Centrifugal pump A centrifugal pump is a rotodynamic pump that uses a rotating impeller to increa se the pressure and flow

rate of a fluid. Centrifugal pumps are the most common type of pump used to move liquids through a piping system. The fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impel ler, flowing radially outward or axially into a diffuser or volute chamber, from where it exits into the downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are typical ly used for large discharge through smaller heads. Centrifugal pumps are most often associated with the radial-flow type. However, the term "centrifugal pump" can be used to describe all impeller type rotodynami c pumps[4] including the radial, axial and mixed-flow variations

WORKING OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Like most pumps, a centrifugal pump converts mechanical energy from a motor to e nergy of a moving fluid. A portion of the energy goes into kinetic energy of the fluid motion, and some into potential energy, represented by fluid pressure or by lifting the fluid, against gravity, to a higher altitude. Centrifugal pumps basically consist of a stationary pump casing and an impeller mounted ona rotating shaft. The pump casing provides a pressure boundary for the pump and contains channels to properly direct the suction and discharge flow. T he pump casing has suction and discharge penetrations for the main flow path of the pump and normally has small drain and vent fittings to remove gases trapped in the pump casing or to drain the pump casing for maintenance. The centrifugal pump casing guides the liquid from the suction connection to the center of the i mpeller. The vanes of the rotating impeller impart a radial and rotary motion to the liquid,forcing it to the outer periphery of the pump casing where it is col lected in the outer part of the pump casing called the volute. The volute is a r egion that expands in cross-sectional area as it wraps around the pump casing. T he purpose of the volute is to collect the liquid discharged from the periphery of the impeller at high velocity and gradually cause a reduction in fluid veloci ty by increasing the flow area. This converts the velocity head to static pressu re. The fluid is then discharged from the centrifugal pump through the discharge connection.