CENTIRFUGAL PUMPS

Centrifugal Pumps:
This is classified under Hydraulic machines as;
Pumps
Turbines
Fans
Compressors
Blowers
Fluid coupling
Torque Converters
The hydraulic machine which converts the mechanical energy into hydraulic energy is called Pumps.
The hydraulic energy is in the form of pressure energy if the mechanical energy is converted into pressure energy
by means of a centrifugal force acting on the fluid, the hydraulic machine is called a Centrifugal Pump.
Classificaion based on head:
• Low head upto upto 15m use volute casing.
• Medium head upto 40m of water head. Mostly employ diffuser ring and
• High head.- pumps working against more than 40m these are usually multi-stage pumps
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• Classification based on casing; casing is for housing the impeller and supporting the bearings.
• Volute casing
• Diffuser casing
• Vortex or whirlpool
• Turbine type
Classification on basis of flow direction:
• Radial flow pumps
• Axial flow pumps
• Mixed flow pumps
 Centrifugal pumps cont…
• Applications of Centrifugal Pumps:
• Centrifugal pumps are used in buildings for pumping the general water supply, as a booster and
for domestic water supplies.
• The design of a centrifugal pump makes them useful for pumping sewage and slurries.
• They are also used in fire fighting and protection systems and for heating and cooling
applications.
• Beverage industry: Used to transfer juice, bottled water, etc.
• Dairy industry: Used to transfer dairy products such as milk, buttermilk, flavored milk, etc.
• Various industries (Manufacturing, Industrial, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Food processing
plants and Production, Aerospace, etc.) for the purposes of cryogenics and refrigerants.
• Oil Energy: pumping crude oil, slurry, mud; used by refineries, power generation plants
 Centrifugal pumps cont…
• Advantages of centrifugal Pumps:
• These are some advantages of Pump:
• As there is no drive seal so there is no leakage in the pump.
• There are very less frictional losses.
• The construction of the pump is Simple.
• Almost no noise.
• Minimum wear as compared to others.
• Disadvantages of Pump:
• These are some disadvantages of Pump:
• Produce cavitation.
• Corrosion.
• Cannot be able to work at high speed.
 Centrifugal pumps cont…
• Main Parts of Centrifugal Pump:
• Impeller
• Casing
• Suction pipe with a foot valve
• strainer and
• Delivery pipe
• Impeller:
• An impeller is a rotating component of a centrifugal pump which transfers energy from the motor
that drives the pump to the fluid being pumped by accelerating the fluid outwards from the center
of rotation.
• Casing:
• The Casing that receives the fluid being pumped by the impeller, slowing down the fluid’s rate of
flow.
• A volute is a curved funnel that increases in area as it approaches the discharge port.
• Suction pipe with a foot valve and Strainer: A pipe whose one end is connected to the inlet of
Component parts of Centrifugal pumps
 CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS CONT…

• Suction pipe with a foot valve and Strainer:

• A pipe whose one end is connected to the inlet of the pump and another end dips into the water in a sump is
known as a suction pipe.
• A foot valve is found at the end of a pipeline in a suction lift application.
• They function as a check valve, but they also have a strainer affixed to their open end.
• Delivery pipe:
• A pipe whose one end is connected to the outlet of the pump and other ends delivers the water at a
required height is known as a Delivery pipe.
• Working Principle of Centrifugal Pump:
• The Centrifugal pump acts as a reversed of an inward radial flow reaction turbine. This means that flow in a
centrifugal pump is in the radial outward directions.
• The centrifugal pump works on the principle of forced vortex flow which means that when a certain mass of
liquid is rotated by an external torque, the rise in pressure head of the rotating liquid takes place.
• The rise in pressure head at any point of the rotating liquid is proportional to the square of the tangential
velocity of the liquid at that point.
• Therefore the rise in pressure head =
• Thus at the outlet of the impeller, where the radius is more, the rise in pressure head will be more and the
liquid will be discharged at the outlet with a high-pressure head.
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these are (i) Vortex casing – an improvement of the volute casing. It has a vortex
chamber or whirlpool chamber between the impeller and the casing. Liquid enters
the vortex chamber from the impeller with a whirlpool motion. Water particles have
a spiraling path.
(ii) Diffuser casing – Diffuser rings having guide vanes surround the impeller.
Guide vanes are such as they provide gradually enlarged passage for the flow of
water.Vanes are placed at an angle so that water enters without a shock.

