A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.

Naseer Al-Janabi 7

CHAPTER TWO
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
1.1 Energy Transfer In Turbo Machines

Fig.2.1
Now consider a turbomachine (pump or turbine) the total head (H)
supplied by it is
𝒑𝟐 𝑽𝟐𝟐 𝒑𝟏 𝑽𝟐𝟏
𝑯=( + + 𝒛𝟐 ) − ( + + 𝒛𝟏 ) (𝟐. 𝟏)
𝜸 𝟐𝒈 𝜸 𝟐𝒈

The power delivered to/by the fluid simply equals the specific weight times
the discharge times the net head change:
Power (P) = γQH ; kW (𝟐. 𝟐)

Also, the power required to drive the pump or delivered by turbine is the
brake horsepower:
bhp = T.ω ; kW (𝟐. 𝟑)
A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.Naseer Al-Janabi 8

where ω is the shaft angular velocity and T the shaft torque. If there were
no losses, P and brake horsepower would be equal, but; of course there’s
many losses like friction, viscous or mechanical losses, so:
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
Efficiency: η = (𝟐. 𝟒)
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
(in same units) as percentage
𝑴𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓
Efficiency η = (𝟐. 𝟓)
𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅

𝑷 𝛄𝐐𝐇
Efficiency, η (for pump) = = (𝟐. 𝟔)
𝒃𝒉𝒑 𝐓.𝛚
𝒃𝒉𝒑 𝐓.𝛚
Efficiency, η (for turbine) = = (𝟐. 𝟕)
𝑷 𝛄𝐐𝐇

𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒,

𝑚̇1 = 𝑚̇2 ⇒ 𝜌1 𝐴1𝑉1 = 𝜌2 𝐴2 𝑉2 , (𝟐. 𝟖)
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤:
𝜌= 𝜌1 = 𝜌2 , so 𝐴1𝑉1 = 𝐴2 𝑉2 (𝟐. 𝟗)
𝐴1 = 𝜋𝐷1𝐵1 , (𝟐. 𝟏𝟎)
𝐴2 = 𝜋𝐷2 𝐵2 . (𝟐. 𝟏𝟏)

1.2 THE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

As sketched in Fig. 2.2, this pump consists of an impeller rotating
within a casing. Fluid enters axially through the eye of the casing, is caught
up in the impeller blades, and is whirled tangentially and radially outward
until it leaves through all circumferential parts of the impeller into the
diffuser part of the casing. The fluid gains both velocity and pressure while
passing through the impeller. The doughnut-shaped diffuser, or scroll,
A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.Naseer Al-Janabi 9

section of the casing decelerates the flow and further increases the
pressure.

Fig. 2.2
2.3 Basic Output Parameters
Assuming steady flow, the pump basically increases the Bernoulli head of
the flow between point 1, the eye, and point 2, the exit. Neglecting viscous
work and heat transfer, this change is denoted by H:
𝒑𝟐 𝑽𝟐𝟐 𝒑𝟏 𝑽𝟐𝟏
𝑯=( + + 𝒛𝟐 ) − ( + + 𝒛𝟏 ) = 𝒉 𝒔 − 𝒉 𝒇 , (𝟐. 𝟏𝟐)
𝜸 𝟐𝒈 𝜸 𝟐𝒈

where hs is the pump head supplied and hf the losses.

Power (P) = γQH ; kW

bhp = T.ω ; kW
𝑷 𝛄𝐐𝐇
Efficiency, η= =
𝒃𝒉𝒑 𝐓.𝛚

The efficiency is basically composed of three parts: volumetric, hydraulic,

and mechanical. The volumetric efficiency is:
𝐐
𝜼𝒗 = (𝟐. 𝟏𝟑)
𝐐 + 𝑸𝒍
where QL is the loss of fluid due to leakage in the impeller casing
clearances. The hydraulic efficiency is:
𝐡𝒇
𝜼𝒉 = 𝟏 − (𝟐. 𝟏𝟒)
𝐡𝒔
A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.Naseer Al-Janabi 10

where hf has three parts: (1) shock loss at the eye due to imperfect match
between inlet flow and the blade entrances, (2) friction losses in the blade
passages, and (3) circulation loss due to imperfect match at the exit side of
the blades. Finally, the mechanical efficiency is:
𝑷𝒇
𝜼𝒎 = 𝟏 − (𝟐. 𝟏𝟓)
𝒃𝒉𝒑
where Pf is the power loss due to mechanical friction in the bearings,
packing glands, and other contact points in the machine.
By definition, the total efficiency is simply the product of its three parts:
𝜼 = 𝜼𝒗 𝜼𝒉 𝜼𝒎 (𝟐. 𝟏𝟔)

