8/12/2014 difference between centrifugal compressors and centrifugal pumps??

| LinkedIn

What is LinkedIn? Join Today Sign In

COMPRESSORS 9,332 members Join 

Feedback
Discussions Promotions Jobs Search

 Have something to say? Join LinkedIn for free to participate in the conversation.
When you join, you can comment and post your own discussions.

difference between centrifugal compressors and

centrifugal pumps??
Gopal V.
Marine Engineer at shell shipping management limited

hi can someone tell me which properties of air makes it pumpable

through a centrifugal air compressor where as centrifugal pumps
handling water cannot handle air???

Subgroups
Gopal
SCREW COMPRESSORS
Like Comment (16) Share November 4, 2012
2,326 members

Comments PISTON COMPRESSORS

1,179 members
 Mazen R., Francisco G. and 7 others like this
 16 comments Jump to most recent comment CENTRIFUGAL Compressors
1,137 members

Nikkhil T. Nikkhil T.
Key Account Manager at KAESER Kompressoren SE See more

The main difference lies in the "compressibility" in the volume of liquid and gas. Liquid is
Nikkhil considered "incompressible" (volume remains constant) when subjected to compressive forces, About Feedback Privacy & Terms
while gas is "compressible" (volume decreases when subjected to compressive force). The word
LinkedIn Corp. © 2014
"pumping" connotes "moving" a fluid (usually a liquid) from place to place without any perceptible
change in its temperature but with an increase in the discharge pressure. Compressors, on the
other hand, aside from moving the fluid, also reduces the volume of the compressible fluid (a gas),
with a resulting increase in temperature and pressure of the fluid at the compressor discharge. For
purely "moving" gases without compression, "blowers" are used instead of compressors.
However, there is always a degree of compression however small that occurs for blowers since
there is a pressure reading at the blower discharge (measured in inches-Water)

Gopal V. Gopal V.
Marine Engineer at shell shipping management limited

hi thanks for a reply, i would like to know what constructional features differentiates centrifugal
Gopal pump from centrifugal blowers, both have impellars, diffusers, volutes rite?

Nikkhil T. Nikkhil T.
Key Account Manager at KAESER Kompressoren SE

Once again,
Nikkhil
•A pump is a machine for raising a liquid - a relatively incompressible fluid - to a higher level of
pressure or head.

Blowers
•A blower is a machine for moving volumes of a gas with moderate increase of pressure.

Both centrifugal blowers as well as pumps operate on a similar principle - rotating impellers
drawing in the gas (in case of blower) or liquid (in case of pump), and increasing the velocity of the
medium (and often the pressure slightly) and thus providing a near constant volume at outlet.

Yes, the constructional features are near similar, but since the mediums conveyed are different,
the relative design (such as thickness, slip, angle of attack) etc. can be different for pumps and
blowers. For details, you will need to check a design handbook as there are no 'fixed' rules for

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/difference-between-centrifugal-compressors-centrifugal-2505373.S.182061123 1/2
8/12/2014 difference between centrifugal compressors and centrifugal pumps?? | LinkedIn
design. While the principle remains the same, every manufacturer has his/her own ideas of how to
make the most of their design..

Gopal V. Gopal V.
Marine Engineer at shell shipping management limited

hi you have provided a very nice insight of the theory,thanks fr that, but the origin of this doubt
Gopal arouse from the fact that if blowers can move volumes of gas/air by compressing it, why does the
pump not compress and move if there is air along with liquid?? why should there be a priming
arrangement? what constructional feature is blower scoring over pump? or in other words, how
does air get trapped in centrifugal pump ?

Somnath M.
Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer (TA2) at Shell, Brunei

I think you are looking for a multiphase pumping which is possible and there are Vendors available
Somnath like Framo and Bornemann who can handle multiphase pumping with oil, water and gas. These
equipments are designed for a given Gas Volume Fraction and is an established technology well
adapted in North Sea.

Shane H. Shane H.
Team Leader - Global Eythlene at Elliott Group, Ebara Corp

A centrifugal pump will move air, not well but most of what make a centrifugal compressor work
Shane exist in the pump. But the pump is so poor at generating head with air it would be near impossible
to pump the air out of a system to draw the water into the suction, thus the need for priming.

Mehdi R.
Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer at Wood Group-CCC Limited (Oman Branch)

Dear Gopalakrishnan
Mehdi generally the basic for centrifugal pump and compressor construction is the same but for
centrifugal compressor we need too small clearances.
Regards

 Have something to say? Join LinkedIn for free to participate in the conversation.
When you join, you can comment and post your own discussions.

Help Center About Press Blog Careers Advertising Talent Solutions Small Business Mobile Developers Language SlideShare

LinkedIn Updates LinkedIn Influencers LinkedIn Jobs Jobs Directory Pulse Directory Company Directory Groups Directory Universities Directory

Title Directory
© 2014 User Agreement Privacy Policy Community Guidelines Cookie Policy Copyright Policy

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/difference-between-centrifugal-compressors-centrifugal-2505373.S.182061123 2/2