Centrifugal Pump Basics

Terms commonly used in the

pumping industry
Centrifugal Pump Basics

 Centrifugal, (Sen-trif’-u-gal)

 Tending to fly from a center

 Thrown from a center

 Centrifugal pump impeller does just that

 Water drawn into impeller eye, accelerated

down the blades and thrown against pump
casing that directs flow out of discharge
Centrifugal Pump Basics

Centrifugal Pump

Impeller Rotation

Liquid into
impeller eye from
pump suction
Centrifugal Pump Basics

Centrifugal Pump Curve

Centrifugal Pump Basics

Centrifugal Pump Curve

Centrifugal Pump Basics

Basic Fluid Facts

 1 Gallon of water 1” 1”

(U.S. @ 60DegF) weighs

8.33 lbs
 1 cubic foot of water
contains 7.48 gallons 2.31 ft

 Specific Gravity
(Sp Gr) of a fluid is
1 psig
the relationship of the
density (lbs/ft3) to that of
water (62.3 lbs/ft3)
WATER COLUMN
Centrifugal Pump Basics

Specific Gravity
WATER GASOLINE BRINE
1.0 sp gr 0.8 sp gr 1.2 sp gr

231 ft

100 psig 80 psig 120 psig

Pump head (ft) = psig*2.31

sp gr

hp = gpm*hd*sp gr*100
3960*Pump Eff

Pump Shut-off Head 231ft

Centrifugal Pump Basics

BASIC FLUID FACTS

1”
1”
1 inch square
column of air, the
height of the
earth’s atmosphere
(From Sea Level)
weights 14.7 lbs
0 psig

Air Column 14.7 psia

Centrifugal Pump Basics

Basic Centrifugal Pump Equations

For variations in impeller diameter, at constant speed:

D1 = Q1 =
D2 Q2  H1
H2
BHP1 = D13
BHP2 D23

For variations in speed, with constant impeller diameter:

S1 = Q1 =
S2 = Q2  H1
H2
BHP1 = S13
BHP2 S23

Where: D = Impeller Diameter (Ins / mm)

H = Pump Head (Ft / m)
Q = Pump Capacity (gpm / lps)
S = Speed (rpm / rps)
BHP = Brake Horsepower (Shaft Power - hp / kW)
Centrifugal Pump Basics

System Resistance

Friction Loss for Water in Commercial Steel Pipe (Schedule 40)

Centrifugal Pump Basics

Open & Closed Systems

 A “Closed” hydronic system is one

that has only one interface with air
or flexible membrane

 An “Open” hydronic system is one

that has more than one interface
with air or a flexible membrane
Centrifugal Pump Basics

“Closed” System
Balancing 3-Way Isolating
Valve Control Valve Valve
LOAD

LOAD

LOAD
BUILDING
HEIGHT

LOAD

EXPANSION

SOURCE
Centrifugal Pump Basics

“Closed” System Resistance Curve

System Resistance Curve

Friction
Losses

CAPACITY
Centrifugal Pump Basics

“Open” System

Static Head

Static
Suction Head

CONDENSER
Centrifugal Pump Basics

“Open” System Resistance Curve

System Head Curve Friction

Losses
HEAD

Total
Static
Head

CAPACITY
 Centrifugal Pump Basics

“Closed” System with

Minimum Maintained Pressure
BALANCING 2 WAY CONTROL ISOLATING
VALVE VALVE VALVE

LOAD

LOAD

LOAD
BUILDING
HEIGHT

LOAD

EXPANSION

SOURCE
Centrifugal Pump Basics

“Closed” System Resistance Curve with

Minimum Maintained Pressure

System Head Curve Friction

Losses
HEAD

Minimum
Maintained
Pressure

CAPACITY
Centrifugal Pump Basics

Terms commonly used in the

pumping industry