What is a Centrifugal Pump

A centrifugal pump is a machine that uses rotation to impart velocity to a liquid

and then converts that velocity into flow.
Let’s break that definition down into its components so that we can consider each one in
turn:

1. A centrifugal pump is a machine.

2. A centrifugal pump uses rotation to impart velocity to a liquid.
3. A centrifugal pump converts velocity into flow.
“A centrifugal pump is a machine.” Every centrifugal pump includes an assembly of
mechanical components that make operation of the pump possible. This mechanical
assembly includes the pump shaft mounted on bearings, the sealing mechanism that
keeps the pump from leaking excessively, structural components designed to handle
the stresses and loads imposed on the pump during operation, and wear surfaces that
allow the pump to be repaired and returned to its original specifications.
“A centrifugal pump uses rotation to impart velocity to a liquid.” Every centrifugal
pump includes an impeller. The impeller is the hydraulic component that rotates to
impart velocity to the pumped liquid.
“A centrifugal pump converts velocity into flow.” Every centrifugal pump includes a
casing. The casing is the hydraulic component that captures the velocity imparted by
the impeller and directs the pumped liquid to the pump discharge point.
Frame-Mounted End-Suction Pump

At the most fundamental level, a centrifugal pump consists of just these three
components:

1. An impeller that rotates and imparts velocity to a liquid.

2. A casing that captures the velocity generated by the impeller and transforms that velocity
into a stable flow.
3. An assembly of mechanical components that makes it possible for the impeller to be
rotated within the pump casing.

Centrifugal Pump Impellers

The impeller of a centrifugal pump is rotated rapidly to impart velocity to a pumped
liquid.
If you’ve never seen a pump impeller before, visualize a boat propeller.
When a boat propeller is rotated it imparts velocity to the liquid around it. As the liquid
moves, that velocity forces the propeller to move forward in the water.

Now imagine what would happen if the boat were anchored in place, firmly enough to
prevent the boat from moving. Next imagine that the velocity generated by the boat
propeller were contained and controlled so that a stream of water was created that you
could direct where you pleased.

In effect, what we’ve just described is a centrifugal pump – in fact, an axial-flow

pump resembles what we’ve just described to a significant degree.
In a centrifugal pump you have an impeller rotating rapidly and imparting velocity to the
liquid in the pump just as a boat propeller imparts velocity to the water in a lake. The
casing is the part of the arrangement that takes that velocity, contains it, controls is, and
sends it along in a useful direction.

Every impeller has 1 or more vanes that extend from the center, or hub, of the impeller
out towards the outer diameter. As the impeller turns, centrifugal force causes the liquid
to move rapidly from the center of the impeller, along the vanes, and then exit the
impeller at the outermost diameter. The result is that the pumped liquid exits the
perimeter of the impeller at a very high velocity.
There are many different types of centrifugal pump impellers. The most common types
of pump impellers are discussed in our article Fundamental Pump Components:
Volutes, Casings, and Impellers.

Centrifugal Pump Casings

The centrifugal pump casing is the component of the pump that converts all of the
velocity created by the rotating impeller into a controlled and stable flow and directs it
out of the pump through the discharge point.

The most common type of casing is called a volute and it looks similar to a snail shell.

The impeller is placed within the volute. However, as you may have noticed in the
image above, the impeller is not typically centered in the volute.

Instead, the impeller is positioned so that the outer diameter of the impeller is closest to
the volute at the point just past the discharge. This point where the impeller is closest to
the volute is called the cutwater.
Beginning from the cutwater, as we move around the impeller, the distance between the
volute and impeller gradually increases until we reach the discharge point. This steady
expansion of the area around the impeller means that pressure will build moving from
the smallest clearance to the greatest and the increasing pressure will push the liquid
out of the discharge point.

We’ve just touched briefly on the topic of pump casing design in this article. Additional
information about the most common types of pump casings can be found in our
article Fundamental Pump Components: Volutes, Casings, and Impellers.

Centrifugal Pumping Units

Centrifugal pumps aren’t much use on their own. They need to be combined with other
equipment to be useful. The combination of equipment that renders a centrifugal pump
operable is referred to as a pumping unit.

At a minimum, a centrifugal pumping unit includes at least two components: a pump and
a driver.
In the majority of cases, the driver in a centrifugal pumping system is an electric motor.
However, that isn’t always the case. Pumps can also be driven by other drivers such as
natural gas engines or even steam turbines.

The most common pumping unit combines a centrifugal pump driven by an electric
motor.
Close-Coupled End-Suction Pump

The image above is of a close-coupled end-suction pump. This is the simplest and most
common type of centrifugal pumping unit. In this type of pumping unit the impeller
actually mounts on the end of the motor shaft and the pump casing mounts right onto
the face of the motor. With a close-coupled pumping unit, the motor bearings and shaft
comprise the majority of the mechanical portion of the pump.
Another common pump design is the frame-mounted end-suction pump. With a frame-
mounted end-suction pump, the pump does include a complete mechanical assembly
and is coupled to a driver, both of which are mounted on a shared baseplate.
Frame-Mounted End-Suction Pumps

This is far from an exhaustive list of possible pumping unit configurations. In the article
on common pump designs we’ll dive into other common pumping unit configurations.
For the time being, the point to take away is that a pumping unit consists of a centrifugal
pump and a driver, such as an electric motor, and may also include additional
components such as baseplates and couplings depending on the design of the pump.

Summary
A centrifugal pump is a machine that uses rotation to impart velocity to a liquid and then
converts that velocity into flow.

Every centrifugal pump consists of an impeller, a casing, and an assembly of

mechanical components that make it possible for the impeller to rotate within the casing.
The impeller rotates rapidly imparting velocity to a liquid. The velocity is converted into
pressure and flow by the casing.

Centrifugal pumps must be combined with a driver into a centrifugal pumping unit in
order to be useful. Centrifugal pumping units vary in complexity from the simplest and
most common – an end-suction pump close-coupled to an electric motor – to complex
custom-engineered multi-million dollar units that consist of many individual components.