The Centrifugal Pump Flow And Its Types

Most people think that a centrifugal pump creates pressure. Well, it is not exactly the truth. The truth is that the centrifugal pump creates a flow. The resistance to the centrifugal pump flow is read on a pressure gauge which is attached to the discharge line. Therefore, the pressure is nothing but a measurement of the resistance of the centrifugal pump flow.

The centrifugal pump flow is an important factor when it comes to choosing the right centrifugal pump. On the basis of the centrifugal pump flow, three types of centrifugal pumps have been determined. They are radial flow, axial flow and the mixed flow centrifugal pump.

The first one is a centrifugal pump with a radial flow. In a pump with this type of flow, the liquid is known to enter the center of the pump's impeller. From the impeller's center, the liquid is directed out along the impeller blades. The liquid is directed in a direction that is at a right angle to the shaft of the centrifugal pump.

The next type is a centrifugal pump with an axial flow. This type of centrifugal pump is very common. This type of a pump usually has a propeller in a tube. This propeller can easily be driven directly in the tube with the help of a sealed motor. It can even be driven by a right-angle drive shaft that can pierce the tube.

The centrifugal pump with an axial flow has a big advantage over the pumps with other flow types. The advantage is that a pump with an axial centrifugal pump flow can easily be adjusted in way that it can run at its peak efficiency at both low-flow/high-pressure and high-flow/low-pressure. It does so by changing the pitch on its propeller.

The centrifugal pumps with an axial centrifugal pump flow have the smallest dimensions when compared to the modern pumps. Also the pumps with such a flow are suitable for a low head and a higher discharge. The most common pumps with an axial centrifugal pump flow are the transfer pumps used for sailing ballast.

Then are the pumps with a mixed centrifugal pump flow. Such centrifugal pumps carry the characteristics of both the pumps- radial and axial flow.

When the liquid flows through the impeller of a pump with a mixed centrifugal pump, its impeller blades push the liquid away from the pump shaft. The liquid is actually pushed to the pump suction at a greater than 90 degrees angle.

The three types of centrifugal pump flow determine the choice of different centrifugal pumps for different purposes.