GMSARN International Conference on Sustainable Development: Issues and Prospects for the GMS 12-14 Nov.

2008

Design and Construction of Single Stage Centrifugal Pump

(Impeller)

Khin Maung Htwe

Abstract— This paper deals with the application and use of centrifugal pumps that are universal today. In the beginning of
this paper, the introduction to centrifugal pump is briefly described. There are many components in this pump. So, the
components and their functions are mentioned. Next, the review of centrifugal pump is described. According to theory, a
centrifugal pump consists essentially of a runner or an impeller which carries number of backward curved vanes and rotates
in a casing. Liquid enters the pump at the center and work is done on it as it passes centrifugally outwards so that it leaves
the impeller with velocity and increased pressure. From this theory, theoretical head and slip are obtained. In this paper, the
impeller is designed to transport water and this design is considered by using Kyushu Method based on flow rate of
0.25m3/min, head of 16m and motor speed of 3000 rpm. The outlet blade angle is assumed 22.5°, too. Moreover, the impeller
dimensions from the mentioned method are gotten by executing MathCAD software. From these dimensions, isometric
drawing and 3D drawing of impeller are produced.

Keywords— Centrifugal pump, Impeller, Kyushu method, Pressure.

difference between the suction side and delivery side of

1. INTRODUCTION
The centrifugal pump was developed in Europe in the late
1600’s and was seen in the United States in the early
1800’s. It has been occurred in widely used only in the
last seventy-five years. Prior to that time, the vast
majority of pumping applications involved positive
displacements pumps [2].
The increased popularity of centrifugal pumps is due
largely to the comparatively recent development of high
speed electric motors, steam turbines, and internal
combustion engines. The centrifugal pump is a relatively
high speed machine and the development of high speed
drivers has made possible the development of compact,
efficient pumps.
A pump is device which lifts water from a lower
level to a higher level at the expense of mechanical
energy. Thus, a pump is a power absorbing device used to
increase the pressure energy of liquid. The pressure
energy is increased by creating a region of low pressure
(usually lower than the atmospheric pressure) near the
inlet of the pump and a higher pressure at the outlet of the
pump. Due to this low inlet pressure, the liquid rises to
the pump from a low level reservoir (sump) and the high
pressure created inside the pump forces the liquid out of
the pump to be delivered to the reservoir [2].
Pumping may be defined as the addition of energy to a
fluid to move it from one point to another. The energy
given to the pump causes the fluid to do work flowing
through the pipe rising to higher level. They can also be
used for pumping liquid from a higher level to a lower
one, as well as lower level to a higher level, of very high
hydraulic resistance. They operate by creating a pressure
the moving element of the pump, such as an impeller.
A pump transfer mechanical energy from some external
source to the liquid flowing through it. The pump thus
increases the energy of the liquid which may then be used
to lift the liquid and to overcome the hydraulic resistance
of the delivery pipe. An arrangement consisting of a
suction pipe, a pump and a delivery pipe is called a
pumping system.
The pump which rises water or a liquid from a lower
level to a higher level by centrifugal force is known as a
centrifugal pump as shown in Figure 1. Centrifugal force
is defined as the action that causes something to move
away from its center of rotation. A centrifugal pump
consists of a shaft and impeller rotating within a casting.
An impeller is a rotating disk with a set of vanes coupled
to the engine or motor shaft that produces centrifugal
force within the pump casing. A casing is the stationary
housing that collect, discharge and recirculates water
entering the pump. The impeller and casing from the
heart of the pump and help the determination of its flow,
pressure and solid handing capability [3].

Khin Maung Htwe is with the Mandalay Technological University,

Fig.1. Centrifugal Pump [3]
Mandalay, Myanmar. E-Mail: kmh2020@gmail.com.

1
2. FLOW CHART FOR PUMP DESIGN
Check D1m = D1 < D0

Start
Input: β2

Input n, Q, H
Calculate: β1

Calculate: ns, Qs
Calculate: Z

Calculate: η0, ηv No: of blade.

