (red), (b)
rearward swept (yellow) and (c) forward swept
(black).
In this study, PumpLabTM, a self contained
centrifugal flow pump demonstrator made by the
Turbine Technologies is used to conduct all of the
experiments with three different impeller vane
designs. The experimental set-up used in this
investigation is exactly the same as of our previous
study [17]. The pump set-up consists of inlet flow,
exit flow, input power and a generic control volume.
The experimental centrifugal pump system used in
this study offers a unique opportunity to clearly
visualize pump performance and operating
characteristics because of the construction of all parts
(piping, rotameter, casing, etc.) by using transparent
materials. The advantage of this pump set-up is that
2

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Downloaded From: http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

one can observes the entire fluid flow path - from

point of reservoir pick-up to reservoir return. Inlet
and outlet flow valves can be adjusted for the
creation of pump performance maps.

each of the impeller vane geometries. The pump

head, flowrate, motor torque, input power and rpm
were recorded and saved in the desktop computer for
pumps performance and efficiency analysis.

90

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Figure 2 represents centrifugal pumps total
differential dynamic head as a function of volumetric
flow rate obtained by using three different impeller
vane geometries at a constant pump speed, 1800
rpm. The system performance curve is also presented
in the Figure 2. The intersetion (operating point) of
pump performance curve and the system curve
provide the pump operation point to achieve
maximum benefits. So, the operating point is very
important for the operation of centrifugal pump.
From Figure 2 we see that the operating point shifted
downward at constant pump speed for both the
yellow and black vane geometry compared to red
vane geometry. From Figure 2, it can be seen that
when pump was running at 1800 rpm it raised about
67 ft of head with about 65 gal/min flowrate at the
operating point for the red vane geomtery. Whereas
about 65ft of head with 62 gal/min flowrate for the

Total dynamic pump head (ft)

80

70

Red: 1800rpm
Yellow: 1800rpm
Black: 1800rpm

60

50

40

30
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Flow rate (gal/min)

Figure 2: Centrifugal pumps performance and

system curves as a function of flowrate obtained
experimentally using three different impeller vane
geometry at constant pump speed, 1800 rpm.
For creation of family of pump performance
and system resistance curves the impeller being
investigated was installed, the tank was filled with
distilled water and before an actual run the primer
was used to fill the pipes with water completely to
prevent cavitations, and then data was recorded for
that specific impeller vane design. Pumps fluid flow
rates were measured via the installed flow rotameter
(paddle wheel type with clear housing). Once all the
required data are collected the impeller was replaced
with two other impellers and collected the required
data following the same procedure mentioned above.
The rpm (revolution per minute) of the pump was
controlled automatically through a computer console
that came with the experimental pump test stand. For
each of the pump performance curves the pump
speed (rpm) is set through the computer console and
the flowrate was varied manually by opening or
closing the outlet valve. For system resistance curve,
multiple discharge valve positions were used and
rpm of the pump was varied from 1800 to 500 for

Brake horsepower (bhp)/Pump input power (hp)

1.2
Red: 1800 rpm
Yellow: 1800rpm
Black: 1800rpm
Red: system/characteristic curve

1.0

Yellow: system/characteristic curve

Black: system/characteristic curve

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

10

20

30
40
Flow rate (gal/min)

50

60

70

Figure 3: Centrifugal pumps brake horse power

(pump input power) and system curves as a function
of flowrate obtained experimentally using three
different impeller vane geometries.

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Downloaded From: http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

black vane geometry and about 56 ft of head with

about 50 gal/min flowrate for the yellow vane
geometry at the operating point. It implies that the
straight bladed (red) vane geometry produce higher
pump head compared to both forward swept (black)
and rearward swept (yellow) vane geometry.
Figure 3 shows the centrifugal pumps brake
horse power (pump input power) and system curves
as a function of flowrate obtained experimentally
using three different impeller vane geometries at
constant pump speed, 1800rpm. From Figure 3 it can
be seen that even though the pump is operating at a
constant speed of 1800 rpm the pumps brake horse
power requirements are different for different vane
geometries. From Figure 3, it can also be seen that
for all the cases the pumps brake horse power
increases as flowrate increases. It also reveals that
the red impeller vane geometry withdrew more
power compared to yellow and black impeller vane
geometry with increased flowrate. It implies that the
impeller vane geometry has an effect on the pumps
input power requirements.

experimentally using three different impeller vane

geometries. From Figure 4 it can be found that even
though the pump is operating at a constant speed of
1800 rpm the amount of pumps water horse power,
i.e., power added to the water are different for
different vane geometries. From Figure 4, it can also
be seen that for all the cases the impeller vane
geometries were able to add power to water as
flowrate increases. It also reveals that the red
impeller vane geometry added more power compared
to yellow and black impeller vane geometry with
increased flowrate. It is interesting to see that
rearward swept (yellow) vane geometry added the
lowest power to the water among all the three vane
geometries. The results suggest that the impeller
vane geometry has an effect on the power addition
capabilities to the fluid and hence has significant
effects on both the pump performance and system
curves.
100
Red Impeller

90

Yellow Impeller

0.7

Black Impeller

Red: 1800rpm
Yellow: 1800rpm
Black: 1800rpm
Red: system/characteristic curve
Yellow: system/characteristic curve
Black: system/characteristic curve

0.6

0.5
Water horse power (hp)

Pump efficiency (%)

80
70
60
50

0.4

40

0.3

30
0.2

20
0.1

0
0

10

20

30
40
Flow rate (gal/min)

50

60

10

20

30
40
Flow rate (gal/min)

