WORK DONE BY IMPELLER

The velocity vector diagram at inlet and outlet of the impeller of a

centrifugal pump.
V1, V2 = absolute velocity of fluid at inlet and outlet.
u1, u2 = blade velocity at inlet and outlet.
Vr1, Vr2 = relative velocity of fluid at inlet and outlet.
Vu1, Vu2 = whirl component or tangential component of absolute velocity at
inlet and outlet.
Vf1, Vf2 = axial component of absolute velocity at inlet and outlet.
ω = angular velocity.
r1, r2 = impeller radius at inlet and outlet.
N = rotational speed.
α1, α2 = flow angle at inlet and outlet.
β1, β2 = blade angle at inlet and outlet.
Assumptions:
Flow is steady and one-dimension.
No energy loss in the impeller due to friction and eddy formation.
Infinite no. of blades; liquid flowing in the blades.
No loss due to shock at entry.

Power supplied by the motor P  T  

From the momentum theorem,
Torque = rate by change of angular momentum equals the torque
exerted by the impeller on the liquid.
Torque(T )  m(Vu 2  r2  Vu1  r1)
Torque(T )  Q(Vu 2  r2  Vu1  r1)
Power ( P)  Q(Vu2  u 2  Vu1  r1 )

since u 2  r2 and u1  r1

Power ( P)  Q(Vu2  r2  Vu1  r1 )
Pump output in the terms of head
P  gHQ
gHQ  Q(Vu2  u 2  Vu1  u1 )
(Vu2  u 2  Vu1  u1 )
H
g
Equation (1) and (2) are referred as Euler equations.
For an axial or radial fluid entry (fluid entering the impeller has no whirl
component.)

Vu 2  u 2
Vu1  0 H
g
 But the velocity triangle at outlet (Fig. 3.12)

Vr1  u12  V12  2u1  Vu1

2

Vr2  u 22  V22  2u 2  Vu2

2

Subtracting above equations

2 2
    
Vr2  Vr1  u 22  u12  V22  V12  2 Vu2  u 2  Vu1  u1 
  u 22  u12   V22  V12   Vr1  vr1 
2 2

 
Vu2  u 2  Vu1  u1       
 2   2   2 

(Vu2  u 2  Vu1  u1 )
H
g
 u22  u12   V22  V12   Vr1  vr1 
2 2

      
 2 g   2 g   2 g 

Head developed by pump impeller

 u22  u12   V22  V12   Vr1  vr1 
2 2

H       
 2 g   2 g   2 g 
HEAD OF A PUMP
Suction head: Distance between center line of pump and water level of
sump is called suction head
Delivery head: Distance between center line of pump and level of
discharge is called delivery head
Static head: It is the sum of suction and delivery head. If Hs and Hd be the
suction and delivery heads resp. the static head

H staticH  H s  H d
Manometric head: It is the head measured across the pump inlet and
outlet flanges, it is expressed as the increase in pressure energy per unit
weight of liquid handled by the impeller

P P s 
H mano   Hg
d

g
 Hmano=Hth (theoretical head developed by pump) +loss of head in pump
Manometric head is the different between the delivery head (+) and
suction (-) pressure head (difference between reading shown by gauge
plus vertical distance between the pressure tapping for suction and
delivery gauge )
Total Gross or effective head: This is the actual head against which the
pump has to work. It is equal to the static head plus all the head losses
occurring to flow before through, and after the impeller.
Pd  Ps  V  Vs 2 
H  Hg 
d2

g 2g

Where
H =total or effective head in meters of liquid column
Vd = velocity of water in delivery pipe
Vs=velocity of water in suction pipe
If total loss of head, then the manometric head,
H mano  H static  H L
The above heads are independent of the density of the liquid being raised.
A centrifugal pump rotating at a particular speed will raise water, oil or
mercury to the same height. But pressure generated in pump will be
different in each case also power required to be different.
 LOSSES AND EFFICIENCY
1. Manometric efficiency
It is defined as ratio of manometric head developed by pump to the head
imparted by the impeller of the liquid.
Hm Hm
 mano  
VU 2 u 2 ( H m  losses )
g

