CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS OVERVIEW
Centrifugal water pumps describe an almost unlimited selection of water pumps which comprise one or two (or many) impellers which pump various liquids, including water. They are either mounted above, inline or below the top water level but always in a dry installation, and these pump sets can’t operate underwater. Centrifugal pump motors are either coupled directly to the pump or motors are long connected via various types of couplings.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Centrifugal water pumps can suck water from wet wells to a theoretical maximum depth of approximately 10m. In reality, and when taking losses and gravity into account, the maximum depth reduces by at least 10% to a real maximum suction depth of 9m.
Centrifugal pumps are best at transferring liquids containing minimal larger particles or physical contaminants. However, certain types of centrifugal pumps can move slurries on mines with particles of fairly significant size, making this pump the good choice for pumping mine wastewater and other types of polluted effluents and industrial wastes. Centrifugal pumps have one of the broadest applications and are commonly used in many domestic, commercial and industrial scenarios.
>What is a centrifugal pump?
A centrifugal pump is an electromechanical pump set placed above water to discharge water at a higher pressure than what is supplied through its inlet. This type of pump can also be fed water at some elevated pressure (I.E., Net Positive Suction Head). The pump set can either be close coupled (driven by a motor with a direct connection via a sleeve, for example) or long coupled, where the electric motor or diesel engine is connected to the pump via a rubber or flexible tyre coupling or a drive belt etc.
>What is the centrifugal pump used for?
The centrifugal pump is used to pump water from one place to another. Common scenarios where centrifugal pumps get used include buildings, farms, gardens, fuel stations, oil factories, and cosmetic producers, to name but a few. The application of centrifugal pumps is vast.
>What is the major disadvantage of a centrifugal pump?
A major disadvantage of a centrifugal pump is that these pumps are typically at the mercy of the system curve. It is difficult to predict every system parameter precisely, which may cause the pump to run unoptimally. Hence when using centrifugal pumps, it is always prudent to allow for a healthy factor of safety to ensure the pump does not cavitate or run too far to the left or the right of its curve.
>What is a centrifugal well pump?
A centrifugal well pump is a water pump usually mounted at the top of the enclosed well below and is used to pump (actually suck) water to the surface. These pump sets must have a suction pipe running to the bottom of the well, and the pump’s discharge will be connected to a tank, an irrigation system, or another user.
>Can a centrifugal pump function underwater?
Centrifugal pump sets can not operate in submerged environments.
>Can a centrifugal pump run continuously?
A centrifugal pump can easily run continuously if correctly selected to operate for 24 hours per day at a continuous duty cycle. If a centrifugal pump is not designed to run continuously, it will overheat and fail prematurely. Often a limiting factor in a pump set is not the pump itself but the motor cooling or the size and duty cycle of the coupling if long-coupled. Tyre couplings like the Fenner Tyre Coupling can get very hot during continuous operation and eventually tear if the tyre is undersized for application or the load.
>Is a centrifugal pump safe?
Centrifugal pumps are only safe when maintained in good working order. Remember that the motor’s terminal box is electrically operated, so any damage to the motor body, supply cable or terminal lid may result in a dangerous electric shock. Additionally, it is critical that the coupling has a strong enclosed metal guard to protect it in case of coupling failure.
>Can a centrifugal pump run dry?
A centrifugal pump can sometimes bw allowed to run dry. If a centrifugal pump runs dry, damage to the motor won’t result, but the pump may overheat, resulting in damage. Another consideration is the gland packing or mechanical seal, which depending on its type, may not want to run without water in the pump. This is because many types of gland seals, and mechanical seals, rely on the medium being pumped for cooling their sealing surfaces.
>Which centrifugal is best?
The best centrifugal pump is the type best suited to your unique pumping requirements. Generally, cheaper pumps will struggle to provide more expensive pumps’ performance, efficiency and longevity. As with most products, one gets what one pays for. Excellent manufacturers of centrifugal water pumps include Grundfos, KSB, Sulzer, WILO, Calpeda, Ebara, Speck and others.
>What are the types of centrifugal pumps?
The different types of centrifugal pumps are categorised according to their function. Types of submersible pumps include:
1. Well pumps
2. Slurry pumps
3. Irrigation pumps
4. Booster pumps
5. Inline pumps
6. Radial, axial and mixed-type centrifugal pumps
7. Multistage centrifugal pumps, and many many other types
>How high can a centrifugal pump lift water?
A centrifugal pump can pump or lift water to a height corresponding to the pump’s rated head. For example, suppose a pump has a pressure rating (also known as a shut-off pressure) of, say, 10 Bar and is pumping from a water source with an equal top-level elevation to the centre of the pump’s inlet port. In that case, a centrifugal pump can theoretically lift water to 100 meters. If one allows for altitude, friction and minor losses, a general rule-of-thumb will be approximately 80%-90% of the rated head or 80-90 meters. Following the same logic, a centrifugal pump with a 3 Bar max pressure rating should be able to lift water at least 24-27 meters high. It is useful to remember that 1 Bar equals approximately 10 meters of pressure head.
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