CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Operation

By
Er. Laxman Singh Sankhla
B.E.Mech., Chartered Engineer
Jodhpur, India
Mail ID: laxman9992001@yahoo.co.in

Centrifugal Pumps Operation

The operation of a centrifugal pump is based on centrifugal force, which is the
force that tends to move an object away from the center of rotation
When a centrifugal pump is started, the impeller begins to rotate. The impeller
blades stir the fluid, causing the fluid to rotate with the impeller. This circular
motion generates force which moves the fluid away from the center of the

impeller.
This outward motion has two effects:
It moves the fluid to the outside edge of the impeller against the casing
wall.
It creates a suction at the eye (center) of the impeller to draw more fluid
into the pump. The outside edge of the impeller travels faster than its
center. Therefore, to keep up with the impeller, the fluid must continue
to gain velocity or speed as it moves outward. This increases the
kinetic energy (energy of motion) in the fluid.

As fluid leaves the outside edge of the impeller, it enters an area of the casing
called a volute. The volute is designed in such a way that it is wider at the
discharge nozzle than where the fluid leaves the impeller. This increased area
allows the fluid to slow down. As its velocity decreases, the fluid gives up some
of its kinetic energy. Because energy cannot simply disappear, it is converted
into pressure, which forces the fluid out the discharge nozzle and piping. Thus,
centrifugal pumps move fluids by increasing fluid pressure using centrifugal
force.

A centrifugal pump imparts kinetic energy to a fluid by acceleration across an

impeller. When the fluid leaves the tip of the impeller the velocity is reduced in
a diffuser or discharge volute and the kinetic energy is converted to potential
energy. The amount of energy imparted to the liquid per unit mass depends only
on the peripheral speed of the impeller and flow rate through the pump. It is
independent of the liquid density.
Since the energy actually transferred to the liquid can be visualized in terms of
potential energy (column of liquid), it has been customary to express this energy
in terms of feet or meters, although the actual units are specific energy
(energy/mass). This is called the pump head, H.
The conversion from head to differential pressure requires knowledge of the
specific gravity of the liquid.
P = 9.81 H
Where: P = differential pressure across the pump, kPa
H = pump head, m
G= liquid specific gravity