Chapter Four

Axial pump

An axial-flow pump uses a screw propeller to axially accelerate the liquid. The outlet passages
and guide vanes are arranged to convert the velocity increase of the liquid into a pressure. As
distinct from the centrifugal pump, the axial flow pump absorbs the maximum power at zero
flow. The advantage of an axial flow pump is its compact construction as well as its ability to run
at extremely high speeds. The flow area is the same at inlet and outlet and the minimum head for
this type of pump is the order of 20 m. In axial flow pumps, the fluid approaches the impeller
axially and leaves it also axially but with swirling motion resulting from the impeller rotation.

The common features of the Axial Flow Pumps are low pump head, large flow or discharge and
high speed of rotation. This type of pump is widely used in irrigation systems, flood prevention
pumps, and in steam power plants are used to supply seawater as a cooling medium in
condensers. With scoop circulation, the normal movement of the ship will draw in water; the
pump would be in use only when the ship was moving slowly or stopped. The pump is reversible
and this, in conjunction with high capacity flow, makes it suitable for trimming and heeling
duties as well.

The comparisons of Centrifugal Pump vs. Axial-Flow Pump

 As seen from the efficiency curves,
centrifugal and axial pumps have almost the
same maximum efficiency levels.
 If the fluid flow decrease, the input
power for the centrifugal pump becomes
decrease too. But at the axial pump the input
power goes up to maximum when the fluid
flow stops.
 Head generated by centrifugal pumps
are much higher than axial pumps.
 The axial pump may cause overload at the
motor drive if the flow rate is drastically reduced from its design capacity.
 On an efficiency curve beyond its maximum efficiency, the axial pump has a lower
efficiency level than a centrifugal pump.

Components of Axial Pump

The axial pump components are not much different from the centrifugal pump. The most
noticeable difference is the diffuser design between the centrifugal pump and the axial pump. In
accordance with the impeller design, centrifugal pumps are emphasized to generate high head
fluid pressure, while axial pumps emphasize high flow fluids. For that, the diffuser design on the
centrifugal pump (in this case is the volute casing) is more “extreme” when compared to the
diffuser in the axial pump.

The main components of axial flow pump are rotating impeller, guide vane, casing, suction pipe,
discharge pipe and shaft.

 Impeller

It is the main working parts of axial flow pump, from the wheel hub, the water guide cone, blade
and so on. Impeller is generally composed of 2-6 blade curved blade Streamline section. The
blades of the impeller are twisted and arranged on the wheel hub.
The impeller consists of a number of blades attached to a central hub. The cross section of the
blades are in aero foil form (aeroplane wing) and the relative flow pattern is in many ways
similar to flow around the wing of an aircraft. Due to the pressure increase on the concave side
of the blade, an upthrust is produced by the flow which diminishes the torque to be applied on
the pump shaft.

The guide vane:

The guide vane device is in the shape of the garden or the shape of the garden. The guide vane
and guide vane hub and the pump shell composed of guide vane. The guide vane is the role of
the water flowing out of the impeller, the rotary motion into axial movement, and make them
become the function of pressure can reach the purpose of improving the efficiency of the pump.
Leaf blade generally provided with 6 to 12. The inlet side of the guide vane is generally made to
be consistent with the direction of the water outlet of the impeller, so as to avoid the impact loss
of the water flow. The guide vane outlet side is often used to take 90 degrees, is to make the
water flow into an axial movement. The shape of a cone is to reduce the velocity of the water. 

Working principle

The water from the sump well is sucked into the suction pipe in an axial direction, and passed
through the runner vanes (impeller) and finally discharged through another set of guide blades
into the delivery pipe. Suction pipe is essential to provide appropriate suction piping for securing
proper pump operation. Head losses along the suction lines should be made minimal.

The mechanical energy generated by the driving source is transmitted through the impeller shaft
to drive the pump impeller. The impeller rotation gives the axial force to drives the fluid and
produce kinetic energy. There is no real channel flow between blades is formed as with
centrifugal pumps; hence, transformation of kinetic energy into pressure due to expansion of
channel cross sectional area does not take place with axial flow pumps. similarly the blades are
not much curved and deflection of flow is small. For these reasons, the total head increase for
axial flow pumps is small compared to centrifugal pumps
Energy transfer takes mainly place through the tangential acceleration of the fluid due to the
impact of the impeller which can be seen by the fact that the fluid leaves the impeller in a vortex
(c2 is not in axial direction). In some axial pump designs, there is mounted blades at the stator
side, forming a diffuser at the pump outlet. Its function is to remove the rotating effect of the
working fluid and to convert the kinetic energy contained, into working pressure.

