CONSTRUCTION OF

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing

Casing generally are two types:

I. Volute casings for a higher head.

II. Circular casings for low head and high

capacity.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Volute casings:
A volute is a curved funnel
increasing in area to the
discharge port.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Volute casings:
Running volute-style pumps
at a lower capacity than the
manufacturer recommends
can put lateral stress on the
shaft of the pump,
increasing wear-and-tear
on the seals and bearings,
and on the shaft itself.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Volute casings:
Double- volute casings are
used when the radial
thrusts become significant
at reduced capacities.
the main purposes of a
volute casing is to help
balance the hydraulic
pressure on the shaft of the
pump at the manufacturer's
recommended capacity .
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Circular casings:
have stationary diffusion vanes surrounding the impeller
periphery that convert velocity energy to pressure energy.
Solid casing is one casting or fabricated piece.
Split casing consists of two or more parts are fastened together.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Circular casings:
Split casing

Horizontally split or axially split casing.

Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Circular casings:
Split casing

Vertically split or radially split casing.

Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Shaft weight

= Cost
deflection
Shaft
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
The ideal design would be one which reduces radial thrust
to an acceptable level.

How?
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Some pump casings use a split volute design instead of a
double volute.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Diffuser pump casings:
Some pump casings use a split volute design instead of
a double volute.
The liquid leaves the diffuser at
a higher pressure than it leaves
the impeller, then enters the
casing annulus and finally
leaves at the discharge branch.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Diffuser pump casings:
Diffusers are frequently used in
multi-stage pumps and are
more efficient than volute types
of casing.
However, diffuser designs are
more costly than volute designs
and therefore single-stage
diffuser pumps are not used as
often as volute types because
of the expense.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:
Diffuser Diffuser

1. Guides the liquid flow from one

impeller to the next. Impeller

2. acts in a similar manner to a volute

by converting velocity energy
(kinetic energy) into pressure
energy.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
LP
HP

LP HP LP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Multi-stage pumps:

LP
HP

LP HP

LP HP HP LP

Normal thrust Normal thrust

on rotor on rotor
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Suction and Discharge nozzle:
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Suction and Discharge nozzle:
End suction/Top discharge:

1) Always an overhung type.

2) Typically has lower NPSHR.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Suction and Discharge nozzle:
Top suction/Top discharge:

1) Always a radially split case pump.

2) It can be either an overhung type
or between bearing type..
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Suction and Discharge nozzle:
Side suction/Side discharge:

This pump can have either an axially or

radially split case type.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Seal Chamber and Stuffing Box:
If sealing is by mechanical seal, the chamber is referred to as a
Seal Chamber.
If sealing is by packing, the chamber is referred to as a Stuffing
Box.
They either integral with or
separate from the pump
case housing that forms the
region between the shaft
and casing where sealing
media are installed.
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Seal Chamber and Stuffing Box:
 Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Casing
Seal Chamber and Stuffing Box:
Internal circulating device Gland

Throttle
bushing Throat
bushing
Construction of Centrifugal Pumps

Bearing housing