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Centrifugal Pumps
This page provides the chapter on centrifugal pumps from the "DOE Fundamentals Handbook:
Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Fluid Flow," DOE-HDBK-1012/3-92, U.S. Department of Energy,
June 1992.
Other related chapters from the "DOE Fundamentals Handbook: Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer,
and Fluid Flow" can be seen to the right.

DOE Handbook: Fluid Flow

1. Continuity Equation
2. Laminar and Turbulent Flow
3. Bernoulli's Equation
4. Head Loss
5. Natural Circulation
6. Two-Phase Fluid Flow
7. Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps are one of the most common components found in fluid systems. In order to
understand how a fluid system containing a centrifugal pump operates, it is necessary to understand
the head and flow relationships for a centrifugal pump.

Energy Conversion in a Centrifugal Pump

Fluid entering a centrifugal pump is immediately directed to the low pressure area at the center or
eye of the impeller. As the impeller and blading rotate, they transfer momentum to incoming fluid. A
transfer of momentum to the moving fluid increases the fluid's velocity. As the fluid's velocity
increases its kinetic energy increases. Fluid of high kinetic energy is forced out of the impeller area
and enters the volute.
The volute is a region of continuously increasing cross-sectional area designed to convert the kinetic
energy of the fluid into fluid pressure. The mechanism of this energy conversion is the same as that
for subsonic flow through the diverging section of a nozzle. The mathematical analysis of flow
through the volute is based on the general energy equation, the continuity equation, and the
equation relating the internal properties of a system. The key parameters influencing the energy
conversion are the expanding cross-sectional area of the volute, the higher system back pressure at
the discharge of the volute, and the incompressible, subsonic flow of the fluid. As a result of the
interdependence of these parameters, the fluid flow in the volute, similar to subsonic flow in a
diverging nozzle, experiences a velocity decrease and a pressure increase.

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Operating Characteristics of a Centrifugal Pump

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Normally, a centrifugal pump produces a relatively low pressure increase in the fluid. This pressure
increase can be anywhere from several dozen to several hundred psid across a centrifugal pump
with a single stage impeller. The term PSID (Pounds Force Per Square Inch Differential) is equivalent
to ΔP . In this context, it is the pressure difference between the suction and discharge of a pump.
PSID can also be used to describe a pressure drop across a system component (strainers, filters, heat
exchangers, valves, demineralizers, etc.). When a centrifugal pump is operating at a constant speed,
an increase in the system back pressure on the flowing stream causes a reduction in the magnitude
of volumetric flow rate that the centrifugal pump can maintain.

Analysis of the relationship between the volumetric flow rate (V˙) that a centrifugal pump can
maintain and the pressure differential across the pump (ΔPpump ) is based on various physical
characteristics of the pump and the system fluid. Variables evaluated by design engineers to
determine this relationship include the pump efficiency, the power supplied to the pump, the
rotational speed, the diameter of the impeller and blading, the fluid density, and the fluid viscosity.
The result of this complicated analysis for a typical centrifugal pump operating at one particular
speed is illustrated by the graph in Figure 7.

Figure 7: Typical Centrifugal Pump Characteristic Curve

Pump head, on the vertical axis, is the difference between system back pressure and the inlet
pressure of the pump (ΔPpump ). Volumetric flow rate (V˙), on the horizontal axis, is the rate at which
fluid is flowing through the pump. The graph assumes one particular speed (N ) for the pump
impeller.

Cavitation
When the liquid being pumped enters the eye of a centrifugal pump, the pressure is significantly
reduced. The greater the flow velocity through the pump the greater this pressure drop. If the
pressure drop is great enough, or if the temperature of the liquid is high enough, the pressure drop
may be sufficient to cause the liquid to flash to steam when the local pressure falls below the
saturation pressure for the fluid that is being pumped. These vapor bubbles are swept along the
pump impeller with the fluid. As the flow velocity decreases the fluid pressure increases. This causes

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the vapor bubbles to suddenly collapse on the outer portions of the impeller. The formation of
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these vapor bubbles and their subsequent collapse is cavitation.
Cavitation can be a very serious problem for centrifugal pumps. Some pumps can be designed to
operate with limited amounts of cavitation. Most centrifugal pumps cannot withstand cavitation for
significant periods of time; they are damaged by erosion of the impeller, vibration, or some other
cavitation-induced problem.

Net Positive Suction Head

It is possible to ensure that cavitation is avoided during pump operation by monitoring the net
positive suction head of the pump. Net positive suction head (NPSH) for a pump is the difference
between the suction pressure and the saturation pressure of the fluid being pumped. NPSH is used
to measure how close a fluid is to saturated conditions. Equation 3-19 can be used to calculate the
net positive suction head available for a pump. The units of NPSH are feet of water.

NPSH = Psuction − Psaturation

where:

Psuction = suction pressure of the pump

Psaturation = saturation pressure for the fluid

By maintaining the available NPSH at a level greater than the NPSH required by the pump
manufacturer, cavitation can be avoided.

Pump Laws
Centrifugal pumps generally obey what are known as the pump laws. These laws state that the flow
rate or capacity is directly proportional to the pump speed; the discharge head is directly
proportional to the square of the pump speed; and the power required by the pump motor is
directly proportional to the cube of the pump speed. These laws are summarized in the following
equations.