Input: δ1, δ2

Calculate: Qs1 Blade widths

“Shaft diameter” Calculate S1, S2

Input: Ksh
Calculate b1, b2

Calculate: dc, dsh

hub: dimension STOP

Calculate: dh, lh
Fig.2. Flow Chart
“Impeller eye diameter” 3. DESIGN DATA

Input: g, Kmo In designing, flow rate, head, shaft speed and motor are
main input data. Again, allowable factor fa, transmission
efficiency, overall efficiency, velocity coefficients are as
assignment data. Table 1 shows the specification for the
Calculate: D0 impeller design.
Table 1. Specification for Impeller Design
“Impeller Outlet diameter”
PARAMETERS
Input: Ku, Km1, Km2, D1/D2
Rated power (Lr) 1.5 kW

Flow rate (Q) 0.25 m3/min

Calculate: u2, cm1, cm2
Rotational speed (n) 3000 rpm

Density of water (ρ) 103 kg/m3

Calculate: D2
Pump head (H) 16 m

4. IMPELLER DESIGN ANALYSIS

Calculate: D1
The impeller of the centrifugal pump is designed in this
“Impeller Inlet diameter” paper. For this design, the rated output power (Lr) of
electric motor is caclulated in Equation 1. This is
Calculate D1s, D1h, D1m expressed as:

(1 + f a )L
Lr = (1)
η tr × 1000
where, L is shaft power, ηtr is transmission efficiency, and

2
fa is allowable factor. The allowable factor is read in
Lr
Table 2 and ηtr is 1.0 for direct coupling. The specific d c = k sh 3 (6)
speed value (ns) is evaluated in Equation 2 [1]. n
1 where, dc is diameter of the end of main shaft, and ksh is
Q2 permissible shear stress factor. The dimensions of hub at
ns = n 3/ 4 (2)
H the impeller eye are usually decided from Equations 7
and 8.
where, Q is flow rate, n is rotational speed, and H is
Dh = (1.5 to 2.0) dsh (7)
pump head. Then the shaft power (L) is determined as:
Lh= (1.0 to 2.0) dsh (8)
ρQ s gH
L= (3) where, Dh is hub diameter, dsh is shaft diameter at hub
η0 section, and Lh is hub length. Then the diameter of
impeller eye (D0) is evaluated in Equation 9.
where, Qs is flow rate per second, g is gravitational
acceleration, and η0 is overall efficiency.
4Q s'
Table 2. Allowance Factor and Rated Output Power of D0 = + D 2h (9)
Electric Motor [1] π Vmo

Lr (kW) 0.4 0.75 1.5 2.2 3.7 where, Vmo is velocity of impeller eye, and Q s' is total
flow rate.
fa 0.4 0.4 to 0.25
Vmo = K mo 2gH (10)
A pump efficiency (η0) is assumed by using Figure 3.
And also the diameter of suction pipe (DS or ds) can be Kmo = (0.07 to 0.11) + 0.00023 ns (11)
estimated from this chart. The discharge pipe diameter
(Dd or dd) is usually selected equal to or one size smaller where, Kmo is velocity coefficient of impeller eye.
than that of the suction pipe. Thus, velocities in these And then the volumetric efficiency (ηv) is determined as:
pipes are given by:
1
Qs ηv = (12)
Vs = (4) 1.124
D s2 1+ 2 3
π ns
4
Qs Qs
Vd = (5) Q s' = (13)
D2 ηv
π d
4 The stepanoff chart shown in Figure 4 is widely used to
Shaft material is chosen as S30c material that permissible decide the impeller geometry. Peripheral velocity at outlet
shear stress factor is 0.125. is presented as:

Suction Pipe Diameter Ds U 2 = K u 2gH (14)

(mm)
Vm1 = K m1 2gH (15)

Vm2 = K m2 2gH
Pump Efficiency h (%)

