Centrifugal pumps were first created by French physicist Denis Papin in 1689 and without a doubt that centrifugal pumps play an important role in people’s lives today. This article summarizes the key points about centrifugal pumps, if you want to know everything about centrifugal pumps, this guide may be for you.
What Is A Centrifugal Pump?
Centrifugal pumps utilize impeller rotation to generate centrifugal force, which accelerates the fluid and throws it out around the impeller, thus realizing fluid transportation.
The main components of a centrifugal pump include pump casing, impeller, bearings, pump shaft, base, mechanical seal, etc.
Centrifugal pumps belong to a kind of dynamic pumps. There are many types of centrifugal pumps, which can transport almost all types of fluids, such as agricultural irrigation well water, sewage, mining waste, dredging mud and other fluids.
How Does A Centrifugal Pump Work?
Before starting the centrifugal pump, the pump needs to be filled with liquid to prevent the pump from running dry.
A centrifugal pump uses centrifugal force to increase the pressure of the fluid and then causes the fluid to flow out from the outlet. The operation process has four stages: fluid intake, pressurization, discharge, and water circulation.
The following is a detailed description of the working principle of the centrifugal pump, and you can also watch a more intuitive video explanation.
Suction: First, the movement of the centrifugal pump motor rotor drives the impeller to rotate, and the rotation of the impeller generates centrifugal force, then the centrifugal force accelerates the fluid from the center of the impeller to the periphery of the impeller, and negative pressure is generated around the liquid in the center of the impeller, forming suction. Finally, the pump sucks the fluid from the inlet.
Pressurization: The fluid accelerates and flows in a vortex in the pump casing. Since the flow channel in the pump gradually narrows, the fluid velocity decreases and the pressure increases in this process, and part of the kinetic energy is converted into pressure energy.
Discharge: The outlet of the pump is usually of smaller design, the fluid pressure increases at the outlet, and finally, the pump discharges the fluid from the outlet.
Continuous Work: Under the action of the continuous rotation of the impeller, the pump continuously sucks in and discharges the fluid, so that the centrifugal pump works continuously.
Centrifugal Pump Types and Applications
Single-stage Centrifugal Pumps
| Features | Applications |
| There is only one impeller, simple structure, high head, easy maintenance. | ●Agricultural irrigation ●Mining ●Municipal water ●Electrical power ●Metallurgy |
Multi-stage Centrifugal Pumps
| Features | Applications |
| There are more than two impellers with high head and high pressure. | ●Mine wastewater ●High pressure water supply ●Petrochemical ●Vacuum feeding |
Self-priming Centrifugal Pumps
| Features | Applications |
| It is not necessary to fill the pump with water in advance before starting, and the pump can be emptied of gas automatically. | ●Petrochemical ●Mining ●Ship Unloading ●Metallurgy |
| Features | Applications |
| Submersible pumps work by submerging in water, and the pump has a strong seal. | ●Hydraulic engineering ●Deep-well water extraction ●Dredge ●Agricultural irrigation |
| Features | Applications |
| Vertical structure, can work deep under the liquid. | ●Mining ●Cooling tower water supply ●Coals ●Conditions requiring submergence |
Inline Centrifugal Pumps
| Features | Applications |
| Pump inlet and outlet are in the same straight line, small size and high efficiency. | ●Agricultural irrigation ●Metallurgy ●Petrochemical ●Electrical power |
Magnetic Drive Centrifugal Pumps
| Features | Applications |
| The impeller rotation is driven by magnetic force and it has no shaft seal, which isolates the fluid from the motor. | ●Chemical plant ●Medical care ●Foodstuffs ●Aerospace ●Conveying corrosive, flammable and toxic fluids |
| Features | Applications |
| Sewage Pumps can handle fluids containing impurities and long fibers. | ●Water treatment plant ●Paper mills ●Industrial wastewater treatment |
| Features | Applications |
| It can handle slurries and viscous fluids containing gravel, silt and oil. | ●Mining ●Dredge ●Shield tunnel ●Flue gas desulfurization |
Main Components of Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal Pump Diagram
Centrifugal Pump Spares and Parts
| Spares and Parts | Function |
| Bearing Assembly | The Bearing Assembly is an important part of the pump’s operation, ensuring stable impeller operation and supporting the pump shaft. |
| Joint Plate | Joint Plate is used for seals on centrifugal pumps to improve sealing performance. |
| Stuffing Box | The Stuffing Box is part of the packing seal and is used to close the gap between the pump casing and the pump shaft to prevent leakage of the conveyed medium. |
| Frame Plate Liner | The Frame Plate Liner holds the impeller, guides the flow and reduces wear on the pump internals. |
| Impeller | Impeller is an important part of centrifugal pump operation, centrifugal pump mainly through the impeller rotation to transport fluid. |
| Casing | The Pump Casing is the container that carries the pump internals and is use d to direct the fluid in a vortex shape flow motion. |
| Cover Plate Liner | Guiding fluid movement and reducing wear on internal pump parts. |
| Cover Plate | Improve the sealing performance of the pump to prevent leakage of the medium. |
Centrifugal Pump Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Simple structure and reliable operation: Centrifugal pumps have fewer main components and are less prone to failure.
Easy maintenance, long service life: Centrifugal pump spare parts are easy to replace, timely maintenance can greatly extend the service life.
Wide range of application: Centrifugal pumps can not only convey clear water, but also fluids containing suspended particles, viscous and corrosive.
Disadvantages
Self-priming: Ordinary centrifugal pumps do not have self-priming function and cannot automatically discharge the gas in the pump, so we need to fill the pump with liquid before starting.
Cavitation: When the suction pressure is too low or blockage occurs at the inlet, air bubbles are easily generated, resulting in cavitation of the pump casing and impeller, shortening the service life.
Conclusion
After centuries of development and multiple designs, they have greatly improved productivity, without a doubt, centrifugal pumps play an important role in our production and life.
If you have a problem with fluid transportation in your industrial process, feel free to contact the Kingda experts and we will give you the best option.
FAQ About Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal Pump VS Positive Displacement Pump
| Centrifugal Pump | Positive Displacement Pump | |
| Working Principle | The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the impeller is utilized to draw in the fluid and discharge it under pressure. | The fluid is pushed through the pump by a cyclical change in the internal volume of the pump. |
| Fluid Type | Suitable for low to medium viscosity fluids | Suitable for high viscosity, high pressure fluid transportation |
| Flow Rate | Suitable for medium to high flow rates | Suitable for conveying low-flow fluids |
| Self-priming | No self-priming capability, pump needs to be filled with liquid before starting. | Self-priming ability, can automatically empty the pump of gas. |
| Applications | Chemical, petroleum, mining | Food, pharmaceuticals, fuel |
Centrifugal Pump Maintenance
NOISE, VIBRATION: If you find abnormal noise and vibration when the centrifugal pump is running, there may be impeller imbalance phenomenon or cavitation phenomenon occurs, please stop the machine immediately and check.
MOTOR TEMPERATURE: If the motor temperature is too high, stop the machine immediately, otherwise the motor may burn out.
LEAKAGE: Check lines for fluid leaks.
PRESSURE: Check that the pump pressure value is normal.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE: Carry out regular maintenance according to the contents of the product manual, and replace the wearing parts, such as seals, bearings, impellers, bolts, etc. in time.
