Introduction

PUMP:
• It is a mechanical device.
• It converts mechanical energy into hydraulic energy.
• It increases pressure energy of a liquid.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS:
The centrifugal pumps are by far the most commonly used of the
pump types. Among all the installed pumps in a typical petroleum
plant, almost 80–90% are centrifugal pumps.

Centrifugal pumps are widely used because of their design simplicity,

high efficiency, wide range of capacity, head, smooth flow rate, and
ease of operation and maintenance.
 The subsequent development of centrifugal pumps was very
rapid due to its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and its ability to
handle voluminous amounts of fluid.

However, it has to be noted that the popularity of the centrifugal

pumps has been made possible by major developments in the fields
of electric motors, steam turbines, and internal combustion (IC) engines.
Prior to this, the positive displacement type pumps were more widely
used.

The centrifugal pump has a simple construction, essentially

comprising a volute (1) and an impeller (2) (refer to Figure ). The
impeller is mounted on a shaft (5), which is supported by bearings (7)
assembled in a bearing housing (6). A drive coupling is mounted on
the free end of the shaft.

Centrifugal pump – basic construction

Centrifugal Pump
A centrifugal pump adds kinetic energy to a fluid by means of
fast-rotating impellers. There is no fixed volume, and the fluid increases
in kinetic energy (velocity) while moving through impeller passages by
centrifugal force resulting from impeller rotation.

Its accelerated velocity is converted into pressure head by

exiting into the diffuser for discharge, or - in the case of a multi-stage
centrifugal pump - it further increases its velocity (pressure head) by
moving through to the next fast-rotating impeller (see Figure 1).
Centrifugal pumps are usually direct coupled with drivers (electric
motors or engines) without speed reduction.

Figure 1. A schematic of a typical centrifugal pump.

Exploded view of centrifugal pump.

 History
A sample supply of water was one of the first essentials to
progress in civilization. The earliest people were located where
there was plenty of water, but as time went on settlements were
made in places where water had to be produced.Therefore,the
digging and pumping of wells and the development of storage
and distribution system was one of our earliest engineering
problems.

Since the olden times, the man has been curious to findout
some convenient ways of lift water to higher levels, for water
supply orirrigation purposes. It is believed, that the idea of
lifting water, by centrifugal force, was first given by L.D. Vinci
in the end of 16th century. Then this idea was put to experi-
ments by French scientist and they designed centrifugal pump,
having impeller and blades. At that time, the reciprocating*
pumps were very popular. Then a continuous advancement of
this pump has brought it to a high degree of perfection, which
is used all over the world these days.

One of the most important factors contributing to the increase

use of the centrifugal pumps has been the universal develop-
ment of electric power. It can be connected directly to a motor
or a turbine or can be run with a belt drive.

The centrifugal pumps has found applications in various fields

such as water supply, boiler circulating water pumps, conden-
sate pumps, day docks in harbour, power plants, drainage
pumps and refregiration plants etc.Also used in many industries
like paper, textile, rubber, chemical, petrolium, mines, iron and
steel and marine etc.The need of each industry vary depending
mainly upon the nature of the liquid handled.

It is really difficult to think of a modern industry which does

not use the centrifugal pump in one way or another.

As such it is clear that the centrifugal pump is playing an

important role, in modern systems of lifting the liquids. Attempts
were made to elaborate the salient features connected to the
pumps, in this project work.

DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

It is difficult to say that the centrifugal pump of today was
due to a simple man’s effort.

Johann Jordan, in the year 1680, designed a crude centrifu-

gal pump while pappin built one in 1703. These early pumps
were regarded as curiosities. The first practical centrifugal
pump was built in U.S.A. in 1818 and it was called the
Massachusets pump.In 1830, a fairly efficient pump was con-
structed by Mc carty at the dock yards of New York. In 1846,
in England, Appold, Thomson and Gwynne started manufactur-
ing centrifugal pumps. Appold, improved the pump by the
addition of curved vanes. Offorne Reynold constructed a pump
in 1875 where he made use of the diffusion vanes.
 Its commercial manufacture started in the year 1893 by
mather and platt.In 1896, Sulzer constructed another efficient
pump Byron Jacks of San Franciso started constructing; the
turbine pump about the same time.W.J.Johnson in U.S.A. was
the first man to introduce the multi-stage pump by puttingh the
impellers in series.He built a 3-stage pump.Sulzer was the first
to manufacture multistage pumps of some importance.He con-
structed a 4-stage turbins pump which had a capacity of 5,000
gallons per minute under a head of 1,000 metre.

In earlier types of centrifugal pumps the high velocity of

leaving water was wasted in the circular chamber which sur-
rounded the vanes. But this is now transformed into pressure
head by causing the leaving water to flow through a passage
of gradually increasing area. The kinetic Energy of leaving
water is thus converted into pressure energy which is utilised in
increasing the delivery head of the pump. The efficiency is thus
considerably increased.

Although centrifugal pump has its existence from a consider-

able long period, it is only from the last few years that it has
been considerably improved and widely used. This is due to the
modern high speed prime povers such as electric motors, steam
turbines etc., which can be directly coupled to centrifugal pump.

It has only one moving part(pistons novalves etc.) was re-

duces friction losses, lthis enable the pump free from shocks,
vibrations, hence heavy foundation is not required.
 Priming of Centrifugal Pump
The centrifugal head generated in a centrifugal pump is
proporttinal to the specific weight of the fluid which fills the
passage. An impller running in air, would produce only a
small head. The first step in the operation of a centrifugal
pump is to fill the pump with the liquid to be pumped. This
process is called priming of the pump. Priming is usually
done by pouring liquid into the funnel provided for this
purpose. The air-vent valve provided in the pump casing is
opened when priming is done. The air escapes through the
air-vent valve. The priming is continued till all the air from
the suction pipe, impeller and the casing has been removed.
It may be noted that had there been no foot valve in the
suction pipe, the entire liquid poured into the priming funnel
would have gone to the sump, and the priming would not
have been complete.
 fig

large pumps are primed by evacuating casing and the

suction pipe by a vaccum of by an ejector. The liquid is thus
drawn up the suction pipe from the sump and the pump is
filled with liquid. Sometimes, a special priming reservoir
containing the liquid is provided on the suction pipe. By
directing the flow from this reservoir, it is possible to prime
the pump.

Methods of priming :
Following of the few methods of priming
(1) Manual Priming :
This is a very simple method of priming. In this method
water is poured through a funnel into the casing as shonw in
Fig.6.10. Funnel is fitted on the delivery pipe very close to the
pump keeping air cock (air relief cock) open. Once priming
is complete the water issues out of the cock. It is then
immediately closed and pump is un by switching on the motor.