(16)

where, Ku is velocity coefficient of impeller outlet, Vm1 is

meridional velocity at impeller profile entrance, Vm2 is
meridional velocity at impeller profile outlet, Km1 is
design speed constant at impeller profile entrance, and
Km2 is design speed constant at impeller profile outlet.
The outlet diameter (D2) and the inlet diameter (D1) of
the impeller are decided considering the following
relationship.
U 2 × 60
D2 = (17)
π×n
Discharge Q (m3/min) D 
D1 = D 2  2  (18)
Fig.3. Overall Efficiency Curve [1]  D1 
Hub dimension can be calculated based on shaft Then the peripheral velocity at inlet is designated by:
dimensions.

3
 πD1n δ1
U1 = (19) S1 = (23)
60 sin β1
The blade angle at inlet (β1) is:
 Qs'   πD 2 
K V  b2 =    (24)
β1 = tan −1  b1 m1  (20)  πD 2 Vm2   πD 2 − S2 Z 
 U1 
δ2
The number of impeller blades is determined as the S2 = (25)
following:
sin β 2
where, δ1 is blade thickness near the leading edge, δ2 is
 D + D1   β1 + β 2 
Z = 6.5 2 sin  (21)
blade thickness near the trailing edge, S1 is blade
 D 2 − D1   2  circumferentrial thickness at inlet, and S2 is blade
circumferential thickness at outlet.
where, Z is number of blades, β2 is impeller outlet blade A method to draw the impeller blade by three circular
angle, and Kb1 is coefficient factor. When the impeller is arcs shown in Figure 5 is used for the present design.
made of bronze, the minimum blade thickness is 2.0 mm Each radius is given by the corresponding equations.
and shroud thickness is 2.5 mm for an impeller having the
diameter less than 200 mm. They are 2.5 and 3.0 mm ρA =
(R − R 2B
2
A )
2(R A cos β 2 − R B cos β B )
(26)
respectively if D2 is greater than 200 mm.

ρB =
(R− R C2
2
B ) (27)
2(R Bcos β B − R C cos β C )

ρC =
(R
− R 2D
2
)
Ku

C
(28)
2(R C cos β C − R D cos β1 )
5. RESULTS FOR IMPELLER DESIGN
Dimensions calculated by Kyushu method are described
in Table 3. Moreover, this design calculation procedure is
executed by MathCAD software program in Figure 2.
D2 = 60 Ku Table 3. Dimensions of Centrifugal Pump
2gH /(π ⋅ n )
D1/D2

RESULTS
Vm1 = K m1 2gH
Impeller outlet diameter (mm) 119
Vm 2 = K m1 2gH
Impeller inlet diameter (mm) 54

Impeller eye diameter (mm) 53

Outlet blade angle 22.5

Inlet blade angle 22

Km1

Impeller outlet width (mm) 7

Impeller inlet width (mm) 12

Km2

Impeller hub diameter (mm) 18

3
ns (rpm, m /min,m) = n Q / H 3 / 4
Impeller hub length (mm) 24
Fig.4. Stepanoff Chart [1]
The width at the inlet (b1) and that of outlet (b2) are Impeller passage width at inlet (mm) 12
respectively decided based on Equations 22 where
smooth variation in velocity is considered. Impeller passage width at outlet (mm) 7

Q s' πD1 Number of blade 6

b1 = (22)
πD1Vm1 πD1 - S1Z

4
 Fig.8. Sand Pattern for Impeller
Fig.5. Schematic of Impeller Blade [4]
6. FABRICATION PROCESSES
In the fabrication of the impeller,
1. Firstly, the design parameters of the impeller are
calculated by Kyushu method.
2. Secondly, the machining drawing is made for
impeller pattern.
3. Thirdly, sand mold is made for the impeller
pattern.
4. Fourthly, the raw impeller is cast and
machining process and hardness test are
becomed.
5. Finally, the installation process and running
operation are made on pump casing.
Fig.9. Preparation of the Sand Mold

