Performance Optimization of a Centrifugal Pump Stage

By Darshan Patel

Rotodynamic pumps, ranging in type from very low specific speed centrifugal through mixed- and axial-flow pumps, constitute the workhorses of fluid transport systems. After a protracted history of application free of regulation, these machines are now increasingly subject to government regulations and directives mandating their adherence to newly introduced energy standards, with more types and configurations included over time.

This fact, combined with general competitive pressure across the industry, means that it is no longer sufficient to design and manufacture a pump that simply works. Energy efficiency, over an extended operating range, has become a vital objective of design efforts, along with performance tuning to suit the machine’s intended application.