CENTRIFUGAL PUMP DESIGN

1
The client will usually specify the desired head and pump capacity. The type and speed of the
driver may also be specified. Speed is governed by considerations of cost and efficiency as well as drivers
available to the client. Given these parameters, the task of the engineer is to minimize cost.
Which cost to minimize, first cost or life-cycle cost, however, is an important consideration.
rom a life cycle viewpoint, we must take into account power consumption and operation and
maintenance costs. These considerations call for optimizing efficiency, reliability !the mean time between
failure" and maintainability !the mean time to repair". #n general, designing to optimize these categories
results in increased costs. $ften, these considerations are not very important and we can design for
minimum first cost. #n appropriate cases, the engineer should initiate a dialog with the client concerning
available options. or e%ample, designing a boiler feed pump that operates continuously would probably
call for ma%imizing efficiency. &fficiency considerations would not be so important, however, for a
drainage pump that is only re'uired to operate occasionally.
PIPE CONNECTIONS AND VELOCITIES
The diameter of the suction pipe is usually made larger that the pump suction flange and both are
made larger than the discharge flange and pipe. (hurch recommends keeping the velocity at the suction
flange about ) or *+ ft,s and that at the discharge flange between *- and ./ ft,s.
LEAKAGE LOSSES
To design the impeller, account must be taken of leakage from the discharge side back to the
suction side. To reduce the leakage, wearing rings are fitted to the impeller and casing. These rings are
designed with specified clearances. The leakage across each ring can be calculated from the following
formula0
.
L L
Q CA gH =
where0 ( 1 flow coefficient
.
2 1 leakage area 1 , . Ds
3 1 mean clearance diameter
s 1 diametrical clearance
4
+.+*+ ! 5"!+.++*" D in = +
or small wearing rings with precise machining and ball bearings, the minimum clearance may
be reduced to +.++- in.


( ) [ ]
H U U g
L
=
4
6
.
.
.
*
.
,
4
IMPELLER INLET DIMENSIONS AND VANE ANGLE
The diameter of the impeller eye, Do, is dependent on the shaft
diameter, Ds, which must initially be appro%imated. The hub diameter,
*
This section is based on (hurch, 2.7., Centrifugal Pumps and Blowers,
(h. 5, 8ohn Wiley 9 Sons, *)/+.
.
Id. ig. 5-*, p. )..
4
2ttributed by (hurch to Stepanoff, 2.8., Trans. A.S..!., H"D#$%#$, &'().
*
DH , is made /,*5 to : inch larger than Ds. 2fter estimating Ds and DH ,
Do is based on the known flowrate. The inlet vane edge diameter, D&, is
made about the same as Do to ensure smooth flow.
EXAMPLE OF IMPELLER DESIGN
4

Specified conditions0 ;e'uired head0 h< 1 */+ft
;e'uired flowrate0 = 1 ./++ gpm
;e'uired speed > 1 *?5+ rpm
*. Quantity fl!"at#0

( )
( ) ( )
4
4
./++ min
/./? ,
min 5+ ?.6-
gal ft
Q ft s
s gal
= =
.. Ma$$ fl!"at#%

( ) ( )
4
4
/./? 5..6
46- ,
m
ft l*m
m l* s
s ft
= = &

4. S&#'ifi' $&##(% 2ssume a double suction impeller@ then, Q + ./++,. 1 *./+gpm, and0
[ ]
,
rpm Q gpm
- ft
rpm
sd
p
= = =
! " ! "
! "
! "
! "
, , 4 6 4 6
*?5+ *./+
*/+
*6/+
or this specific speed, a radial flow pump is indicated.
/
6. )at#" *"$#&!#".
.
.
!4..." !*/+" !46-"
//+ !//+" 4...
ft ft mg- l*m s -p s
.HP
s s ft l*f ft

= =

&
)6.5 .HP -p =
/. S*aft (ia+#t#", (alculate shaft diameter based on tor'ue. #ncrease the calculated value
somewhat to allow for bending moment which is unknown at this point and to ensure that
the critical speed e%ceeds the operational speed by a reasonable margin. The bending
moment will depend on the weight distribution of the shaft and any unbalanced radial thrust
acting on the impeller. rom the figure shown below, with the given flow of ./++ gpm and
calculated value of specific speed of *6/+, we select a tentative value of efficiency of -+A.
6
See, (hurch, p. *+?-**?.
/
See,Bunson, ig. *..*-, p. -*..
.
Thus0
)6.5
**-
+.-
.HP
BHP -p