Vortex /whirlpool Volute casing

diffuser casing
Impeller Vanes: Turbine pump impellers;
In this pump ,the casing is circular and guide vanes
or Diffusers are provided(To convert K.E to pressure
Head around the periphery of the impeller.
N.B: when handling liquids with solids, impellers without
Shroud are preferred.
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Starting a pump:
Before starting the pump it has to be primed by filling water in the suction pipe, casing and
into a portion of the delivery pipe. Upto delivery valve.
This removes air from the casing in order to create a partial vacuum’

• Pressure generated by the pump is directly

Proportional to the density of the liquid being pumped.
• Priming has to be done properly during which time
delivery valve has to be kept closed,.
• Start the prime mover to run the pump with delivery
Still closed.Rotaion of the impeller in the casing
with the liquid produces centrifugal force in the liquid
Thus Increasing pressure in the liquid..
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(a) Shrouded or surrounded impeller; for pumping liquids that are pure and completely free
from foreign matter or debris.
(b) Semi-open impeller; vanes are fixed on one shroud plate only. Used for pumping liquids
containing debris upto a certain extent only. Sewage, paper pulp etc.
(c) Open impeller; vanes are fixed from centre with a web plate. No crown or and shroud plates
are used.This is for pumping liquids with coarse debris of large size such as mixture of
water,sand,clay,and pebbles in which the solid contents are in very large amount.
Impeller Vanes: can be either of the three.
(a) Curved forward vanes; In the direction of rotation
of the impeller. Flow of liquid is in the concave surface of the vane.
Gives low efficiency upto 75%, not commonly used.

(b)Radial vanes: have outlet tips in radial direction. Efficiency by

these is 80 – 85%

(c) Curved back vanes: curved back or away from the direction of
rotation of the impeller. Liquid forced out by convex surface of the
Pump. These give highest efficiency upto 90%
 Working of centrifugal pumps
Pump Installation
 Working of centrifugal pumps
Liquid enters the eye of the impeller, enters the vane at point 1 and leaves the vane at point 2. relative velocities
and v2 being tangential to the vane(impeller)at inlet and out let respectively,and make angle . and .. With the
positive direction of the peripheral velocity v 1 measured clockwise,called vane angles.
The total pumping H = hs + hd + hfs+ hfd +
In Practice; Total pumping head H = h d + hfd +
H = hd + hfd + P = (Watts)
P = (H.P) but hls = = K
hfd = = K
= considering all other minor losses
To facilitate for enough suction;
Hatm = hs =+ hfs +hv + N.P.S.H. hb = hs + hfs +hv + N.P.S.H.
hs = hb - hfs -hv - N.P.S.H.
Hatm – Atmospheric pressure
Hs- suction head –usually a –ve head
Hfs- factor of safety usually taken as = 0.6m
 Working of centrifugal pumps
To facilitate for enough suction; Suction can either be Positive suction arrangement or Negative suction arrangemen
We have a dry well arrangement or wet well arrangement (Ref. Waste water Engineering by J.B White and
Water supply by Twort).
hatm = hs + hls + hfs +hv + N.P.S.H.
hatm – Atmospheric pressure
hs- suction head –usually a –ve head or hs = 3ds,
where ds= diameter of the suction
hfs- factor of safety usually taken as = 0.6m
hv – vapour pressure
Hls – friction losses in the suction pipe
N.P.S.H – Net positive Suction Head –the difference between
inlet pressure at reservoir level and the lowest pressure level
at the sump level .
It is an expression of the pressure loss that takes place
inside the first part of the pump housing.
N.P.S.H has a ratio between 1.0 – 1.3 higher than it causes
 Working of centrifugal pumps
To facilitate for enough suction; A.M.S.L Hatm(H2O)
hatm or hb = hs + hfs +hv + N.P.S.H. (m) (m)

hatm – Atmospheric pressure 0 10.33

(Sea level)
hs- suction head –usually a –ve head
1,000 9.16
hfs- factor of safety usually taken as = 0.6m
hv – vapour pressure 2,000 8.10

hls- -Suction losses

4,000 6.29

6,000 4.81

8,000 3.63

10,000 2.70
 Working of centrifugal pumps
To facilitate for enough suction; Example: 1.0
Temp. oC Hv(m)
Given;
hatm - 10.33m
10 0.12
hls- 1.5m
hfs- 0.6m 20 0.26
hv – 0.1m
N.P.S.H – 0.6m 30 0.44

