UNIT – V

Centrifugal Pumps

• Installation details-classification-types;
• heads-losses and efficiencies-
• minimum starting speed-
• work done- Manometric efficiency;
• Specific speed; multistage pumps-pumps in
parallel- performance of pumps-characteristic
curves- NPSH-cavitation.
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Centrifugal Pumps
• Pumps – definition, classification
• Centrifugal pumps – components
• Classification of centrifugal pumps

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 2
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 Pumps
• In turbines hydraulic energy is converted into
mechanical energy while in pumps mechanical
energy is converted into hydraulic energy.
• Pumps are broadly classified as
• Rotodynamic pumps or Turbo pumps
• Positive displacement pumps.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 3
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 Positive displacement pumps
Reciprocating Pumps

• Reciprocating pumps belong to the class of positive

displacement pumps.

• Power is supplied from an eternal source through a

crank in the form of reciprocating motion of the piston
or plunger (simple harmonic motion)

• Reciprocating pumps are commonly used in water

lifting systems.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 4
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 Positive displacement pumps…

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Positive displacement pumps…

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Positive displacement pumps…
• Reciprocating pump consists of a cylinder in
which a piston (or plunger) is moved
backwards and forwards alternately, thus
creating a vacuum pressure and a positive
pressure alternately in the cylinder by means
of which the liquid is raised.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Positive displacement pumps…
• Classification of Reciprocating pumps

• Piston Pumps
– Single acting
– Double acting

• Hand Pumps or Bucket Pumps

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Positive displacement pumps…
• In a single acting pump suction takes place during the
outward stroke and delivery takes place during the
inward stroke.
• In a double acting pump suction and delivery take
place in both the inward and outward strokes.
• In a hand pump, the piston is provided with a valve
called the bucket valve. In this pump suction and
delivery take place during the upward strokes while the
movement of water takes place from the suction side
of the bucket valve to the delivery side during the
downward stroke.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 9
to VC JNTUH
 Positive displacement pumps…

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Positive displacement pumps

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Rotodynamic Pump
A Rotodynamic pump ( Turbo pump) is essentially a
rotary machine having a rotor, namely impeller or
propeller mounted on a shaft driven in one direction
continuously.

The rotor carries blades or vanes which are so shaped

that they increase the pressure of the liquid flowing
between them.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 12
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 Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Rotodynamic Pump…
• The rotor is housed in a fixed casing and the
liquid is conducted from the inlet to the
outlet.

• A Positive displacement pump, when running

at a steady speed, positively displaces the
liquid at most a fixed rate.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 14
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 Rotodynamic Pump…

Turbo pumps are classified as

• Centrifugal pumps

• Mixed flow pumps

• Axial flow pumps or Propeller pumps

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Rotodynamic Pump…
• In a centrifugal pump, the liquid flows in an
outward of radial direction.

• In a propeller pump, the direction of flow of the

liquid is parallel to this shaft.

• In a mixed flow pump, the rotor is intermediate

in shape between the above two and the
direction of flow is partly radial and partly axial.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 16
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 Centrifugal Pump
A Centrifugal pump consists of one or more
impellers equipped with vanes, mounted on
a rotating shaft and enclosed in a casing.

The pump is driven by power from an external

source, by means of which the vanes are
rotated.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Centrifugal Pump

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Centrifugal Pump…
• These pumps are called centrifugal pumps
because the centrifugal force or variation of
pressure due to rotation is responsible for
their operation or working.
• This is a roto-dynamic pump in which dynamic
pressure is developed which enables the
lifting of liquids from lower level to higher
level.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 19
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 Centrifugal Pump…
• This gives a centrifugal head to the liquid in
the pump and the liquid leaves the vanes at
the outer circumference with a high velocity
and pressure.
• A partial vacuum will form in the centre, into
which the liquid flows from the suction pipe

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Centrifugal Pump…
As the liquid leaves the impeller at a relatively
high velocity, it passes through a volute
casing or a series of diffusing passages in
which the kinetic energy is transformed into
pressure.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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 Centrifugal Pump…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaEHVpKc-1Q
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Centrifugal Pump components
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Centrifugal Pump components

The Centrifugal pump consists of

• Rotating elements comprising of the shaft and

the impeller
• Stationary elements comprising of casing

• Bearings
• Foot valve
• Suction pipe
• Delivery pipe
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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• The Shaft is stepped with its greatest diameter at the
centre and is protected by sleeves, particularly where it
passes through the packing boxes to prevent scoring
and corrosion.

