Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal Pump
A centrifugal pump is a device which uses a rotating force to move liquid using impellers. It works by using kinetic energy to force fluid movement from one location to another.
The science of Centrifugal Pumps
These pumps may be installed in a hydraulic pump system with a concrete flow (Q) and a concrete pressure/ Head (H). It is also known as a kinetic or rotodynamic machine which creates a difference in pressure and converts mechanical energy into hydraulic energy through a centrifugal force.
Centrifugal pumps can move a variety of fluids such as water, chemical & oil amongst many more.
What are the parts of a Centrifugal Pump?
This pump is primarily made up of an outer Pump casing or housing, Impeller, Mechanical Seals, Pump Shaft & Bearings and Motor.
The pump casing is the major stationary component of the pump and provides two major functions:
The impeller is the rotating component of a pump, usually made of iron, steel, aluminium or plastic, which transfers energy from the motor that drives the pump to the fluid being pumped by forcing the fluid outwards from the centre of rotation.
Impeller designs are grouped as either radial flow, mixed flow, or axial flow depending on their hydraulic geometry.
Pumps are fitted with some kind of sealing device to ensure a proper seal at the area where the pump shaft enters the pump casing.
Centrifugal Pumps – how do they work?
The liquid enters the pump at the suction flange. At this point, the liquid velocity is essentially the same as in the pipe leading to the pump.
The liquid flows into the eye of the impeller.
The impeller vanes pick up the liquid at the impeller eye. The impeller vanes accelerate and diffuse the flow, adding velocity, and developing pressure. The liquid velocity at the impeller exit is greater than that at the impeller inlet.
The casing guides the liquid to the discharge neck where the casing cutwater splits the flow, the other portion directed to the pump discharge. At this point, some of the velocity energy is converted to pressure energy by slowing the liquid from the casing velocity to the discharge pipe velocity.
What are the types of a Centrifugal Pump?
Flexachem supply a variety of Centrifugal Pump types;