= = =

The re'uired shaft tor'ue then is0
!//+" !**-" min !5+" !*."
6.4+
!*?5+" min !."! "
ft l*f . -p s re/ in
T l*f in
s -p re/ rad ft

= = =

&
2ssuming a shear stress of 6+++ psi0
.
4 4
*5 !*5"!6.4+"
*.?/
! "!6+++"
s
s
T l*f in in
D in
s l*f

= = =
To account for the unknown bending moment and critical speed, increase the shaft diameter to
. *,- in. (hurch states that the hub diameter, DH , is made from /,*5 to : in. larger than Ds0
Cet D
H
=. : in.
5. Su'tin lin# -#l'ity an( (ia+#t#" f $u'tin flan.#,
2ssume a velocity of *+ ft,s at the suction flange@ thus0
Q
0 D
SU SU
=
! "
.
6
@ or,
4 .
.
!6"!/./?" !*66" 6
*+.*, ,*+
! " ! "!*+"
SU
SU
ft s in Q
D sa1 in
0 ft s ft

= = =

@thus,
4 .
. . .
!6"!/./?" !*66"
*+.. ,
! " !*+"
SU
ft in
0 ft s
s in ft
= =

4
2ssume the velocity at the eye of the impeller is ** ft,s.
or a double suction pump, assume that the leakage will not e%ceed .A. 3ividing the total flow by .
gives0
Q 0 A 0
D D
H
= =
+ + +
+
. .
6 6
! "

. .
+
+
!6"!*.+." !6"!*.+."!/./?"!*66" /
!../" ?.44 , , ?
! "!." ! "!."!**" *5
H
Q
D D in sa1 in
0
= + = + =
?. )*##l inl#t (i+#n$in$ an( an.l#,
2ssume an inlet diameter, D&, of ? /,*5 in.
U r ft s
*
*?5+ . ? 4*/
5+ . *.
/5 . = = =
! "! "! "! . "
! "! "! "
. ,
The radial velocity should be slightly higher than 02 because a converging shape is more efficient than a
divergent one. Cet 0r *e *. ft,s.
The inlet area will be decreased by the vane thickness. 2ssume a contraction factor, *
5
, of +.-/@ the
entering width then is0
*
Q
D0
in
r
*
* * *
*+. //? *66
. ? 4* *. +-/
*?/ = = =

! . "! . "! "
! "! "! . "! "! . "
.
Inl#t an.l#% 2ssume that water enters vanes radially.

*
* *
*
* +
*.
/5.
*.* = = =

tan tan
.
.
0
U
r


& is usually increased slightly to account for contraction of the stream as it passes the inlet edges as well
as prerotation. The inlet angle is usually between *+ and ./ degrees
?
. Cet & be *4
+
.
-. I+&#ll#" (ia+#t#"/ D0,
The theoretical head can be found from integrating the force on a differential mass0

d3 dmr =
.
and dP
d3
A
= @
dm d *rd dr = =

dP
*rd dr r
*rd
rdr r r =

= =

.
*
.
*
.
.
*
. .
.
.
*
.
.
! "
5
* is generally between +.- and +.), (hurch, p. )/.
?
(hurch, p. )/.
6
D*
V"1
)1
U1
U
dE
but U r = and H
P
g
=

@hence, H H
P P
g
U U
g
. *
. * .
.
*
.
.
=

=

or a closed rotating cylinder containing a fluid, the pressure head developed at the outer rim is0
H
U
g
.
.
.
.
=
Substituting D) 4)56 for U) and solving for D) 7
( )
. . .
.
. !."!4..." !5+" *. . . *-6+
!."! "
H gH H
D
, ,
= = =
!*."
Where0 H) is in feet@ , is in rpm@ D) is in inches.
Tests have shown that the re'uired impeller diameter can be calculated from this e%pression by
substituting the head corresponding to the best efficiency point for H) and then multiplying the right side
by an e%perimentally determined coefficient 0
D
H
,
.
*-6+
=

