Centrifugal and Axial Flow Pumps.

Theory, Design and

Application by Stepanoff A.J.
Saturday, August 29, 2020 03:44 PM

Section A : Velocity Triangle

1. Definition :
A study of the several component velocities of flow through an impeller is best carried out graphically by
means of velocity vectors. The shape of such vector diagrams is triangular and they are called velocity
triangles. They can be drawn for any point of the flow path through the impeller, but usually attention is
focused on the entrance and discharge part of the impeller vanes, and the velocity triangles are called
entrance and discharge triangles.

2. Relative velocity (w): Considered relative to the impeller

3. Absolute velocity [c]: With respect to the pump casing. Is equal to the vectorial sum of the relative velocity
and the peripheral velocity of the impeller.
4. Peripheral velocity [u] : Refer image
5. Subscript 1 refers to entrance and subscript 2 refers to the discharge
6. Tangential components of relative and absolute velocities are given subscript u
7. Components of the absolute velocity normal to the peripheral velocity are designated as cm1 and cm2 for
entrance and discharge. This is radial in radial impeller and axial in axial impeller.

Section B : Theoretical head of centrifugal pump. Page 21

1. An expression for the theoretical head of a centrifugal pump is obtained
by applying the principle of angular momentum to the mass of
liquid going through the impeller passages. This principle states that
the time rate of change of angular momentum of a body with respect
to the axis of rotation is equal to the torque of the resultant force on the
body with respect to the same axis.
a. Angular momentum - For a point L = r x p. where r is radius, p is linear momentum
b. For a object L = I x w. where I is rotational inertia, w is angular velocity
2. In an actual pump, friction forces Fr and Fz have a moment about the axis, thus
requiring power from the shaft. Therefore, not all the applied torque is converted
into head. (Refer diagram)
3. Expression of theoretical head -

Refer textbook for derivation

This equation is known as Euler's equation,
If the liquid enters the impeller without tangential component it cu1 = 0 (radially ofr radial pump
and axially for an axial pump) equation becomes:

Section C : Efficiencies
Head in an impeller is only generated by the impeller, rest components on not contribute to head but Energy Gradient
instead incur inevitable losses like hydraulic, mechanical leakage. Hydraulic losses are losses of head To start and maintain flow in a channel (stationary or moving) there must be a drop
measured between where suction and discharge pressures are measured. These include: In total energy content in the direction of flow below its initial level at zero flow.
• skin friction losses, Energy gradient is the graphical representation of the total energy along the path of flow.
• loss due to sudden change in area or direction of flow, loss
• due to eddies
Hydraulic efficiency is the ratio of available dynamic heard to the input head.

Vane efficiency is the ratio of input head to Euler's head

Section D : Impeller Approach and Pre-rotation

How fluid flows through the impeller?
• The flow toward the impeller, through the impeller, and, beyond the impeller is caused by the
drop of the energy gradient below its level at zero flow.
• The drop in energy gradient permits liquid to proceed through the impeller against a gradually
increasing head.
• Following the energy gradient the liquid selects a path of least resistance to get to and through the
impeller and out of the pump.
• The liquid acquires pre-rotation to enter the impeller passages with a minimum disturbance and
the direction depends on the impeller vane entrance angle β1, the capacity of going through and
the impeller peripheral velocty - all 3 of which determine the entrance velocity triangle. Specific Speed
• Resistance to flow is minimum (friction is minimum) if the liquid enters the impeller channel at an
angle approaching the vane angle β1. For a given impeller speed there is only one capacity at
which the liquid will approach the impeller meridionally or without pre -rotation. Fig. 3.7 (a)
• But at a capacity smaller than normal, liquid should acquire pre -rotation in the direction of
impeller rotation to enter the channel at an angle approaching β1. Fig. 3.7 (b)
• At a capacity greater than normal, the pre-rotation in the opposite direction is necessary for the
liquid to satisfy the least resistance requirement. Fig. 3.7 [c]
• The direction of pre-rotation changes when best efficiency point is passed.

Note: It should be realized that liquids cannot transmit tension therefore cannot be pulled of sucked but
only "pushed" by the excess pressure from behind. Any
Devices that suck liquids accomplish only a local reduction of pressure thus establishing an energy or

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 Note: It should be realized that liquids cannot transmit tension therefore cannot be pulled of sucked but
only "pushed" by the excess pressure from behind. Any
Devices that suck liquids accomplish only a local reduction of pressure thus establishing an energy or
hydraulic gradient necessary to produce flow.