Find hs = hatm- hfs- hls- hv- N.P.S.H

2.0 calculate the allowable suction head given; 40 0.76

Hatm = 730mm (Hg) = 9.93m

50 1.26
hls- 0.1m
Vs = 1.6m/s
60 2.00
∑𝒉 𝒇 = = = 0.13m
 Working of centrifugal pumps
To facilitate for enough suction;
Example: 3.0 A centrifugal suction lift pump is to be installed incorporating the following det
hatm - 10.33m
hls- 0.3m
hfs- 0.6m
hv – 0.24m
N.P.S.H – 2.8m
Find maximum suction lift. hs = hatm - hls- hfs- hv- N.P.S.H
10.33 – 0.3 - 0.6 – 0.24 -2.8 = 6.39m
 Selection of pumps
Pumps are selected on;
(a) Type of liquid to be pumped
(b) Head to pump against
(c) Demand for water to be supplied
(d) Source of water
(e) Altitude
Data for purchasing pump; For the pump to fulfil the requirements. Generally, specific speed is
the main factor
but the following is important;
(a)Reliability of the service
(b) Initial cost of the plant- Validity period of that price
(c) Efficiency of the plant
(d) Depreciation or life of the pump
(e) Cost of energy to be used in running of the pump
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Data for ordering or calling for Quotations:
(i) Number of pumps required
(ii) Type of prime mover(Electrical or Diesel)
(iii) Capacity in m3/hr/s/min.
(iv) Total lift
(v) Length or size of suction and delivery pipe.
(vi) Type of pump i.e horizontal or vertical
(vii)Type of liquid to be handled.
(viii)Place of application.( Irrigation, condenser circulation, boiler feed and deep well.
(ix) Mark the performance and characteristic curves to indicate the duty point of the pump
(x) Mark the NPSH or indicate the level NPSH
(xi) Indicate the Validity period on the price quoted
(xii)Qurantee or warranty for how long for free maintenance after installation.
(xiii)What is the experience of the supplier?- on maintenance, on installation, useful
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Vortex and Radial motion :
Both vortex and radial flow are two examples of two-dimensional flow in which the streamlines are not
parallel.
In vortex motion the curvature of the streamlines introduces the action of centrifugal force which must
be counter balanced by a pressure gradient in the fluid.
For radial flow, the movement of the fluid is inward to or outward from a centre.
There are FOUR types of vortices;
Forced vortex – Fluid rotates as a solid body with a constant angular velocity.
Free cylindrical vortex – Fluid moves along stream lines which are horizontal concentric circles and
there is no variation
of total energy with radius.
Free spiral vortex – This is a combination of the free cylindrical vortex with radial flow.
Compound vortex - The fluid rotates as a forced vortex at the centre and as a free vortex outside.
Forced vortex:- The express for variation of energy across the streamlines in a horizontal plane in a
fluid.
At the free surface of the forced vortex, = 0 and the height Z of the surface above datum is given by Z
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To facilitate for enough suction;
Hatm. = hs + hls hfs + hv + N.P.S.H.
Net Positive Suction Head (N.P.S.H). This very common in pump industry. Defined as the gauge
reading in metres of water taken on the suction side of the pump on the centerline minus the gauge
vapour pressure in meters of water at the pumping temperature plus velocity head at that point.
N.PS.H = Ha - hs - hfs –hv
Hatm – Atmospheric pressure head of water e.g at sea level Hatm = 10.33m H2O depends on
altitude
hs – Suction head(m)
hls- - Friction head loss in the suction pipe computing Darcy’s-Weisbach equation hls= = KQs2 =
hfs – factor of Safety usually equivalent to 0.6m
Hv – Vapour pressure(m) depends on altitude
N.PS.H - Necessary in the design of centrifugal pumps and represents the minimum required
difference between suction head and vapour pressure head at given capacity.