50

60

70

Figure 5: Centrifugal pumps efficiency as a

function of flowrate obtained experimentally using
three different impeller vane geometries at a constant
pump speed.
Figure 5 represents the centrifugal pumps
efficiency as a function of flowrate obtained
experimentally using three different impeller vane
geometries at constant pump speed. From Figure 5 it
can be shown that even though the pump is operating
at a constant speed of 1800 rpm the pumps

70

Figure 4: Centrifugal pumps water horse power

(power added to the water) and system curves as a
function of flowrate obtained experimentally using
three different impeller vane geometries.
Figure 4 represents the centrifugal pumps
water horse power (power aqdded to the water) and
system curves as a function of flowrate obtained

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Downloaded From: http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

efficiency varies significantly for different vane

geometries. From Figure 5, it can also be seen that
the pumps efficiency decreases quickly for both the
red and yellow impeller vane geometries as the
flowrate increases. It also reveals that the pump
efficiency initially decreases a little bit and then
remained almost constant for the black impller vane
geometry with increased flowrate. The results
suggest that the impeller vane geometry has an effect
on the efficiency of the centrifugal pump
performance.

[2] Tuzson, J., Centrifugal Pump Design, John

Wiley and Sons Inc., (2000).
[3] Herbert Addison, Centrifugal and Other
Rotodynamic Pumps, Chapan and Hall Ltd., (1995).
[4] Karassik, J. and Roy Carter, Centrifugal Pump
Selection, Operation and Maintenance, McGrawHill, New York (1960).
[5] Engin, T. and Gur, M., Performance
characteristics of a centrifugal pump impeller with
running tip clearance pumping solid-liquid mixtures,
ASME J. Fluids Engineering, vol. 123, pp 532-538
(2001).
[6] Miner, S. M., 3-D Viscous Flow Analysis of an
Axial Flow Pump Impeller, International Journal of
Rotating Machinery, vol. 3, pp 153-161 (1997).
[7] E.C. Bacharoudis et al, Parametric Study of a
Centrifugal Pump Impeller by Varying the Outlet
Blade Angle, The Open Mechanical Engineering
Journal, pp 75-83 (2008).
[8] John S and Anagnostopoulos, A fast numerical
method for flow analysis and blade design in
centrifugal pump impellers, An International journal:
Computers & Fluids 38, pp 284289 (2009).
[9] G. Kergourlay, M. Younsi, F. Bakir and R. Rey,
Influence of splitter blades on the flow field of a
centrifugal pump: Test-analysis comparison,
International Journal of Rotating Machinery, vol.
2007 (2007).
[10] J. Gonzalez, J. Parrondo, C. Santolaria, and E.
Blanco, Steady and unsteady forces for a centrifugal
pump with impeller to tongue pump variation, ASME
Journal of Fluids Engineering, vol.128, pp. 454-462
(2006).
[11] T. Engin, M. Gur and R. Scholz, Effects of tip
clearance and impeller geometry on the performance
of semi-open ceramic centrifugal fan impellers at
elevated temperatures, Experimental Thermal and
Fluid Science, vol. 30, pp 565-577 (2006).
[12] M.H. Shojaeefard , M. Tahani, M.B. Ehghaghi,
M.A. Fallahian, M. Beglari, Numerical study of the
effect of some geometric characteristic of a
centrifugal pump impeller that pumps viscous fluid,
Proc. Computers and Fluids, vol. 60, pp 61-70
(2012).

CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, we experimentally investigated
the effect of impeller vane geometry on the
performance and efficiency of a centrifugal pump.
Using three different impeller vane geometries the
centrifugal pump was run at a constant speed of 1800
rpm and recorded the experimental data. The
experimental results presented here clearly
demonstrated that the impeller vane geometries have
significant impact on the performance and efficiency
of a centrifugal pump. Comparing the experimental
results presented in Figures 2~5 for three different
impeller vane geometries it was found that rearward
swept (yellow) design of impeller geometry raised
lower pump head and flowrate compared to straight
bladed (red) design of impeller vane geometry.
Whereas forward swept (black) impeller vane
geometry kept the pumps efficiency almost constant
with increased flowrate compared to the other two
impeller vane geometries. Based on the experimental
results it is suggested that designing high
performance and efficient centrifugal pump requires
careful attention regarding selection of appropriate
impeller vane geometry which can balance between
pump performance and efficiency. The present
experimental study helps to improve the
understanding of impeller vane geometry effect on
the performance of a centrifugal pump.
REFERENCES
[1] Austin. H. Church, Centrifugal Pump and
Blowers, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York
(1972).

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Downloaded From: http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

[13] M. H. Shojaee Fard, F. A. Boyaghchi, Studies

on the influence of various blade outlet angles in a
centrifugal pump when handling viscous fluid,
American Journal of Applied Science, vol. 4, pp.
718-724 (2007).
[14] J. F. Gulich, Centrifugal Pumps, 3rd ed, Berlin,
Germany, Springer (2007).
[15] Sun-Sheng Yang, et al, Theoretical, numerical
and experimental prediction of pump as turbine
performance, Renewable Energy: An International
Journal, vol. 48 (2012).
[16] R. Barrio, et al, Estimation of radial load in
centrifugal pumps using computational fluid
dynamics, European Journal of Mechanics B/Fluids,
vol. 30, pp 316324 (2012).
[17] Susanta K Das and M. Firoz Ali (2013)
Experimental Evaluation of Impeller Surface
Geometry Effect on the Performance of a Centrifugal
pump, Proc. ASME International Mechanical
Engineering Congress, held in November 15~21,
San Diego, California, USA, Paper No. 63288,
Section
8-10-1:
Fluid
Measurements
and
Instrumentation - 1, pp. 1-5.

Copyright 2014 by ASME

Downloaded From: http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use