TABLE NO. 1 RECOMMENDED RADIAL GAPS FOR PUPS Type Gap a" [Gao “Bre PERCENTAGE OF IMPELLER RADIUS Fininam: Preferred Faxiaus Dittuser | 50 mits 4% ex ten volute | 50 mils oe 10% 12% RQ = Radius of ditfuser/volute intet Re = Radius of impeller NOTE! If the number of impeller vanes and the number of diffuser/volute vanes are both even, the radial gap must be considerably larger (10% minimum). As shown in Figure No. 8 the hydraulic forces can be reduced by 0 to G5" by increasing the radial gap fron 1% to 6. There ta no: loss of overall pump efficiency when the diffuser or volute inlet tips are recessea~-contrary ta the expectations £0 many pump designers. Any operation that shortens the diffuser or volute channels was believes ta reduce efficiency. The abservedy efficiency improvenent results from the reduction ef various energy-consuming phenomena: the high heise levels shocks and vibration generated with vane-passing frequency» and the stall generated at the eiffuser inlet. The hydraulic effect can also be reduced by the use of an edd punber of IMPELLER vanes with double volute pumps. The cut waters must be 150 degrees apart on a double voluce, If the Minimum tip clearances are not present ina punpy it will be necessary to grind away part of the cut water or casing vol order to'gain the clearance. The cut waver should not be too blunt but should be ground to about 3/6" maximum width. It is important to note that the clearance is the vane tip Clearances not the impeller shroud clearance. fa shonn in Figure No. 5) it should be emphasized that while gap "B" concrole the strength and anpiitude of hydraulic shock ereated st vane pacsing frequencies, gap "A" controls the severity of pressure pulsation behind ‘the impeller hub and shroud giving rise te high axial Girection dynamic forces with distinct frequencies, (4). The Phenomenon of recirculation at the discharge cf an impeller cans Unger ‘certain conditions trigger off recireulstion at the Suction. Thus, trimming an impeller to alter the total Read of 3 centrifugal pump will be revealed to have # direct influence on Page 12rma ly will not