P09454 The Volute

From Centrifugal Pump Design (pp 146 Tuzson 2000), the driving equations for the volute shape are
A=

Q( 360 )
C t

and
Ct =

Ct 2 D2
D2 + ( D3 D2 )( 360 )

Where Q = flow rate

Ct2=Tangential Velocity at diffuser exit
D2=Diffuser O.D.
D3=Volute Throat centerline diameter
=Angle
Based on industry design practices, this area is sized up 25% to account for friction and slip losses in the
housing (Tuzson pp146). Additionally, a clearance with the diffuser needs to be accounted for, which amounts
to 5% of the diffuser rings O.D.
For the sake of a more simple design, a constant volute depth t is assumed. Because of this, the equation for
volute cross-sectional area can be solved directly for the radius of the volute wall. Combining all design factors
and terms yields the following governing equation for the volute radius in terms of the angle :

Q D2 + ( D3 D2 )
360 1.05 D2

R = 1.25 *
+
720Ct 2 D2 t
2

This design gives a volute throat height of .88. A pump discharge of 1 inch is desired, so after the volute
throat a gradual diffuser is incorporated into the design to bring the width to 1 inch.

Volute Cross-Sectional Area

D2
D3
Increase 25% to account for losses
5% of Diffuser OD clearance@neck
A=t* R

Ct2
Q
R
t

(deg)

Diffuser OD
6.25 in
Volute Diameter at throat
7.32 in
Tangential Velocity Exiting Diffuser
93.73 in/ s
(1 gal = 0.13368 ft3)
Flow Rate
88.2805 in3/ s
22.93 gpm
Varying volute wall radius
volute depth
0.79 in

R (in)
X coord
Y coord
0 3.28125
0.0000
3.2813
1 3.283321
0.0573
3.2828
2 3.285394
0.1147
3.2834
3 3.287468
0.1721
3.2830
4 3.289545
0.2295
3.2815
5 3.291624
0.2869
3.2791
=1.25* ($G$11*($E$6* A16+($E$8-$E$6)* (A16^2)/ 360)/ (360*$E$10* $E$6*$E$15))/ 2+$E$6/ 2* 1.05
6 3.293704
0.3443
3.2757
7 3.295787
0.4017
3.2712
8 3.297872
0.4590
3.2658
9 3.299958
0.5162
3.2593
10 3.302047
0.5734
3.2519
11 3.304137
0.6305
3.2434
12 3.30623
0.6874
3.2340
13 3.308324
0.7442
3.2235
14 3.310421
0.8009
3.2121
Table 1: Sample of Excel Calculations used

Figure 1: Plot of Volute Points.

Figure 2: Solid model of final volute design.