2. Mechanical efficiency
It is defined as the ratio of power actually delivered by the Impeller to the
power supplied to the shaft by the prime mover or motor.
 mech  Power delivered by the impeller
Power given to shaft
3. Volumetric efficiency
It is defined as the ratio of the quantity of liquid discharge from the pump
to the quantity passing by the impeller.
If Q is the volume actually delivered per second by the pump, and Q
volume liquid from the impeller leaks through the clearance between the
impeller and the casing.
Q
v 
Q  Q 
4. Overall efficiency
It is defined as the power output from the pump to the power input from
the motor driving the pump.
P gqH m
o  o 
Pi Pin p u t
The overall efficiency is the product of all the three efficiencies.
 o   mano  v  mech
MINIMUM STARTING SPEED
When the pump is started, there will no flow of water until the pressure
difference in the impeller is large enough to overcome the gross or
manometeric head. Therefore a centrifugal head or pressure head caused
by the centrifugal force on the rotating water will be (u22-u12)/2g.

u 22  u12
 Hm
2g
 D2 N   D1 N 
2 2

     Hm
 60   60 
SPECIFIC SPEED
Q
Ns  N  3
4
H
Main characteristic curves of centrifugal pump
 Operating characteristic curves of centrifugal pump

During operation the pump must run at a constant speed. Normally, this is
the designed speed. The particular set of main characteristics which
correspond to the designed speed is mostly used in operation and is
therefore known as operating characteristics.
2. Muschal Curve or Constant Efficiency Curve
With the help of data obtained from the above curve, a series of constant.
Efficiency curve can be obtained. They facilitate the job of the salesman and
enable the prospective customer to see directly the range of operation with
a particular efficiency.
CAVITATION
The pressure at any point drops below the vapor pressure corresponding to temperature of the
liquid, liquid will vaporize and form cavities of vapor. Vapour bubbles are carried along with the stream
until a region of higher pressure is reached where they collapse or implode with a tremendous shock on
the adjacent wall. This phenomenon is called cavitations. Cavitation affects the pump performance and
may damage pump parts in severe cases.
 Noise and vibrations
 Drop in head capacity and efficiency curve
 Impeller vane pitting and corrosion fatigue failure of metal.
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD AND CAVITATION

• Net Positive Suction Head: that pressure required at the

suction of a pump to prevent cavitation.
– cavitation: the formation of bubbles due to area where P <
PSAT, and the subsequent collapse upon migration to a
high-press. area.
• causes noise and damage due to erosion and fatigue
failure.
NPSH AVAILABLE:
Net positive suction available head is defined as the net h
required to force the liquid into the pump through the suction pipe.
NPSHA = Pb - (Hs + Pvap / ρg + frictional head + kinetic head)

Hs (Suction head)

Barometric
pressure
NPSH

Pav/Pg

NPSHA depends upon barometric pressure, location, up to sea le

suction height of machine , loss in suction head , all the factors depe
on the layout independent of the pump performance.
NPSHr is a pump characteristic
(increases as Q increases)

If NPSHa > NPSHr:

Design is OK
If NPSHa < NPSHr:
Cavitation will be a
problem (good idea to have a
factor of safety)
 Neutral point

= h x density x 9.81
= atmospheric
= 101,325 Pa
Thus, h = 10.33 m

Pump pressure effects in an open system

CONVENTIONAL DESIGN OF PUMP:
Conventional design method of centrifugal pump are largely based on the
application of empirical and semi-empirical rules along with the use of available
information in the form of different types of charts and graphs in the existing
literature. The program developed is best suitable for low specific speed centrifugal
pump. Same program is also suitable for the design of high specific speed and
multistage centrifugal pump with few modifications.
CALCULATION OF NPSH:-
P = Ks x R
Where P = Pfle i derer’s coefficient 0.2447( for low specific speed)
R = Blade loading ratio
Ks = constant for free vortex volute casing range 1.6 to 1.8
R = P/K = 0.2447/1.6 = 0.1529
Impeller mean Blade loading can be found as dp/r = R x Ht Ht = theoretical head =
40 m
So dp/? = 0.1529 x 40 = 6.116 m

