WORK DONE BY THE IMPELLER (OR

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP)
ON LIQUID
 WORK DONE BY THE IMPELLER
The expression for work done or energy supplied by the impeller of a
centrifugal pump on the liquid flowing through are demonstrated with one
vane of the impeller with the necessary assumptions
In case of a centrifugal pump
1. the liquid enters axially from the suction head and enters the impeller eye
in the radial direction due to this the liquid at the inlet of the impeller vane
poses only flow velocity Vf1 which is equal to the absolute velocity V1and
tangential velocity U1 at the tip of the inlet and there is no whirl
(Vw1)component and hence the whirl velocity is equal to zero . And the flow
velocity which enters the impeller radially and the tangent velocity is at right
angle to the flow velocity or absolute velocity, then the angle α = 90°
2. The liquid rides the impeller vane with the same angular velocity with which
the impeller coupled to the drive shaft of the motor runs with certain loss
associated with liquid properties
3. The liquid at the outlet tip of the vane poses tangential velocity, whirl
velocity and flow velocity at outlet
The schematic explanation for work done by the
Centrifugal pump

Velocity triangles for an impeller vane.

 Assumption for work done by the Centrifugal
Pump (Ideal Condition)
4. The losses are neglected in the impeller which may be due to friction and
eddy formation for an ideal case not for real.
5. Also during the entry of the liquid there exist an impulse force or shock which
is also neglected for an ideal case but in actual it is not.
6. Uniform velocity distribution exist between the gap of the vanes passages for
an ideal case but not for real.
Velocity triangles for an impeller vane:
 Operational mechanism of Centrifugal Pump:
•When the liquid enters the eye of the impeller in radial direction , leaves
the impeller and conveyed by the vanes attached to the impeller, the
transformation from linear to angular motion takes place.
•The angular motion of the liquid is achieved by the rotation of the impeller,
and the liquid experiences a forced vortex flow (whirl) due to the confinement of
the casing and causes the change in momentum in the movement of the liquid.
The expression for change in moment of momentum of the liquid due to
the rotation or twisting movement (Torque) of the impeller
Twisting force (Torque) on the impeller = Rate of change in angular
momentum( difference between the angular momentum at inlet and outlet)
The angular momentum at the inlet of the impeller and till the tip of the
vane = 0 because only linear momentum exist due to the linear motion of the
liquid and the whirl velocity at the inlet till the tip of the vane i.e. Vw1 does not
exist .
Therefore, the
Momentum at inlet = 0
Momentum at outlet = W/g(Vw2R2)
Then,
Torque = W/g(Vw2R2)
 The work done per second by the impeller = Torque X angular velocity

= W/g(Vw2R2)x ω = W/g(Vw2U2)
Where U2 is the tangential velocity = ω R2
The work done on the liquid by the impeller is directly proportion to the
twisting force imparted by the shaft to the impeller

Therefore the work done per second unit weight of the liquid

= (Vw2U2)/g ; Since W = 1

The above Expression was derived considering the flow is radial at inlet where
the whirl velocity component at inlet was neglected.

If the Flow is not radial at inlet rather the liquid enters through the periphery of
the casing at inlet, then the expression transforms as follows
W/g(Vw2U2 – Vw1U1)
Work done per second =
(Vw2U2 – Vw1U1)/g
Work done per second per unit weight of the liquid =
The derived expression is the Euler Momentum equation
and
the term
(Vw2U2 – Vw1U1)/g is referred to as

theoretical head or Euler’s Head

Explanation for various parameters involved in discharge of liquid through

centrifugal pump

W total weight of the liquid = w x Q; where Q is the volume of liquid

discharged per unit time
Q = πD1B1 x Vf1 = πD2B2 x Vf2

Where, B1 and B2 are the width of the impeller at inlet and outlet; Vf1 and Vf2
are the corresponding velocity of flow at inlet and out let
The Expression for the work done by the impeller to discharge per second
per unit weight of the liquid

= (Vw2U2)/g

The above expression states that,

to discharge the liquid at any delivery head efficiently depends upon the

whirl velocity at the periphery and the tangential velocity at the outlet.

For example if we want the discharge at high head at delivery, then the
efficiency of the system can be improved by
increasing the tangential velocity at outlet (U2) and the whirl velocity
component at outlet (Vw2).

How to increase the tangential and whirl velocity component ?

Think think !!
How to increase the tangential and whirl velocity component ?

The concept is very simple to increase the tangential velocity component the
diameter and the rotation speed of the impeller should be increased so that the
centrifugal force is also simultaneously increased and the corresponding forced
vortex flow also increases.

The whirl component can also be increased by increasing the number of vane
blades to form a continuum in spinning
 The explanation for solving the velocity triangle at inlet and outlet of the vane fixed to
the impeller of the centrifugal pump
Considering the velocity triangle at out let, when we neglect the loses mention earlier, the
flow velocity (Vf2) will be normal to the tangential velocity (U2) at the outlet tip of the vane
blade and the whirl velocity component at the periphery of the pump casing (Vw 2)
 Substituting the above term in the work done equation (Vw2U2)/g

We get the Euler Head He or Total head

The above expression indicates the work done on the liquid

Which is the sum of velocity head + static head + change in kinetic head due to
retardation (Which bares a negative sign)

The above expression is termed as the fundamental expression for the centrifugal
pump by which we can able to predict the efficiency of the pump
Please dear students kindly follow the ppt and any doubt
feel free to ask me through the app any time

Be safe and get your self engaged and try to prepare for
your exams