This article goes deeper into the topic of centrifugal pumps and review the different types of the pump. You need to comprehend these pumps as a student or a professional in various fields where such pumps may be used.
What is a Centrifugal Pump?
Function:
A centrifugal pump is a kind of mechanical equipment for transferring fluid; it operates based on the principles of the centripetal force. This is a very sensitive process, which is applied in many fields such as supply of water and in chemical industries.
Key Components:
- Impeller: The impeller through which the primary stream rotates at high speeds within the casing to cause centripetal force.
- Casing: Comprises the impeller and controls the flow of the working fluid.
- Suction Inlet: The place where the main fluid begins to flow into or infiltrate.
- Discharge Outlet: The point of egress for the fluid after the latter has been pressurized.
Operation:
- Impeller Rotation: Since the impeller rotates, there is generation of the centrifugal force.
- Centrifugal Force: It also forces the fluid from the center of the impeller towards its periphery This force is due to the pressure difference.
- Velocity Increase: Velocity and pressure of the fluid is higher on the other end as compared to the inlet side of the pump.
- Discharge: The pressurized fluid is then released out of the discharge outlet.
Applications:
Commonly used in many sectors including chemical, petroleum, automotive, pharmaceutical and processing industries for transfer, circulation and pumping of fluids.Different types of centrifugal pumps:
- Single Stage
- Multistage
- Horizontal
- Vertical
- Submersible
- Self-Priming
- End Suction
- Double Suction
- Axial Flow
- Mixed Flow
Short descriptions of each type:
Single Stage pump:
A single stage pump is a mechanical equipment that belongs to the centrifugal pump type and is an appliance that incorporates one impeller to transport fluid. As such it has vast applications where moderate pressures and flows are needed since the design of the device is very simple. It is easier to maintain and is cheap making single stage pumps to be prevalent in many industries
Multistage pump:
A multistage pump is a kind of centrifugal pump that causes incremental pressure on the conveyed fluid through a number of impellers or referred to as stages. The above design enables them produce high pressure outputs compared to the single stage pumps and thus are recommended for use where high pressure and efficiency is required.
Horizontal pump:
A horizontal pump is a type of centrifugal pump but the pump shaft is arranged in horizontal direction. This orientation is ideal for numerous industrial uses especially where the set-up area is not a limiting factor. Depending the type, horizontal pumps are relatively easy to maintain and can be easily accessed.
Vertical pump:
Vertical pump is a family of the centrifugal pumps wherein the pump shaft is oriented in the axial direction. This design is useful if the installation area is limited, or when the pump must be set in the deep well or pit. The vertical types are adopted in many industries in which acquiring high quality and effective pumping systems is essential.
Submersible pump:
Submersible pump is one of the types of centrifugal pumps in which the pump is immersed in the fluid to be pumped. It is important to note that the higher segments of these pumps are designed to work under the water and these pumps primarily find application in areas like drainage, sewage pumping, and dewatering.
Self-Priming pump:
A self-priming pump is a kind of centrifugal pump where in air can be expelled from suction line and it can also prime on its own without the help of an external force. This feature makes self-priming pumps to be more suitable for use in cases where pump is installed higher than the fluid level in the suction submergence, and thus it is challenging to deliver a steady supply of liquid into the pump.
End Suction pump:
An end suction pump is actually a centrifugal pump mainly identified by the fact that its suction will be on the end of the casing while the discharge will be on top. This configuration makes the pump useful in many transfer operations of fluids since the path of the fluids is unobstructed in a simple manner and its installation and maintenance are easy.
Double Suction pump:
This kind of pump is known as double suction centrifugal pump because this pump contains two suction inlets through which, the fluid can be supplied for passing through the impeller. It divides the hydraulic force on the impeller; therefore, it is more efficient than a single suction pump, has less axial thrust, and has a bigger flow rate than an equivalent single suction pump’s flow rate.
Axial Flow pump:
An axial flow pump or propeller pump is a centrifugal type of pump wherein the major movement of the fluid is in the axial direction, that is, perpendicular to the pump shaft. This design makes it easy for the pump to deliver large volume flow but at lower pressure head, making the pumps idea for service delivery for fluids that have to be transfer through a low pressure head.
Mixed Flow pump:
The mixed flow pump is one of the types of centrifugal pump that enjoys the features of both the axial and the radial flow pump. It works both along and across the pump shaft in a moderate head or pressure and has moderate flow or throughputs. Due to such a design, mixed flow pumps can be used for various applications where there is a need to combine high flow rate and substantial pressure.