• The sleeves fit close to the shaft and are threaded to it.
The direction of the threading is counter to that of
rotation and it is locked in position.

• The running speed should to 20 to 30 % less than the

critical speed to prevent excessive vibration and
possible rubbing of the wearing rings.
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The Impeller usually cast in one piece is made of cast iron or bronze.
For special liquids, stainless steel or lead may be used.

It is fixed to the shaft with a light press fit, keyed and securely locked in
position.

The Impeller may be

Open ( with no shrouds)

Semi open ( with a shroud on one side away from the inlet and
closed with both shrouds)

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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Open and semi open impellers have no wearing rings.
Wearing rings are used in some pumps to reduce the
leakage loss through the clearance between the
impeller and casing.
Stuffing box is provided in pumps to prevent leakage
through the clearance between the casing and the
shaft.
It prevents the air from leaking into the casing when the
pressure inlet is below the atmospheric pressure and
holds the leakage of fluid out of the casing to a
minimum.
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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• Bearings are used to reduce the friction
between the rotating part and the stationary
part and to transmit the load from the
rotating element to the stationary element.

• Casing is usually of cast iron for low pressure,

high grade Cast iron for pressure above 70 N /
cm2.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

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• Bronze or Stainless steel for corrosive liquids
and Cast steel for pressure above 500 N/cm2.
• Casings are usually horizontal split, the suction
and discharge nozzles are located in the base.
• Suction and delivery pipes connect the pump
to the sump and the delivery point
respectively.

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 30
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Classification of centrifugal Pumps
Classification of centrifugal Pumps is based on

• Working head of pump

• Type of casing
• Number of Impellers per shaft
• Number of entrances to the Impeller
• Relative direction of flow through the Impeller
• Disposition of the shaft
• Impeller shrouding / liquid handled
• Specific speed
• Materials of construction

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 31
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
1. Based on the head of the Pump
Low head Pump ( up to 15m)
Medium head Pump (15m to 40m)
High head Pump ( > 40 m)

2. Based on Type of Casing

Volute Pump
( The casing collects water from the periphery of
Impeller and transmit it at constant velocity to the
delivery)
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
4/16/2017 32
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
• Volute Pump with vortex chamber
• (An annular space called vortex chamber or
whirl pool chamber exists between impeller and
the volute. The velocity of whirl decreases as the
water moves radially resulting in pressure rise)
• Diffuser pump or Turbine pump
• ( A guide wheel with vanes surrounds the
impeller and effect velocity reduction and
pressure rise)
Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
Number of impellers
• Single stage pump ( One Impeller)

• Multi stage pump ( More than one Impeller)

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 34
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
Number of entrances to the impeller
• Single suction impeller type
( Draw the liquid from one side of the Impeller)
• Double suction impeller type
( More than one Impeller)

Relative direction of flow

• Radial flow pump

• Mixed flow pump

• Axial flow pump ( Propeller pump)

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
4/16/2017 35
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
Disposition of shaft
Vertical pump ( Axis is vertical)
( Occupies less floor area, used in for deep wells and mines)
Horizontal pump ( Axis is Horizontal)
( Commonly used)
Impeller shrouding / Liquids handled
Closed impeller type
( Used for pure water)
Semi open
( Used for viscous liquids like sewage water and paper pulp)
Open
( Used for water mixed with sand, pebbles and clay as in
dredger pumps)

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 36
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
Specific speed
Slow impeller type (Radial flow type )
Ns= 10 to 38
Normal impeller type ( Mixed flow type)
Ns= 38 to 82
Fast impeller type (Mixed flow type)
Ns= 82 to 164
Very fast impeller type (Axial flow type)
Ns= 110 to 500

Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD

4/16/2017 37
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 Classification of centrifugal Pumps…
Material of construction

– All Bronze
– All Iron
– All Stainless steel

– Bronze fitted
( pumps having cast iron casing, bronze impeller, impeller
rings and shaft sleeves )

– Stainless steel fitted

– ( impeller, impeller rings and shaft sleeves are of
stainless steel )
– *******----------Dr GK Viswanadh, Prof of Civil Engg. & OSD
4/16/2017 38
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