˙
V ∝ n

2
Hp ∝ n

3
P ∝ n

where:

n = speed of pump impeller (rpm)

˙
V = volumetric flow rate of pump (gpm or ft3/hr)
Hp = head developed by pump (psid or feet)
P = pump power (kW)

Using these proportionalities, it is possible to develop equations relating the condition at one speed
to those at a different speed.

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n2
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V1 (
˙
) = V2 ☰
n1

2
n2
Hp.1 ( ) = Hp.2
n1

3
n2
P1 ( ) = P2
n1

Example:  Pump Laws

A cooling water pump is operating at a speed of 1800 rpm. Its flow rate is 400 gpm at a head of
48 ft. The power of the pump is 45 kW. Determine the pump flow rate, head, and power
requirements if the pump speed is increased to 3600 rpm.

Solution:

Flow rate

n2
˙ ˙
V2 = V1 ( )
n1

3600 rpm
= (400 gpm) ( )
1800 rpm

= 800 gpm

Head

2
n2
Hp.2 = Hp.1 ( )
n1

2
3600 rpm
= 48 ft( )
1800 rpm

= 192 ft

Power

3
n2
P2 = P1 ( )
n1

3
3600 rpm
= 45 kW( )
1800 rpm

= 360 kW

It is possible to develop the characteristic curve for the new speed of a pump based on the curve for
its original speed. The technique is to take several points on the original curve and apply the pump
laws to determine the new head and flow at the new speed. The pump head versus flow rate curve
that results from a change in pump speed is graphically illustrated in Figure 8.

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Figure 8: Changing Speeds for Centrifugal Pump

System Characteristic Curve

In the chapter on head loss, it was determined that both frictional losses and minor losses in piping
systems were proportional to the square of the flow velocity. Since flow velocity is directly
proportional to the volumetric flow rate, the system head loss must be directly proportional to the
square of the volumetric flow rate. From this relationship, it is possible to develop a curve of system
head loss versus volumetric flow rate. The head loss curve for a typical piping system is in the shape
of a parabola as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Typical System Head Loss Curve

System Operating Point

The point at which a pump operates in a given piping system depends on the flow rate and head
loss of that system. For a given system, volumetric flow rate is compared to system head loss on a
system characteristic curve. By graphing a system characteristic curve and the pump characteristic
curve on the same coordinate system, the point at which the pump must operate is identified. For

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example, in Figure 10, the operating point for the centrifugal pump in the original system is
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designated by the intersection of the pump curve and the system curve (hLo ).

Figure 10: Operating Point for a Centrifugal Pump

The system has a flow rate equal to V˙o and a total system head loss equal to ΔPo . In order to
maintain the flow rate (V˙o ), the pump head must be equal to ΔPo . In the system described by the
system curve (hL1 ), a valve has been opened in the system to reduce the system's resistance to flow.
For this system, the pump maintains a large flow rate (V˙1 ) at a smaller pump head (ΔP1 ).

System Use of Multiple Centrifugal Pumps

A typical centrifugal pump has a relatively low number of moving parts and can be easily adapted to
a variety of prime movers. These prime movers include AC and DC electric motors, diesel engines,
steam turbines, and air motors. Centrifugal pumps are typically small in size and can usually be built
for a relatively low cost. In addition, centrifugal pumps provide a high volumetric flow rate with a
relatively low pressure.
In order to increase the volumetric flow rate in a system or to compensate for large flow resistances,
centrifugal pumps are often used in parallel or in series. Figure 11 depicts two identical centrifugal
pumps operating at the same speed in parallel.

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Figure 11: Pump Characteristic Curve for Two Identical Centrifugal Pumps Used in Parallel

Centrifugal Pumps in Parallel

Since the inlet and the outlet of each pump shown in Figure 11 are at identical points in the system,
each pump must produce the same pump head. The total flow rate in the system, however, is the
sum of the individual flow rates for each pump.
When the system characteristic curve is considered with the curve for pumps in parallel, the
operating point at the intersection of the two curves represents a higher volumetric flow rate than
for a single pump and a greater system head loss. As shown in Figure 12, a greater system head loss
occurs with the increased fluid velocity resulting from the increased volumetric flow rate. Because of
the greater system head, the volumetric flow rate is actually less than twice the flow rate achieved
by using a single pump.

Figure 12: Operating Point for Two Parallel Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal Pumps in Series

Centrifugal pumps are used in series to overcome a larger system head loss than one pump can
compensate for individually. As illustrated in Figure 13, two identical centrifugal pumps operating at
the same speed with the same volumetric flow rate contribute the same pump head. Since the inlet
to the second pump is the outlet of the first pump, the head produced by both pumps is the sum of
the individual heads. The volumetric flow rate from the inlet of the first pump to the outlet of the
second remains the same.

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Figure 13: Pump Characteristic Curve for Two Identical Centrifugal Pumps Used in Series
As shown in Figure 14, using two pumps in series does not actually double the resistance to flow in
the system. The two pumps provide adequate pump head for the new system and also maintain a
slightly higher volumetric flow rate.

Figure 14: Operating Point for Two Centrifugal Pumps in Series

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