Introduction to Centrifugal Pump Design

Roger Broughton

Mechanical Engineer

Process & Technology Department

 Introduction
Attended a 2 day IDC Technologies pump course

What is a Pump?
Centrifugal Pumps
Casing Function and Design
Impeller Function and Design (axial/radial forces)
Mechanical Seal Types and Systems
NPSH and Cavitation
 What is a Pump?
A machine for moving fluid from A to B

Many kinds

Focus on centrifugal pumps

Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal
Compression Bearing Frame Shaft
Pump Gaskets Bearings
Oil Seal

Finned
Cooling

Lubrication
System

Impeller Nozzle load Seal Chamber

Capability
 Casing Functions
Contains the liquid
Converts Kinetic energy into pressure
Supports impeller & sometimes driver
Provides connections to pumping process
 Casing Design

Volute Casing Diffuser Casing

 .

Diffuser
 Volute Casing
Volute throat area & impeller
geometry influence efficiency
volute casing is designed for
constant velocity
Pressure distribution is uniform at
BEP
Radial Forces deflect shaft,
causing wear of wear rings, seals
and bearings
 Diffuser Casing
A multiple volute pump
More effective & efficient but less flexible
Reduces out of balance radial forces
Requires matched impeller
Impellers
 Impeller Functions
Rotating part of the pump
Converts mechanical energy from driver
into kinetic energy in the fluid pumped, by
deflecting flow at the impeller vanes
More Impellers
Specific Speed & Impeller Design

Specific speed

Impeller design versus Specific Speed Ns

 Specific Speed Ns

Low Ns High Ns
Radial forces generate head Axial forces generate head
Low Flow, high head High flow, low head
Axial Forces
SHAFT FORCE DIRECTION DISCHARGE
FLANGE

CASING

LOW PRESSURE
AT CENTRE
 Why do axial forces occur?
Hydraulic pressure within a pump casing
acts in all directions but at different radii
(due to pumping)
Different areas on each side of the impeller,
suction eye has low pressure
Pump shaft is is pushed towards the suction
intake
Impeller x-section & Axial Forces
Force direction High pressure
High
Pressure

Suction area (low pressure)

 Axial Forces cause problems
Bearings are only designed for radial loads
wear rings/sealing rings experience
excessive wear

These forces must be reduced or minimised

 Axial Force Balancing
Back vanes

Balancing hole
 Radial Forces
Arise from interaction
between impeller and casing
At BEP, radial forces are nil
Moving to either right or left
of BEP causes radial forces
Can be reduced with a
double volute casing
 Radial Forces
Create bending in pump shafts
Cause an increase in bearing loads and hence wear
Cause misalignment and wear and failure of
mechanical seals
Are particularly harmful to overhung pumps
 Compression Bearing Frame Shaft
Overhung Gaskets Bearings
Oil Seal
Pump

Finned
Cooling

Lubrication
System

Impeller Nozzle load Seal Chamber

Capability
Between Bearings Pump
 Overhung
Simple construction
Minimal initial cost
Bearings at one location
Requires only 1 seal
Endures large axial loads
Endures large radial loads
Maintenance time high
Between Bearings
Larger and more complex
Higher initial cost
2 sets of bearings
Requires 2 seals
Negligible axial loads
Copes well with radial loads
Maintenance time low
Mechanical Seals
 Mechanical Seals
Prevent loss of fluid

Prevent loss of pressure

Contain hazardous liquids

A simple mechanical seal
Sealing Points
 Seal Faces
Faces are high precision and flat to a tolerance of
0.005mm
Dissimilar materials are used to prevent adhesion
One face is a non galling material (carbon-graphite)
Other face is a hard material (silicon-carbide)
Faces are lubricated by a boundary layer of gas or liquid
Connections for cooling or flushing protect faces from
high temperatures and abrasion
Seal Types
Seal Types
The Tandem Seal
The alternative

Magnetic Drive Pump

 NPSH and Cavitation
NPSH is the difference between absolute
head available at the pump inlet and the head
corresponding to the vapour pressure at the
temperature of the pumped fluid.

If NPSHa is less than or equal to NPSHr ,

reduced output, vibration and damage and
cavitation.
 Cavitation
Formation of vapour bubbles in pump
Bubbles obstruct flow and reduce output
Causes noise and vibration and erosion
Imploding bubbles have half the energy of TNT !
Impeller damage can result after only hours of
operation
Questions?