Some of the basics you need to

understand centrifugal pumps

What you need to know about
pump basics
If you understand seven definitions, three formulas, and
three rules, the whole pump thing will make sense. The
following are some of the basics which are relevant for
this workshop.

Let me say here at the beginning that you really do have

to understand the following. You cannot fake it. The good
news is these definitions, formulas, and rules are not
complicated and they'll allow you to be reasonably good
pimp engineer.
the seven
definitions…………..
Head
• If you point the discharge of a centrifugal pump straight
up into the air, it will pump the fluid to a certain height or
head called the shut off head. This maximum head is
mainly determined by the outside diameter of the pump's
impeller and the speed of the rotating shaft. The head
will change as the capacity of the pump is altered
• The head is measured in either feet or meters. It's
important for you to understand that the pump will pump
all fluids to the same height (air or sulfuric acid, it doesn't
make any difference) if the shaft is turning at the same
rpm. The only difference between pumping these fluids
is the amount of power it takes to get the shaft to the
proper rpm. The higher the specific gravity of the fluid,
the more power (amps) required.
Capacity
The amount of fluid the pump will move is
determined mainly by the width of the impeller
and the shaft speed. Capacity is normally
measured in gallons per minute (gpm.) or cubic
meters per hour (m3/hr). High capacity pumps
need a wide impeller and that's why most
manufacturers shift to the double ended design
at high capacity. The bearings on either side of
the shaft do a better job of supporting the wider
impeller.
Best efficiency point (B.E.P)
There are two definitions of a pump's
best efficiency point .
– The point where the power going into the
pump is the closest to the power coming
out
– The point where the pump shaft
experiences the least amount of vibration.
Brake horsepower
The amount of actual horsepower going
into the pump, not the horsepower
used by the motor or driver. In the
metric system we use the term
kilowatts
Specific gravity
A measure of the weight of a liquid
compared to 39°F (4°C) fresh water.
Fresh water is assigned a value of 1.0.
If the product floats on this water the
specific gravity (sg.) is less than one. If
the fluid sinks in fresh water the
specific gravity is more than one.
Density is a better term and someday I
am sure it will replace specific gravity
as the common unit.
Velocity
A measure of how fast the fluid is
moving. Velocity = feet/second, or
meters/second in the metric system.
Gravity
G = 32.2 ft/sec2 or 9,8 meters/ sec2 in
the metric system
the three formulas……………..
convert head to pressure
First you have to know how to convert head to
pressure because pump curves are shown in
feet or meters of head. You have to know how
to make the conversion to be able to
reference the gage readings to the numbers
on the pump curve.
how to convert pressure to head
Next you have to know how to convert
pressure to head because pressure gages are
calibrated in psi or bar and you have to make
the conversion to read the pump curve.
how velocity converts to head
The last formula you need to know is how
velocity converts to head. The only thing a
pump can do is impart velocity to the fluid.
Since most pumps run at one speed, the
pump can be described as a constant velocity
device. You have to understand how that
velocity converts to head.
Here are the three rules ………..
the three rules
Velocity + Pressure = a constant
This means that if the velocity of the fluid increases, the pressure
(90° to the flow) will decrease. If the flow decreases, the pressure
will increase. The two numbers added together will always come out
to the same number. Flow often changes in a pump meaning that
the pressure is changing also.
Velocity x Area = a constant
If the area inside of a pipe decreases, the flow through the pipe will
increase as it passes through the restriction. The two numbers
multiplied together always come out to the same number. Inside a
centrifugal pump there are passages of various areas and hence
various velocities and pressures.
Pressure x Area creates a force.
The unit we use to measure force is pounds, or in the metric system
we use Newtons (kilograms x gravity). Force can deflect the impeller
and rotating shaft so that the pump's wear rings will come into
contact, or the rotating mechanical seal will hit something that can
open the faces or damage a component. It is important to keep the
forces equal around an impeller to prevent shaft deflection.