If NPSH is insufficient cavitation may occur due to very high suction lift.
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• Manometric head: - Def.: Difference in elevation between high reservoir level and sump water
level
• For the centrifugal pump shown with a suction and delivery;
• hs = Suction lift
• hd = Delivery head
• Vs = Velocity of flow in the suction
• Vd = Velocity of flow in the delivery
• Hfs = Head lost in friction in suction
• Hfd – friction head loss in the delivery pipe
• A = Point at the inlet edge of the impeller
• B =Point at the outlet edge of the impeller
• HA = Total head at point A
• HB = Total head at point B
• Static lift = total vertical lift is the height through which water is lifted by the pump.
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• Suction head = Considering loss of head in a suction pipe; neglecting loss of head at entrance
and bends.
• Suction = Hs + hls + ;
• Delivery head = Neglecting head lost at the bends = Hd + hfd +
• Manometric head = Hm = Hs + hfs + Hd + hfd +
• Or Hm = Hs + hls + Hd + hfd + . Neglecting ; = hd + hfd +
• hf = hls + hfd = Total head loss due to suction and delivery pipe
• Manometric head developed by the pump is the difference of pressure head between outlet of
pump casing at B and inlet point at A of the pump. Therefore; Hm = HB - HA = - .
• Losses in pumps: Two types; (a) Hydraulic losses (i) Losses in pump; eddy losses at entrance
and exit of impeller, frictional loss in impeller, frictional and eddy losses in diffuser.(ii) Other
hydraulic losses in suction and delivery.
• Hence…. Hm = Static head + Friction and other losses in suction and delivery.
• N.B:- In practice; total pumping head = Elevation head difference + All friction losses +
(Residual head = 10.33m)
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(b) Mechanical losses; Friction due to the main bearings and glands
• Therefore energy supplied by electric motor to impeller = Energy produced by impeller +
Mechanical losses.
• In summary Losses at various stages:
(1) Shaft H.P – Mechanical losses = Impeller H.P
(2) Impeller H.P – Hydraulic losses in pump = W.H.P i.e power at casing exit.
(3) W,H.P = Losses in suction and delivery pipes = Static H.P
Pump efficiencies: Efficiency = x 100% but in computations we use efficiency from 0.1 - 1.0
But Head produced by impeller = = Hm + losses in the pump
Efficiencies indicate performance of centrifugal pumps/other pumps;
(i) Manometric efficiency (man) = x 100% ; also known as hydraulic efficiency (hyd.)
(ii) Mechanical efficiency (mech.) = = =
(iii) Overall or actual efficiency (o) = x 100% N.B: If losses are not given consideration, static head
instead of Hm then efficiency is actual or static efficiency o = mech x hyd e.g mech = 78% and hyd =82%
(iv) o = mech x hyd = 0.78 x 0.82 = 0.639 = 63.9% = 64%
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• Manometric head:
• N.B: P = = Watts = = KW or P = = = H.P or P = watts, found in design manual. Note Q =m 3/s or Q = l/s
when using formula in design manual .
• Example: During a test on a centrifugal pump, the following readings were obtained;
- Vacuum gauge reading = 25 cm of Hg
- Pressure gauge reading = 15 kg /cm2
- Effective height between gauges = 0.5m
- S.H.P of electric mortar = 30
- Discharge of the pump = 100 l/s
- Diameter of suction pipe = 15 cm
- Diameter of delivery pipe = 15 cm
- Determine manometric head and overall efficiency of the pump.
- Sol
- Hm = H B – H A
- -
- In this; = = 15.3 m of water
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• Manometric head: Hm = HB – HA and = = = 5.66 m/s Water level in reservoir – water level in the
sump

- = 25cm of Hg = = - 3.4m

- = = Vd = = 5.66 m/s
- =
- = (15.3 + 1.63 + 0.5) – (-3.4 + 1.63 + 0
- = 18.7m
- = = but = = x 100% = 81.53 %
- =
- Also say in another perspective =
- = 0.83 = 83 % remember = x