RADIAL

PUMP
IMPELLER
S

Introduction
The blades of the rotating impeller transfer energy to the fluid there by
increasing pressure and velocity. The fluid is sucked into the impeller at the
impeller eye and flows through the impeller channels formed by the blades
between the shroud and hub. The impeller is the primary component
determining the pump performance.

Pumps can be classified according to

their impellers:
OPEN IMPELLERS

Open impellers have structural weakness but handles abrasive and

dirty liquids. Less pressure is developed comparatively.

SEMI-OPEN IMPELLERS
They have shroud plate on eye side of impeller. This shroud may or
may not have pump-out vanes, which are located at the back of the
impeller shroud.

The Function of the pump-out vanes to reduce the pressure at the back hub of
the impeller; to prevent foreign matter from lodging in the back of the impeller
and interfering with the proper operation of the pump and the stuffing box.

ENCLOSED IMPELLERS

Enclosed impeller: Have shroud plates or hub plate (hub side). Used
for clear liquids.

D i r e c t i o n a n d fl o w r e l a t i v e l y t o
impeller:

Discharg
e Nozzle
Blades
Impell
er
Suction
Eye
Volute
Casing

D i r e c t i o n a n d fl o w r e l a t i v e l y t o
impeller:

OUTLET

INLET
U: the impellers tangential velocity
C: the absolute velocity of the fluid (compared to the surrounding)
W: the relative velocity of the fluid (compared to the rotating
impeller )
: is the fluid absolute flow angle
: is the fluid relative flow angle

Taking the inlet velocity triangle:

The flow is assumed non-rotational at
the impeller (i.e. 1 =90)
The area of the inlet by taking a radial
impeller is
A1 =2**r1*b1
r1: is the radial position of the impellers
inlet
b1: is the blades height at the inlet
Q: is the flow rate through the inlet of the
impeller
C1m: is the absolute inlet velocity
: angular frequency
N: revolution of the impeller (rpm)
U1: is the impeller inlet tangential
velocity
From the triangle:

Taking the outlet velocity triangle:

A2 =2**r2*b2

Q: is the flow rate through the outlet of

the impeller
C2m: is the absolute outlet velocity
: angular frequency
N: revolution of the impeller (rpm)
U2: is the impeller outlet tangential velocity
In the design phase, 2 is assumed to have the same
value as the blade angle.

Then,

From the previous relations obtained, we can use

EULERS PUMP EQUATION
A control volume is an imaginary limited volume which is
used for setting up equilibrium equations. The equilibrium
equation can be set up for torques, energy and other flow
quantities which are of interest.
The moment of momentum equation is one such
equilibrium equation, linking mass flow and velocities
with impeller diameter.
The balance which we are interested in is a torque
balance. The torque (T) from the drive shaft corresponds
to the torque originating from the fluids flow through the
impeller with mass flow m=Q:

By multiplying the torque by the angular velocity, an

expression for the
shaft power (P2) is found. At the same time, radius multiplied
by the
angular velocity equals the tangential velocity, r 2w = U2. This
results in:

According to the energy equation, the hydraulic power added to

the fluid can be written as the increase in pressure (ptot) across
the impeller multiplied by the flow Q:

The head is defined as:

Then,
If the flow is assumed to be loss free, then the hydraulic and mechanical
power can be equated:

This is the equation known as Eulers equation, and it expresses the

impellers head at tangential and absolute velocities in inlet and outlet.
If the cosine relations are applied to the velocity triangles, Eulers pump
equation can be written as the sum of the three contributions:
Static head as consequence of the centrifugal force
Static head as consequence of the velocity change through the impeller
Dynamic head

The graph shows an example of the

changed head and power curves for a
pump where the impeller diameter is
machined to different radii in order
to match different motor sizes at the
same speed.
Higher impeller tip speeds increase
kinetic energy
Impeller diameter
Impeller speed
Higher flows through impeller
decrease kinetic energy

V
A
C

T
A
IT

N
IO

Cavitations may occur when the local static pressure in a fluid reach a
level below the vapor pressure of the liquid at the actual temperature.

How Cavitations occur???

If at any point the vapor pressure is reached, the liquid boils and
small bubbles of vapor form in large numbers
bubbles are carried along by the flow, reaching a point where the
pressure is higher they suddenly collapse
A cavity results and the surrounding liquid rushes in to fill it.
The liquid moving from all directions collides at the centre of the
cavity, thus giving rise to very high local pressures
the surface becomes badly scored and pitted

Cavitations are likely to occur on the

inlet side of a pump particularly

Cavitations due to
pitting from bubble
collapsing

Cavitations can be checked by calculating the "Net Positive Suction Head"

NPSH is the difference between the pressure at the pump suction and the
liquid vapor pressure. To avoid cavitations, the NPSH must remain
positive.

P(vapor): Vapor pressure (in Pascal, Pa, absolute) for the liquid
being pumped.
: Liquid density (in kg/m3)
The Head at the Suction Inlet of the Pump can be calculated:

P0 : Pressure in the suction vessel (in Pascal, Pa, absolute)

P: Pressure drop between the Suction Vessel and the Pump
Suction Inlet, Pa.
h: Difference in height between the liquid level in the Suction
Vessel and thePump (in meters, m)

NPSHA: Net positive suction head available

Is a function of your system and must be calculated. It depend on the
fittings and the frictional losses at the inlet side of the pump.
NPSHR: Net positive suction head required
Is a function of the pump and must be provided by the pump
manufacturer.
TO AVOID CAVITATIONS:

NPSHavailable >
NPSHrequired

Avoiding Cavitations:
1. Reduce friction losses in the pump suction line as much
as possible.
2. Increase the height of the suction tank fluid surface with
respect to the pump suction.
3. Increase the pressure in the suction tank. (for pressurized
suction tanks)
4. The atmospheric pressure. (depends on sea level)
5. Decrease the fluid temperature as you can.

THANKS

Fadel ElNaamani