SCHOOL OF MARITIME STUDIES Form no : 08/02

Date : 15/02/2012
VELS UNIVERSITY Issue no : 02/12
THALAMBUR Rev. no : 00

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP
AIM:
To study about details of centrifugal pump functions and it parts.

CONSTRUCTION OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

Shown above is a cross section through a
vertically mounted centrifugal pump.

Water is led to the suction eye of the

rotating impeller. The water gains energy by
the centrifugal action of the pump and is
discharged to the volute outlet casing. The
volute is created by increasing the area of
the outlet port and is greatest at outlet from
the pump. By this design the kinetic energy
of the water is converted to pressure energy.
Sealing is provided by a mechanical seal
(one half of which is shown above and in
more detail below) or by packed gland. For
the former cooling water is supplied from
the discharge side of the pump. For the latter
cooling is provided by the allowance of
slight leakage, lubrication is by a grease
filled manual lubricator.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP CLASSIFICATION:

Centrifugal pumps may be classified in several ways. For example, they may be
either single-stage or multistage. A single-stage pump has only one impeller; a
multistage pump has two or more impellers housed together in one casing. In a
multistage pump, each impeller usually acts separately, discharging to the suction
of the next-stage impeller. Centrifugal pumps are also classified as horizontal or
vertical, depending on the position of the pump shaft.

Impellers used in centrifugal pumps may be classified as single-suction or double-

suction, depending on the way in which liquid enters the eye of the impeller. The
figure right shows single-suction and double-suction arrangements of centrifugal
pump impellers. The single-suction impeller (view A) allows liquid to enter the eye
from one side only; the double-suction impeller (view B) allows liquid to enter the
eye from both sides. The double-suction arrangement (also known as a double
volute casing) has the advantage of balancing the end thrust in one direction with
the end thrust in the other direction. It is possible to mount a double suction
centrifugal pump impeller with the vanes facing in the wrong direction. This would
cause the pump efficiency to decrease.
 SCHOOL OF MARITIME STUDIES Form no : 08/02
Date : 15/02/2012
VELS UNIVERSITY Issue no : 02/12
THALAMBUR Rev. no : 00

Radial thrust developed in high pressure centrifugal pumps can also be eliminated by the use of a diffusion ring.

Impellers are also classified as CLOSED or OPEN. A closed impeller has side walls that extend from the eye to
the outer edge of the vane tips; an open impeller does not have side walls.

IMPELLERS:

The kinetic energy of the fluid flowing

through the impeller is converted to pressure
energy by the shape of the volute casing. For
high pressure pumps such as boiler feed
pumps a diffuser ring is fitted in the casing
which converts a greater portion of the
pressure energy allowing greater pressures to
be generated.

A scroll type inducer may be fitted to

the inlet which improves the efficiency of unit
and allows the pump to operate with low
suction pressures.

WEAR RINGS:
For efficient operation it is important to ensure that leakage from the high to low pressure side is kept to
a minimum. This is achieved by the use of wearing rings. Traditionally these are fitted to the casing, to increase
the longevity of the impeller wear ring tyres may be fitted.
The clearance given for wear rings is often a source of contention especially when dealing with on-ship
made rings. A clearance of 1/1000 of the diameter of the bore is often quoted although this may be very difficult
to achieve in practice.

AXIAL FORCE:
Without careful design an axial force is created by the action of the impeller. This is due to the low
pressure acting on the suction eye whilst the rest of the impeller is subjected to discharge pressure.
One solution is shown above where radial blades are cast into the back (stuffing box side) of the
impeller. These blades are commonly called pump-out vanes, and are meant to increase the centrifugal force of
the fluid trapped behind the impeller. This causes the fluid to be "thrown" outwards, reducing the pressure
behind the impeller for the same reason that the impeller causes a reduction of pressure at the suction eye.
Another method which may be found in conjunction with the pump-out vanes are the balancing holes.
These are holes drilled near the center of the impeller, connecting the space in the back of the impeller with the
suction eye. This reliefs the pressure behind the impeller by allowing the high pressure fluid trapped there to
flow to the low pressure region at the suction eye. In order for this to be effective, there must be a tight
clearance between the impeller and the casing to reduce the flow of fluid into the back of the impeller.
Alternately dual back to back impellers may be fitted in common with a double casing.
 SCHOOL OF MARITIME STUDIES Form no : 08/02
Date : 15/02/2012
VELS UNIVERSITY Issue no : 02/12
THALAMBUR Rev. no : 00

Materials suitable for general service

Shaft Stainless steel
Impeller Aluminium bronze
Casing Bronze or cast iron
Wear ring Aluminium bronze or brass

MECHANICAL SEAL PACKED GLAND SEAL

The pump unit shown above relies on the driving motor bearings for alignement. For larger pumps a leaded
bronze or brass bush may be fitted positioned just below the seal.For the largest pumps, especially those fitted
with an inducer the shaft may be extended below the impeller fixing and a second bearing fitted

BALANCING HOLE:

But in large single stage single

suction pumps, balancing holes are
considered undesirable because leakage
back to the impeller suction opposes the
main flow and thus creating disturbances.
In such pumps, a piped connection to the
pump suction replaces the balancing
holes.

If the shaft is vertical or in other

words, it is a vertical pump, then it so
designed that thrust acts to counter the
weight of the rotating components.
 SCHOOL OF MARITIME STUDIES Form no : 08/02
Date : 15/02/2012
VELS UNIVERSITY Issue no : 02/12
THALAMBUR Rev. no : 00

SELF PRIMING SYSTEM:

a. Centrifugal pump required priming because they are unable to handle air and gas.
b. The vacuum pump is the positive displacement pump normally vane type.
c. This pump driven clutch type attached vacuum pump are commonly used for priming ballast pump and
emergency fire pump.
d. The high discharge pressure acting against the spring loaded cause the declutches the vacuum pump
from the pump clutch.

Some common types of priming system

• Recirculation of discharge

• Liquid ring pump

• Dry ring pump

• Ejector

• Eccentric vane pump

CAVITATION:
Cavitation is a problem condition which may develop while a centrifugal pump is operating. This occurs
when a liquid boils inside the pump due to insufficient suction head pressure. Low suction head causes a
pressure below that of vaporization of the liquid, at the eye of the impeller.
The resultant gas which forms causes the formation and collapse of 'bubbles' within the liquid. This,
because gases cannot be pumped together with the liquid, causes violent fluctuations of pressure within the
pump casing and is seen on the discharge gauge. These sudden changes in pressure cause vibrations which can
result in serious damage to the pump and, of course, cause pumping inefficiency.
To overcome cavitation:
1. Increase suction pressure if possible.
2. Decrease liquid temperature if possible.
 SCHOOL OF MARITIME STUDIES Form no : 08/02
Date : 15/02/2012
VELS UNIVERSITY Issue no : 02/12
THALAMBUR Rev. no : 00

3. Throttle back on the discharge valve to decrease flow-rate.

4. Vent gases off the pump casing.

RESULT:
Thus the centrifugal pump construction, parts and operation was studied.