Section E : Flow through the impeller

a) Pressure distribution
a. In order to transmit power to the liquid, pressure on the leading (front face)
of the vane should be higher than pressure on the back of the vane.
b. Any force exerted by the vane on the liquid has an equal and opposing
reaction from the liquid and this exist only as a pressure difference on two
sides of the impeller vanes.
c. This difference in pressure leads to difference in relative velocities - higher at
the beck of the impeller vanes than those near the front of the vane.
d. From velocity triangle it is shown that for a given vane angle the head
produced is lower with higher meridional velocities
e. Therefore the higher relative velocities at the back of the vane will result in
lower heads and the total integrated head will be lower than that calculated
for an average velocity of flow
b) Velocity distribution
a. Velocity distortion occurs in any idealized pump due to effect of impeller
approach and impeller profile. In the radial and mixed flow impellers the
liquid has to make a near 90 deg turn before acting upon the vane which thus
reduces the maximum head possible.
c) Relative circulation
a. The relative velocity distribution through an impeller channel is affected also
by the relative circulation of the liquid due to inertia effect of frictionless
liquid particles. Ref page 46 for detailed explanation.
b. Superimposition of flow through the impeller increases the velocity at the
back of the vane and reduces the velocity at the front face of the vane. The
result is a component in the tangential direction opposite to c,y28,tt he
discharge (Fig.3.l8) and an additional component in the direction of. cu1 at
the entrance. All these effects reduce the input head.
c. Relative circulation is much less with higher number of vanes leading to
higher pump useful head.
d. Also, it is reasonable to expect that relative circulation is smaller in a narrow
impeller than in a wide one. For the same impeller diameter, the total head is
greater with a narrow impeller (lower specific speed).

Section Unknown : Design Procedure - Impeller

A) Selection of specific speed
a. To meet given head-capacity conditions the rotative speed is selected first. This establishes the specific speed or type of the impeller. Follow ing factors are considered while selecting specific speed:

Basically AFFINITY Laws are used while factoring dimensions for similar model of impeller
B) New Impeller Design
a. Design factors are used for the impeller having no models
b. Following elements are to be known for impeller profile and vane layout
i. Meridional velocities at inlet and outlet
ii. Impeller outside diameter
iii. Impeller vane and outlet angles
Both for impeller inlet ad outlet triangles

c.

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 c.

C) Vane Discharge angles

a. Most important single design element.
i. Theoretical characteristics are determined by the vane angle.
All the design constants depend on the value of β2. Choice of β2 is the first step in selcting design constraints.
ii. This selection is based on consideration of the desired steepness of the head-capacity curve and whether or not a
maximum output is desired form the impeller of a given diameter as both normal head and capacity increase with the angle β2 .
iii. If required it is made for an optimum efficiency or normal design.
iv. An average of 22.5 degrees is considered normal for specific speeds. Usually it can be raised to 27.5 for forced output and lower limit is 17.5 deg
D) Speed Constants
a. Speed constant gives the relation between pump total head and the impeller peripheral velocity. Such constants are as follows :
b. KU is the ratio of the free velocity under head H.
It is used for calculation of the impeller diameter when the head H is given and the speed is selected. It increases with specific speed.

Figure 5.2 shoes Ku drawn for average normal design with B2 22.5 deg.
Ku is affected by following design elements
 Ku increases for lower values for angle B2 as Normal Head is increased.
 Greater ratio of D1/D2o requires higher value of Ku
 Ku is also based on the number of vanes.: Depends on vane load. With low vane discharge angles B2, six vanes are probably a minimum for specific
speeds upto 5000. With discharge angles of 22.5 8 vanes might be used. For, Higher specific speed lower amount of vanes are used.
c. The number of vanes also depends on the pump size and the pump total head, smaller and lower head pumps requiring fewer vanes .

Dependents Table
Ku Pump size Smaller pump require higher Ku

Any reduction in gross pump efficiency of small pumps as compared with large pumps of the same specific speed is caused by a reduction of hydraulic efficiency. To compensate for the reduction of head due to
increased hydraulic losses in small pumps, a larger impeller diameter or greater value of Ku is used.

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