!*4"
(hurch
-
gives several charts for which have been based on a large number of tests. Bost of the plotted
points fall within a range of +.) to *.*. >oting that if the head on test is found to be too high, the impeller
diameter can be machined to an appropriate diameter, select *.+/ for 8 then0
D in
.
*-6+ *+/ */+
*?5+
*46 = =
! "! . "
! "
. @ say, *4 : in.
). Outl#t -an# an.l#/ 0/ an( i+&#ll#" !i(t*,
The normal range for discharge angles is between .+ and ./ degrees
)
. urthermore, . is usually made
larger than the inlet angle. 2ssume . 1 .+
+
.
The radial outlet velocity, 0r) , is made the same as, or slightly less than, the radial inlet velocity, 0r&.
2ssume 0r) 1 ** ft,s
*+
.
Outl#t a"#a 12a$#( n "#3ui"#( fl! &lu$ l#a4a.#5,
4 .
.
. .
.
!*.+."!/./?" !*66"
?6.6
!**"
r
ft s in Q
A in
0 s ft ft

= = =

2ssume a contraction width, ) , !based on e%perience" of +.)./0

-
(hurch, pp. *))-*+6.
)
#d., p. 4/.
*+
#d., p. **+.
/
4 .
. .
. . .
!*.+."!/./?" !*66"
*.-)5
!**" ! "!*4./" !+.)./"
r
ft s in Q
* in
0 D s ft in ft

= = =

*+. Outl#t -#l'ity (ia."a+,
The absolute outlet velocity, 0) , is used in the design of the volute. We proceed as follows0
. .
!*?5+" min!."! " !*4./"
*+4.? ,
min!5+" !."!*."
re/ rad in ft
U r ft s
s in re/

= = =

T*#"#ti'al tan.#ntial utl#t -#l'ity/ V

0,
0 U
0
ft s
r

. .
.
.
+
*+4?
**
.+
?4/ = = =
tan
.
tan
. ,

A'tual tan.#ntial utl#t -#l'ity/ V
06,
11
The inertia of the rotating fluid causes a circulatory flow opposite to the direction of rotation of the
impeller. This flow, superimposed on the outward flow, results in the fluid leaving the impeller at an
angle less than that calculated from angular momentum theory. Thus ) must be decreased and ,
therefore, the absolute angle, ) , increased. The effect of circulatory flow is to reduce 0) and the
theoretical head. (hurch defines a 9ir9ulator1 flow 9oeffi9ient,
, as0
F
.
.
0
0

=
(hurch assumes a value of
of +.?. This coefficient can be calculated from tests. <ump manufacturers
will maintain records from which a reasonable value might be estimated for a given design.
0 ft s
.
+ ? ?4/ /*/
F
! . "! . " . , = =
The outlet vector diagram can now be drawn0

.
* +
**
/*/
*.*
F
tan
.
. = =

, say, *4
+
0 0 0 ft s
r . .
.
.
. . .
** /*/ /. ?
F F
. . , = + = + =

**. C"$$7$#'tin f i+&#ll#",

**
See, (hurch, p. .- for a discussion of circulatory flow.
5
GHI.
GI.
J.
KF.
K.
Gr. Gr.
D.H
D.
G.H
G.
Wall and vane thicknesses are usually made a minimum consistent with good foundry practice. The
stresses due to centrifugal force and fluid pressure are relatively low for average applications@ otherwise,
they need to be taken into account
*.
.
Ta2l# f Cal'ulat#( " A$$u+#( Di+#n$in$
b* 1 *.?/ in per side
b. 1 *.)+ in
3. 1 *4 : in
3+ 1 ? /,*5 in
3r 1 - : in !to outside of impeller wearing ring"
#mpeller shroud tip thickness - 4,*5 in
(onnect outlet to inlet by a straight line faired into entrance to provide a smooth transition. Bake tip of
hub core 4,*5 in and fair into hub diameter. The drawing is shown in the figure on the following page.
*.. C*#'4 l#a4a.# l$$,
rom the figure on page -, the mean diameter of the clearance is - : in. Cet s be the diametral clearance.
(hurch states that the wearing ring clearance for good practice is +.+* in for rings of 5 in diameter and
less. or rings greater than 5 in, increase the clearance by +.++* in for every inch of ring diameter greater
than 5 in0
s D sa1 in = + = + = + +*+ 5 + ++* + +*+ -/ 5 + ++* + +*./ + +*4 . ! "! . " . ! . "! . " . , , .
T*# 'l#a"an'# a"#a i$%
. .
, . ! , ."!-./"!+.+*4" +.*?6 +.++*.* A Ds in ft = = = =
8#a( a'"$$ t*# "in.$
19
%
H
U U
g
ft
L
=

