Introduction

Centrifugal pumps are the primary pump type in the class of pumps called "kinetic" pumps
and are distinctly different than "positive displacement" pumps. All centrifugal pumps include
a shaft-driven impeller that rotates (usually at 1750 or 3500 RPM) inside a casing. Liquid flows
into the suction port (inlet) of the casing and is thrown to the outside of the casing and then
exits the discharge port. The velocity imparted to the liquid by the impeller is converted to
pressure energy or "head". Fluid enters the rapidly rotating impeller along its axis and is cast
out by centrifugal force along its circumference through the impeller’s vane tips. The action
of the impeller increases the fluid’s velocity and pressure and also directs it towards the pump
outlet. The pump casing is specially designed to constrict the fluid from the pump inlet, direct
it into the impeller and then slow and control the fluid before discharge. Centrifugal pumps are
unique because they can provide high or very high flowrates (much higher than most positive
displacement pumps) and because their flowrate varies considerably with changes in the Total
Dynamic Head (TDH) of the particular piping system. This allows the flowrate to be "throttled"
considerably with a simple valve placed into the discharge piping, without causing excessive
pressure buildup in the piping or requiring a pressure relief valve. Therefore, centrifugal pumps
can cover a very wide range of liquid pumping applications.
Theory and Background

One of the most common radial-flow turbo machines is the centrifugal pump. The type of
the pump has two components; and impeller attached to a rotating shaft and a stationary casing
enclosing the impeller. Schematic diagram of basic elements of centrifugal pump is as shown
below.

The impeller is the key component of a centrifugal pump. It consists of a series of

curved vanes. These are normally sandwiched between two discs (an enclosed impeller). For
fluids with entrained solids, an open or semi-open impeller (backed by a single disc) is
preferred (Figure 1).

Figure 1.0 Impeller Types:Open,Semi enclosed,Enclosed

Fluid enters the impeller at its axis (the ‘eye’) and exits along the circumference between the
vanes. The impeller, on the opposite side to the eye, is connected through a drive shaft to a
motor and rotated at high speed (typically 500-5000rpm). The rotational motion of the impeller
accelerates the fluid out through the impeller vanes into the pump casing. In a volute casing,
the impeller is offset, effectively creating a curved funnel with an increasing cross-sectional
area towards the pump outlet. This design causes the fluid pressure to increase towards the
outlet (Figure 2).
 Figure 2.0 Volute Pump side view

Due to the general complexity of flow through a centrifugal pumps, the actual
performance of the pump cannot be predicted on a completely theoretical basis. Actual pump
performance determined experimentally through tests on the pump and the results are presented
as pump performance curves. Perfomance characteristic for a given pump geometry and
operating speed are usually given in the form of plots of head rise, efficiency and power versus
flow rate (commonly referred as capacity). This information is most helpful to the engineer
responsible for incorporating pumps into a given pipe flow system.

Consider the experimental arrangement for determining the head rise (or pressure rise)
gained by a fluid flowing through a pump as shown schematically below,

Figure 3.0 Experimental Arrangement for Pump Performance Characteristic

The pump head rise can be expressed using the energy equations as;

(𝑃2 − 𝑃1 ) (𝑉2 2 − 𝑉1 2 )
ℎ2 = + (𝑍2 − 𝑍1 ) +
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

Typically, the difference in elevations and velocities (between inlet and outlet) are so small so
that;

(𝑃2 − 𝑃1 )
ℎ𝑝 =
𝜌𝑔

The power gained by the fluid is given by the equation;

𝑃𝑓 = 𝜌𝑔𝑄ℎ𝑝

The pump overall efficiency is the ratio of power gained by the fluid to the shaft power supplied
𝑊𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 as given by the equation.

𝑃𝑓
η=
𝑊𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡

Where 𝑊𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 the shaft power, is the product of the Torque applied to the shaft and the angular
velocity 𝝎.

𝑊𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 = 𝑇𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 𝑡

Where;

2𝜋𝑁
𝜔=
60

Typical performance curve for the axial centrifugal pump of a given size operating at constant
speed is shown below;
Figure 4.0 Typical Performance Characteristic of an Axial Centrifugal Pump