Applications of centrifugal pumps:
Water Supply: Water conveyance is the process of moving water from sources like the wells, rivers, reservoirs and delivers to homes; industries, and agricultural fields.
Wastewater Treatment: Transporting sewage and wastewater through treatment plants with the view to purifying them and safely discharging them.
HVAC Systems: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system: supplying water or coolants to regulate temperature.
Chemical Processing: Transporting and transferring of different fluids and chemicals during production and manufacturing.
Oil and Gas Industry: Discharging crude oil, products and wastes in the extraction of crude oil, processing, and other related activities.
Agriculture: Drinking supplies for crops and animals and also drainage in the farming zones.
Marine Applications: Ship ballast water, fire fighting and water making and oil spill prevention in ships and offshore installations.
Fire Protection: Providing water to firefighters in constructions, regular and industrial structures as well as retails stores.
Food and Beverage Industry: Transferring liquid products including, milk, juice, beer, and packaged foods at the production and packaging level.
Mining: In soft ground mining, dewatering mines, slurries and mineral processing in mining operations.
Wastewater Treatment: Transporting sewage and wastewater through treatment plants with the view to purifying them and safely discharging them.
HVAC Systems: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system: supplying water or coolants to regulate temperature.
Chemical Processing: Transporting and transferring of different fluids and chemicals during production and manufacturing.
Oil and Gas Industry: Discharging crude oil, products and wastes in the extraction of crude oil, processing, and other related activities.
Agriculture: Drinking supplies for crops and animals and also drainage in the farming zones.
Marine Applications: Ship ballast water, fire fighting and water making and oil spill prevention in ships and offshore installations.
Fire Protection: Providing water to firefighters in constructions, regular and industrial structures as well as retails stores.
Food and Beverage Industry: Transferring liquid products including, milk, juice, beer, and packaged foods at the production and packaging level.
Mining: In soft ground mining, dewatering mines, slurries and mineral processing in mining operations.
FAQs about Centrifugal Pumps:
1. What do you understand by the centrifugal pump?
A centrifugal pump is thus defined as a fluid mover that applies hydrodynamic energy which is derived from afforded rotative energy. That includes an impeller, a casing, suction inlet and discharge outlet.
2. What are the common categories of centrifugal pumps?
The types include a single-stage, multistage, horizontal, vertical, submersible, self-priming, end suction, double suction, axial flow, and mixed flow pumps.
3. What is the functioning of centrifugal pumps all about?
Centrifugal pumps; these work through the use of an impeller that rotates to create centrifugal force that literally throws the fluid outwards from the center of the impeller. This raises the rate and pressure of the fluids through an outlet for discharge in pipelines systems.
4. What are the types of centrifugal pumps and their uses?
Centrifugal pumps are adopted in many industries and sectors such as water and wastewater, HVAC, chemical and petrochemical processing, agriculture, marine, fire protection, food and beverages, mining, and many others for purposes like transfer, circulation, and pumping stations.
5. What is the category of centrifugal pumps that can be used for high pressure systems?
Multistage pumps which combines the use of several impellers in sequence are suitable in high pressure systems in that the pressure can be enhanced by adding more impellers in the pump.
A centrifugal pump is thus defined as a fluid mover that applies hydrodynamic energy which is derived from afforded rotative energy. That includes an impeller, a casing, suction inlet and discharge outlet.
2. What are the common categories of centrifugal pumps?
The types include a single-stage, multistage, horizontal, vertical, submersible, self-priming, end suction, double suction, axial flow, and mixed flow pumps.
3. What is the functioning of centrifugal pumps all about?
Centrifugal pumps; these work through the use of an impeller that rotates to create centrifugal force that literally throws the fluid outwards from the center of the impeller. This raises the rate and pressure of the fluids through an outlet for discharge in pipelines systems.
4. What are the types of centrifugal pumps and their uses?
Centrifugal pumps are adopted in many industries and sectors such as water and wastewater, HVAC, chemical and petrochemical processing, agriculture, marine, fire protection, food and beverages, mining, and many others for purposes like transfer, circulation, and pumping stations.
5. What is the category of centrifugal pumps that can be used for high pressure systems?
Multistage pumps which combines the use of several impellers in sequence are suitable in high pressure systems in that the pressure can be enhanced by adding more impellers in the pump.
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