actin “Simplex Double Acting |—|. me Fi Single Acting |_| Duplex ecb hing | | Te Plunger Friten [Shae Retr —F Fue amr conteitugat — [Fivote suction Radiat Fiow te Suction | | maa fen [Be ai single Stage__| Self-Priming Perignerst —E utuatege 2 —LNen Set Pring CLASSIFICATION OF PUMPSKy centritugal pumps (>) plasses Specific Speed Specific speed is a correlation of pump ca- pacity, head, and speed at optimum efficiency, which classifies the pump impellers with respect to their geometric similarity Specific speed is a number usually expressed as: NVQ og, n, = NYQH Nem Fp H where N, = Pump specific speed ) N' = Rotative speed in revolutions per minute Q = Flow in gallons per minute at optimum efficiency H = Total head in feet ‘The specific speed of an impeller is defined as the revolutions per minute at which a geometric: ally similar impeller would run if it were of such a size as to discharge one gallon per minute against one foot head. ‘Specific speed is indicative of the shape and characteristics of an impeller, and it has been found that the ratios of major dimensions vary uniformly with specific speed. Specific Speed is useful to the designer in predicting proportions required and to the application engineer in checking suction limitations of pumps. Impeller form and proportions vary with specific speed as shown in Fig. 1 Pumps are traditionally divided into three classes, radial flow, mixed flow, and axial flow. However, it can be seen from the chart (Fig. 1 that there's continuous change fom the eal flow impeller, which develops pressure. prnc! pally by the action of contefugal force, fo the Bxial flow impeller, which develops most of its head by the propelling or liting action of the vanes on the liquid. In the specific speed range of approximatel) 1000 to 6000, double suction impellers are used as frequently 28 the single suction impelers Suction Specific Speed . Just as pump Specific Speed is an index num ber indicative of pump type, the parameter known as “‘Suction Specific Speed” is essentially an index number descriptive of the suction char- acteristics of a given impeller. It is defined as: where S = Suction specific speed N= Rotative speed in revolutions per minute Q = Flow in gallons per minute at optimum efficiency hu = NPSH (net positive suction head) re- quired in feet. Note that for double suction impellers, Q should be taken as one-half the total flow. The charts showing upper limits of specific speed (Figs. 57, 58, 59, and 60) correspond to S values from 7,480 to 10,690. Values of Specific Speeds. 3000-| i 1800-} Fig. 2 Profiles of several pump impeller design Sheed aval impeller flow cesign on the righ, places 10 Impeller Shrouds 8000-| g 8 4000 6000 7000-4 9000-4 10000-| 15000 20000-| axis of | COMPARISON OF PUMP PROFILES 1s rangins from the Low-Specific Speed Radial Flow on the left to a High Specific sd according to where each design fits on the Specific Speed Scale.Pump Classes Centrifugal pumps in this section fall into three general classes, as follows: Radial Flow ‘A pump in which the pressure is developed principally by, the action of centrifugal force, Pumps in this class, with single inlet impellers usually have a specific speed below 4200, and with double suction impellers, a specific speed of below 6000. In pumps of this class the liquid normally enters the impeller at the hub and flows radially to the periphery. (Fig. 2). Mixed Flow ‘A pump in which the head is developed partly by centrifugal force and partly by the lift of the vanes on the liquid. This type of pump has @ single inlet impeller with the flow entering axially and discharging in an axial and radial direction. Pumps of this type usually have @ specific speed from 4200 to 9000. (Fig. 3). centrifugal UMS == fem Glasses =. Fig. 2. RADIAL FLOW PUMP (DOUBLE SUCTION) ‘Axial Flow ‘A pump of this type, sometimes called @ propeller pump, develops most of its head by the propelling or lifting action of the vanes on the liquid, It has single inlet impeller with the fiow entering axially and discharging nearly axially. Pumps of this type usually have 2 spe- cific speed above 9000. (Fig. 4). Contrifugal Radial Flow: Single Suction | E wixed Flow- Double Suction Single seco] _[ See ng eee Closed Impeller Single Si Muttistage Closed 1m L_ xii row ——f Sino Suction Fig. 5 CLASSIFICATION OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Fig. 4 AXIAL FLOW PUMP Self-Priming Non Self-Priming ‘Open imps uw