The size of discharge piping must be selected so as to provide appropriate head losses. The shaft
is to transmit power to the impeller while withstanding hydraulic thrust and weight of the
rotating parts. The guide vane is a device which guides the flowing water. It sets up outlet from
the impeller or enters from the suction pipe to be correct passage. By using vane in pump, it is
obtained more efficiently that the pump without guide vane.

Work done and velocity triangle

In axial flow pump, the fluid enters axially and leaves also the machine in axial direction. It
follows that the changes in energy takes place at the same radius. Considering the flow a radius r,

U 1=U 2=U=ωr

Since the area of flow is the same at inlet and exit the flow velocity, i.e, the axial components of
absolute velocity is constant

Ca1=C a2=C a

It is customary to assume that there is no prewhirl at entry.

Cx1 =0

This also implies;

C 1=C a1

Applying the momentum principle on the axial flow pump leads to the same Euler Equation as
derived for a radial-type impeller:

C x 2 U 2 −C x1 U 1
H=
g

But, U1=U2 and Cx1=0 (provided that the fluid approaches the impeller whirl free)
The head developed is

U Cx2
H=
g

πDN D + Dt
Where, U = and D= h
60 2

E can be given in terms of beta 2

U−C x 2
cot β 2=
Ca

Solving for C x 2

C x 2=U −Ca cot β 2 In order to keep E constant the angle beta 2

must be increased because the value of U is
Therefore the energy transferred is given by:
increasing with radius.
U ( U −C a cot β 2 )
E=
g
The mass flow rate of water sucked is given by

ṁ=ρπ ( R t2−R h2 )C a

Where, Rt =radius of blade at the tip∧¿

Rh =blade radius at thehub

Pump losses

The following are the various losses occurring during the operation of a pump.

1. Eddy losses at entrance and exit of impeller, friction losses in the impeller, frictional and
eddy losses in the diffuser, if provided.

2. Losses in the suction and delivery pipe. The above losses are known as hydraulic losses.

3. Mechanical losses are losses due to friction of the main bearings, and stuffing boxes.
Thus, the energy supplied by the prime mover to impeller is equal to the energy produced
by impeller plus mechanical losses. A number of efficiencies are associated with these
losses.

Dimensionless quantities for Turbo machineries

Specific Speed and Specific Diameter

Specific speed is a useful pi term obtained by eliminating diameter D between the low
coefficient and the head rise coefficient

D ( gH )1/ 4
Ds =
√Q
1 /2
Q

Ns=
( )
N D3 N √Q
3/4=
3
H (H) 4

( )
N 2 D2
Specific speed varies with flow coefficient just as the other coefficients and efficiency. For any
pump it is customary to specify a value of specific speed at the flow coefficient corresponding to
peak efficiency only. The variation of N s with respect to Ds is shown below.

Q
The flow coefficient and speed ratio: is called the flow coefficient or specific capacity
N D3
and indicates the volume flow rate of fluid through a turbomachine of unit diameter runner,
operating at unit speed. It is constant for similar rotors.

gH
The head coefficient: . It is the kinetic energy of the fluid spouting under the head H
N 2 D2
divided by the kinetic energy of the fluid running at the rotor tangential speed. It is constant for
similar impellers.

Power coefficient or specific power:- It shows the relation between power, fluid density, speed
and wheel diameter.

P
ρN 2 D2
For centrifugal/axial pump to deliver fluid the pressure developed by impeller must be equal or
greater than monomeric head (Hm).

U 22−U 12
H m=
2g

U =Cv √ 2 g H m

Examples

1. The impeller of an axial flow pump is 1.2 m in diameter while the boss is 0.6 m in
diameter. Find the most suitable speed to provide a head of 2.5 m. The velocity of flow
through the impeller is 4.5 m/s and the specific speed of the pump is 335 rpm. Find also
the vane angle at inlet at the exterior lips and near the boss. Assume no whirl at inlet.
2. A certain axial-flow pump has a specific speed of 5. If the pump is expected to deliver
3000 m3/m when operating against a 15 m head, at what speed or rpm should the pump
be run?
3. An axial flow pump discharges water at the rate of 1.30m3/s and runs at 550 rpm. The
total head is 10 m. Assume blade velocity is 22 m/s, the flow velocity is 4.5 m/s,
hydraulic efficiency is 0.87, and the overall pump efficiency is 0.83, find (1) the power
delivered to the water, and power input, (2) the impeller hub diameter and tip diameter,
and (3) the inlet and outlet blade angles for the rotor.
4. The specific speed of an axial flow pump impeller is 1150 and velocity of flow is 2.5 m/s.
The outer and inner diameters of the impeller are 0.90 m and 0.45 m, respectively.
Calculate the suitable speed of the pump to give a head of 5.5 m. Also, calculate vane
angle at the entry of the pump.
5. Show that the degree of reaction of a rotor in a frictionless flow through an axial flow
pump with inlet guide vane is: