Centrifugal pumps

M Fayek

Impellers

Multistage impellers

Specific speed that is used to

classify pumps
nq n

Q
H

34

nq is the specific speed for a unit machine that

is geometric similar to a machine with the head
Hq = 1 m and flow rate Q = 1 m3/s

n s 51,55 n q

Affinity laws
Q1 n1

Q2 n 2
H1 u 1

H2 u 2

n1

n2

P1 n1

P2 n 2

Assumptions:
Geometrical similarity
Velocity triangles are the same

Exercise
Find the flow rate, head and power
for a centrifugal pump that has
increased its speed
Given data:
h = 80 %
n1 = 1000 rpm
m
n2 = 1100 rpm

P1 = 123 kW
H1 = 100
Q1 = 1 m3/s

n2
1100
3
Q2
Q1
1 1,1 m s
n1
1000
2

n2
1100
H1
H 2
100 121 m
1000
n1
3

n2
1100
P1
P2
123 164 kW
1000
n1

Exercise
Find the flow rate, head and power
for a centrifugal pump impeller that
has reduced its diameter
Given data:
h = 80 %
D1 = 0,5 m

P1 = 123 kW
H1 = 100 m

D2 = 0,45 m

Q1 = 1 m3/s

Q1 D1 B1 c m1 D1 n1

Q 2 D 2 B2 c m 2 D 2 n 2

D2
0,45
Q2
Q1
1 0,9 m 3 s
D1
0,5
2

D2
0,45
H1
H 2
100 81 m
0,5
D1
3

D2
0,45
P1
P2
123 90 kW
0,5
D1

Velocity triangles

Reduced cu2
Slip angle

Friction loss

Slip angle

Impulse loss
Slip

Best efficiency point

Power
P M
Where:
M = torque [Nm]
= angular velocity [rad/s]

P Q r2 c 2 cos 2 r1 c1 cos 1
Q u 2 c u 2 u 1 c u1
Q g Ht

In order to get a better understanding of

the different velocities that represent the
head we rewrite the Eulers pump
equation

u 2 c u 2 u 1 c u1
Ht
g

w 12 c12 u12 2 u1 c1 cos 1 c12 u12 2 u1 c u1

w 22 c 22 u 22 2 u 2 c 2 cos 2 c 22 u 22 2 u 2 c u 2

u 22 u12 c 22 c12 w 22 w 12
Ht

2g
2g
2g

Eulers pump equation

u 2 c u 2 u 1 c u1
Ht
g
u 22 u12 c 22 c12 w 22 w 12
Ht

2g
2g
2g
u 22 u12
Pressure head due to change of
peripheral velocity
2g
c 22 c12
Pressure head due to change of
absolute velocity
2g
w 22 w 12 Pressure head due to change of

relative velocity
2g

Rothalpy
Using the Bernoullis equation upstream and
downstream a pump one can express the
theoretical head:

p
c2
c2
H t

z
g 2g
2 g 2g

The theoretical head can also be expressed as:

u 22 u12 c 22 c12 w 22 w 12
Ht

2g
2g
2g
Setting these two expression for the theoretical
head together we can rewrite the equation:

p2
w 22
u 22
p1
w 12
u12

g 2g 2g g 2g 2g

Rothalpy
The rothalpy can be written as:

r
w
p
I

cons tan t
g 2g
2g
2

This equation is called the

Bernoullis equation for
incompressible flow in a rotating
coordinate system, or the rothalpy
equation.

Stepanoff
We will show how a centrifugal pump is designed
using Stepanoffs empirical coefficients.
Example:

H = 100 m
Q = 0,5 m3/s
n = 1000 rpm
2 = 22,5 o

Specific speed:
nq n

Q
H

34

0,5
1000
22,4
34
100

n s 51,55 n q 1153

This is a radial pump

K u 1,0

u2
Ku
2gH

u 2 K u 2 g H 44,3 m s

2 n

104,7 rad s
60
We choose:

D2
u2
2

D hub 0,5 D1 0,17 m

u2 2
D2
0,85 m

K m 2 0,11

K m2

cm2

cm2

2g H

c m 2 K m 2 2 g H 4,87 m s

Q
Q

A D2 d2

Q
d2
0,038 m
D2 cm2

w2
u2

cm2

c2

cu2

Thickness of the blade

Until now, we have not considered the thickness
of the blade. The meridonial velocity will
change because of this thickness.
We choose:

s2 = 0,005 m
z = 5
s2
0,005
su

0,013 m
o
sin 2 sin 22,5

cm2

Q
Q

A D2 z su d 2

Q
d2
0,039 m
D2 z su cm2

K m1 0,145

c m1
K m1
2gH

c m1 K m1 2 g H 6,4 m s

w1
u1

c1= cm1

Dhub

D1
0,405
D2
D1
0,405 D1 0,405 D 2 0,34 m
D2

We choose:
D1m

D hub 0,5 D1 0,17 m

D12 D 2hub

0,27 m
2

Q
Q
c m1

A1 D1m d1

Q
d1
0,09 m
D1m c m1

Without thickness

Thickness of the blade at

the inlet
w1
1
u1
D1
0,34
u1
104,7
17,8 m s
2
2
c m1
6,4
a tan
1 a tan
19,8o
17,8
u1

s u1

s1
0,005

0,015 m
o
sin 1 sin 19,8

Q
d1
0,10 m
D1m z s u1 c m1

Cm1=6,4 m/s

w2

c2
cm2=4,87m/s

2=22,5o
u2=44,3 m/s
cm2
tan 2
u 2 cu 2

cu 2

cu2
cm2
u2
32,5 m s
tan 2

u 2 c u 2 u1 c u1 44,3 32,5
H

153 m
h g
0,96 9,81

w2

c2
cm2=4,87m/s

u2=44,3 m/s
H

u 2 cu 2
h g

cu2

cu2
H h g 100 0,96 9,81

21,3 m s
u2
44,3

cm2
4,87
' 2 a tan
a tan
11,9 o
u 2 cu 2
44,3 21,3

slip slip ' 2 22,5o 11,9o 10,6o