=

=
4
6 .
4 *+4? /5.
6 . 4. .
--/
.
.
*
. . .
! "! . . "
! "! "! . "
.
rom igure 5-*, p )., (hurch, the flow coefficient for *?5+ rpm and a +.+*4 in clearance is +.6*+.
Thus, the leakage is0
Q CA gH ft s
L L
= = = . + 6*+ + ++*.* . 4. . --/ + +4?/
4
! . "! . " ! "! . "! . " . ,
The per cent leakage is
+ +?/
//-
*++
.
.
! " @ or *.4/ A, which is, close enough to the assumed value of . A.
*.
Id,, p. */..
*4
(hurch attributes this e'uation to 2.8. Stepanoff0 LCeakage Coss and 2%ial Thrust in (entrifugal
<umps,M A.S..!. Trans., 7N3-/6-/, *)4..
?
-
DESIGN OF VANES
The entrance vane angle,
*
, has been found to be *4
+
@ that at the e%it, .+
+
. or smooth flow,
we must design the vane such that this angle increases smoothly from *4
+
to .+
+
. We note also that the
radial components of velocity to these two angles are *. and ** ft,s, respectively. We also see from the
vector diagram that . 0
r
= , sin . The relative velocities corresponding to the entrance and outlet
stations are then0 *. *4 /44
+
, sin . , = ft s and ** .+ 4. .
+
, sin . , = ft s . To obtain intermediate
values of radii corresponding to intermediate values of the position angle, , we proceed as follows !see
ig. 4"0
*" <lot , 0r, and . against vane radius, r, for the entrance and outlet stations and connect by a
straight line !or a smooth curve".
." The corresponding values for vane angle, , are computed from sin , =0 .
r
. These
values are also plotted against their radii.
2lternatively, write a computer program to perform the above functions. ;eferring to the figure below0
tan

=
dr
rd
" d
dr
r

=
tan

+
*-+ *-+
*
*
= =

dr
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
tan tan
>ote0 Jse B2TC2O or other computer system to perform the integration.
Jse a sufficiently close spacing of r to obtain a smooth vane shape.
4" <lot the radii against to give the shape of the trailing edge
of the vane.
dI "
"(:
dr
)
3raw the front edge of the vane with the same curvature as the back edge with a thickness of about *,-
in
*6
.
NUM;ER OF VANES
The number of vanes is given by the <fleiderer e'uation
*/
. irst, calculate the average vane
angle0

m
=
+
=
+
=
* . +
.
*4 .+
.
*5/ .
@ then,
: no /anes
D D
D D
sa1
m
= =
+

=
+

= . . sin ! . "
! . . "
! . . "
sin . . , , . 5/ 5/
*4/ ? 4*.
*4/ ? 4*.
*5/ 5 .* 5
. *
. *
+

The circumferential pitch of the vanes is0

! "! . "
! "
.
? 4*.
5
4-4 = in
(heck the contraction factor0

=
D
:t
D
:t
D
sin
sin
*

* +
*
5 +*./
? 4* *4
+-// +-/ = =
! "! . "
! . " sin
. ! . " assumed

. +
*
5 +*./
*4/+ .+
+ )6- + )./ = =
! "! . "
! . " sin
. ! . " assumed
The assumed values agree reasonably with those calculated.
SUMMAR<
3iameter of suction flange, Dsu ------------------------------- *+in
Gelocity in suction flange, Gsu ---------------------------------*+... ft,s
Shaft diameter, Ds -----------------------------------------------------------------------. *,- in
#mpeller hub diameter, DH --------------------------------------. : in
#mpeller eye diameter, D2 ######################################? /,*5 in
Gelocity through impeller eye,02-------------------------------** ft,s
3iameter of inlet vane edge, D&###############################-? /,*5 in
Gelocity at inlet vane edge, 0& + 0r& ---------------------------*. ft,s
*6
(hurch, p. **/.
*/
Id.
*+
<assage width at inlet, *& -----------------------------------------*.?/ in per side
Tangential velocity of inlet vane edge, U& ###################/5.. ft,s
Gane angle at inlet, & --------------------------------------------*4
+
#mpeller outlet diameter, D) -------------------------------------*4 : in
;adial component of outlet velocity, 0r) ----------------------** ft,s
Gane angle at outlet, ) -------------------------------------------.+
+
Total passage width at outlet, *) ---------------------------------*.)- in
Tangential velocity of outlet vane edge, U) ###################*+4.? ft,s
2bsolute velocity leaving impeller, 0
.
F
-------------------------/../ ft,s
Tangential component of absolute leaving velocity, 0
.
F
---/*./ ft,s
2ngle of water leaving impeller,
.
F
----------------------------*4
+
>umber of impeller vanes, : ####################################;
**