2.4 Velocity Diagram

The velocity diagrams are shown in Fig. below. The fluid is assumed to
enter the impeller at r = r1 with velocity component w 1 tangent to the blade
angle β1 plus circumferential speed u1 = ωr1 matching the tip speed of the
impeller. Its absolute entrance velocity is thus the vector sum of w 1 and u1,
shown as V1. Similarly, the flow exits at r = r2 with component w2 parallel
to the blade angle β2 plus tip speed u2 = ωr2, with resultant velocity V2.

Fig. 2.3
A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.Naseer Al-Janabi 11

If we apply the angular momentum theorem to a turbomachine , the torque

T:
𝑇 = 𝜌𝑄 (𝑟2𝑉𝑡2 − 𝑟1𝑉𝑡1) (𝟐. 𝟏𝟕)
where Vt1 and Vt2 are the absolute circumferential velocity components of
the flow. The power delivered to the fluid is thus:
𝑃 = 𝜔𝑇 = 𝜌𝑄 (𝑢2 𝑉𝑡2 − 𝑢1 𝑉𝑡1 ) (𝟐. 𝟏𝟖)
𝑃 1
𝐻= = (𝑢2 𝑉𝑡2 − 𝑢1𝑉𝑡1 ) (𝟐. 𝟏𝟗)
𝜌𝑔𝑄 𝑔
These are Euler turbomachine equations
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 𝑤 2 − 2𝑢𝑤𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 (𝟐. 𝟐𝟎)
𝑤𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 = 𝑢 − 𝑣𝑡 (𝟐. 𝟐𝟏)
1 2
𝑢𝑣𝑡 = (𝑣 + 𝑢2 − 𝑤 2) − 2𝑢𝑤𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 (𝟐. 𝟐𝟐)
2
1
𝐻= [(𝑣 2 − 𝑣12 ) + (𝑢22 − 𝑢12 ) − (𝑤22 − 𝑤12)] (𝟐. 𝟐𝟐)
2𝑔 2
For a centrifugal pump, the power can be related to the radial velocity
Vn=Vt tanα
and the continuity relation
𝑃𝑤 = 𝜌𝑄 (𝑢2 𝑉𝑛2 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝛼2 − 𝑢1 𝑉𝑛1 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝛼1) (𝟐. 𝟐𝟑)
where
𝑄 𝑄
𝑉𝑛2 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑛1 = (𝟐. 𝟐𝟒)
2𝜋𝑟2 𝑏2 2𝜋𝑟1𝑏1
and where b1 and b2 are the blade widths at inlet and exit. With the pump
parameters r1, r2, β1, β2, and ω known, Eq. (2.18) or Eq. (2.24) is used to
compute idealized power and head versus discharge. The “design” flow
rate Q* is commonly estimated by assuming that the flow enters exactly
normal to the impeller:
𝛼1 = 90° 𝑉𝑛1 = 𝑉1 (𝟐. 𝟐𝟓)
A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.Naseer Al-Janabi 12

EX1: Given are the following data for a commercial centrifugal water pump:
r1 =10 cm, r2 = 17.5 cm, β1 =30°, β2 =20°, speed =1440 r/min. Estimate (a)
the design point discharge, (b) the water horsepower, and (c) the head if b 1
= b2 = 4.4 cm.(Hint. design point discharge, i.e α1=90°)
A course in Turbomachinery…………………………………..….…Lecturer: Dr.Naseer Al-Janabi 13

Ex.2: In a test of the centrifugal pump shown in Fig. below, the following
data are taken: p1 =100 mmHg (vacuum) and p2 = 500 mmHg (gage). The
pipe diameters are D1 = 12 cm and D2 = 5 cm. The flow rate is 180 gal/min
of light oil (SG =0.91). Estimate (a) the head developed, in meters, and (b)
the input power required at 75 percent efficiency.