Preface

The principal objective of this textbook is to present the basic theory and design of turbomachines,
together with applications of such machines. In this context, the term turbomachine refers to
rotational machines--both turbines and pumps that have blades or impellers. It excludes all
reciprocating machines and rotational machines such as screw-type pumps and gear pumps.
Nevertheless, the coverage is wide, and it should serve as a useful text for students taking final
courses in fluid mechanics and graduate students pursuing research work on turbomachines. It
should also be useful as a reference and refresher tool for industry, as well as a reference book for
those people involved in day-to-day work in this area. It is not intended to be a design handbook
as such, although some design problems are treated in some detail. In this regard, it should be
used as a supplement to the excellent handbooks that are available.
The literature in this field is voluminous, so it is with some trepidation that I am adding to
it. But most of the literature is scattered, and books in the field are generally concerned with
specific segments of turbomachinery, such as pumps, gas turbines and hydraulic turbines, fans,
compressors, hydraulic drives, couplings, and the like. In addition, they usually do not present
solved problems to illustrate the theory and empirical data. Therefore, it is hoped that in this
regard the book will fill a suitable niche in the literature.
Some of the difficulties that have arisen for both designers and users of turbomachines have
resulted from inconsistencies in nomenclature and the use of dimensionless groups that are not
dimensionless. It cannot be overemphasized that care must always be taken to ensure that the
nomenclature is consistent when making simultaneous references to texts and to check that any
calculations and manipulation of equations are done in a dimensionally consistent way.
The advent of high-speed computing has helped in establishing and confirming designs. Since
the earliest days up to the use of high-speed computing, design methods were entirely graphical.
These are still very useful and should not be dismissed out of hand. In fact, as the first task
the designer should make preliminary designs using computer-aided design tools or computer
graphics in order to grasp the problems likely to be encountered. This is particularly true of
runners and impellers of double curvature.

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 Preface XV

Fluid flows through impellers or runners of hydraulic machines are complex, and the theoretical
prediction of the performance of a turbine or pump of a given design is a blend of theory and
empirical experimental evidence. A large amount of experimental data is available in the literature,
and most of it, because of the complexity of the flows, relates to specific machines. This is also true
of computer numerical flow software. Ultimately, as is true of all fluid mechanics, the prediction of
performancemtheoretically, empirically, or numerically for a given set of input variablesmmust
always end with experimental verification.
Acknowledgment of sources of written reference material and diagrams is made throughout
the text for individual items. However, I should like to extend my thanks individually to:
VA TECH HYDRO, Zurich, Switzerland, for permission to use various turbine diagrams of
projects around the world for which they have been designers.
Sulzer Pumps Ltd., Winterthur, Switzerland for allowing me to use a number of diagrams from
their invaluable Sulzer Centrifugal Pump Handbook and in particular Fritz Allenbach for
his help.
Goulds Pumps of Seneca Falls, New York, in particular Cliff Dodge, for permission to use
published catalog material.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. for granting me permission to reproduce diagrams from the classic
book by A.J. Stepanoff Centrifugal andAxial Flow Pumps, Copyright 9 1957 by John Wiley
& Sons. This material is used by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Acknowledgment
is made throughout the text for diagrams.
ASME International for allowing me to reproduce the Moody friction factor diagram.
BHR Solutions for allowing me to reproduce several diagrams from "Internal Flow Systems"
by D.S.Miller.

George F. Round
McMaster University