. Depression head Hd = K x (dp/r )

K = 0.620
Hd = 0.62 x 6.116 = 3.796 m
 MINIMUM STARTING SPEED
When the pump is started, there will no flow of water until the
pressure difference in the impeller is large enough to
overcome the gross or manometeric head. Therefore a
centrifugal head or pressure head caused by the centrifugal
force on the rotating water will be (u22-u12)/2g.

u22  u12
 Hm
2g

 D2 N   D1 N 
2 2

     Hm
 60   60 
 PRIMING
When a centrifugal pump is not running for sometime,
the water present in the pump casing and suction pipe
flows back to the sump and these spaces get filled with
air. Now when the pump motor is switched on and
pump starts running, the head developed equals H
=(Vu2.u2)/g of air.
Since ρair<<<ρwater the head generated cannot produce
spontaneously the vacuum required to start the
pumping action then the water cannot be sucked in
along the suction pipe to reach the impeller , for making
the pump deliver water, there is need to make the
pump section free from air and fill these space with
water .
 PRIMING DEVICES
a) Pouring water: Water is poured in the pump through
priming funnel. Air vent is opened to provide exit to the
air. It is closed after the priming is over.
b) Connection with main waterline: - The pump may be
connected with the city water main which can be opened
to fill the impeller and suction pipe in order to prime the
pump.
c) Priming chamber:-in small pumps a priming chamber
may be used on the delivery side of the impeller. When
the pump is stopped, some water is store in the tank and
this can be used to impeller and the suction line before
restarting.
d) Vacuum producing devices: - An injector using high
pressure water, stream or compressed air is employed to
create vacuum at the top of the casing. So that water is
sucked into the suction pipe and the impeller.
 BLADE SHAPE
The shape of impeller blades is changed depending on the
blade angle β2 which has a significant influence on the
conversion of energy. The different blade and velocity vectors
are represented in fig
 AXIAL THRUST IN CETRIFUGAL PUMPS
Axial thrust is a force casting parallel to the axis of the pump shaft,
caused due to the following reason:-
(a). The water while passing through the impeller is rotating with a
forced vortex , but that the outside the surrounding other
component are in the rest condition , this cause a differential
static thrust acting parallel to the axis of pump shaft and
towards the impeller inlet.

(b). Liquid enters the pump axially and is then deflected from its
original path to a radial direction. The dynamic action of liquid
causes a force to act on the pump in the direction of flow of
inlet. To enable the pump to withstand the thrust, the following
methods may be employed.

1.For small pumps

(1) Providing a thrust ball bearing in the direction of axial thrust.
(2) Inserting a cast iron ring in the casing which should fit in with a
similar ring cast integral with impeller.
2.For large pumps
Where the axial thrust is heavy.
(1) Use of double suction impeller Suction on two sides
of the impeller neutralizes the thrust. But this method
can be only for single stage pump.
(2) Provision of reliving holes are provided in the
impeller to allow suction pressure to act on both
sides.
(3) A balance plate fitted at the end of the pump shaft.
Pumps in Parallel
 PUMPS

– Centrifugal:
• Parallel pumps:

V2 = 2V1
HP 2 pumps
HP2 = HP1
1 pump

GPM
V
 PUMPS
• Series (called staging):

2 pumps
HP2 = 2HP1
HP
V2 = V1
1 pump

GPM
V
 PUMP LAWS
Apply to centrifugal (non-positive displacement)
pumps only

. N
V
Hp  N2
.  N3
W

V = volumetric flow rate

N = speed of rotation
Hp = pump head
W. = power required (prime mover)