Fig.10. Ready for Pouring

Fig.6. Impeller Drawing

Fig.11. Pouring of Molten Metal

Fig.7. Dimensional View of Impeller

5

Fig.12. After Pouring
Fig.13. Cast Impeller
Fig.14. Impeller after Machining
7. DISCUSSIONS
The application and use of centrifugal pumps today are
universal. Modern public utilities, chemical plants,
municipal gas, water and swage works, and other fields
too numerous to mention would be seriously handicapped
if these machines did not exist. In today’s competitive
world, pump designers are tempted to just quickly copy
existing pumps, or fall back on empirical design formulas
established by statistical surveys of existing pumps.
Statistically average designs may be adequate. A
centrifugal pump consists essentially of one or more
impellers equipped with vanes, mounted on a rotating
shaft and enclosed by casing. Impeller may be single-
suction or double-suction. In this thesis, single-suction
centrifugal pump impeller is designed by using Kyushu
method and executing MathCAD software program.
When this program is written, flow rate, head, shaft
speed and motor are main input data. Again, allowable
factor fa, transmission efficiency, overall efficiency,
velocity coefficients are as assignment data. The output
data are impeller’s outlet and input diameters, blade
angles, widths and blade number.
8. CONCLUSION
In this thesis, the centrifugal pump is end-suction single
stage pump. Impeller designed should be in such a way
that, losses must be as low as possible. Major losses are
disk friction losses and leakage losses. Leakage loss
decreases rapidly with increasing specific speed. Leakage
loss is low for closed impeller. So, the Impeller is closed
impeller. The blade outlet angles for centrifugal pumps
are backwards (b2<90°). (b2< 90°) which gives the
decrease in head with increasing discharge is commonly
adopted at the design of a centrifugal pump. Centrifugal
pump has the capacity of 0.25 m3/ min and 14m of head.
The power of 1.5kW and efficiency is 0.58 (58%). The
inlet diameter of impeller is 54 mm and the outlet
diameter is 119 mm. The number of blade is 6 blades.
The width at the inlet b1 and that of outlet b2 are 12mm
and 7mm.
The impeller design of lab-scale centrifugal pump in
M.T.U Hydraulic laboratory is calculated by Kyushu
method. By using this method, the existing dimensions of
this impeller are the same as the calculated dimensions by
adjusting the coefficients factors within their limits.
Although the impeller can be fabricated, the characteristic
testing cannot be made. Therefore, the author wishes to
new generation of mechanical engineering students who
are interested in the fluid field to make an experiment for
that impeller design.
This design can be employed not only for honoree but
also agricultural and industrial sectors. The design
calculation is based on Kyushu design. Therefore it is
believed that this design can keep abreast with the
international standards. The require material and thing are
early available in the local areas. It should be continued
by engineers who are expert in design by using methods.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author greatfully acknowledges the financial support
by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Myanmar to
carry out this research. The author would like to express
his special thanks to Dr. Khin Maung Aye of West
Yangon Technological University, Yangon, Myanmar.
NOMENCLATURE
b1 Inlet width, mm
b2 Outlet width, mm
D0 Diameter of impeller eye, mm
D1 Inlet diameter, mm
D2 Outlet diameter, mm
Dh Diameter of hub, mm
Dd Diameter of discharge, mm
Ds Diameter of suction, mm
Dsh Diameter of shaft, mm
Ksh Factor
Ku Speed constant
dsh Shaft diameter, mm
6
H Pump Head, m
L Input power, kW
Lh Length of Head, m
Lr Rate output of an electric motor, kW
Ns Specific speed, rps
N Speed, rpm
Q Pump Discharge, m3/min
U1 Peripheral velocity at the inlet, m/s
U2 Peripheral velocity at the outlet, m/s
V Velocity of flow, m/s
Vmo Velocity at the eye section, m/s
Z Blade number
β1 Blade inlet angle, degree
β2 Blade outlet angle, degree
ρ Density of water, kg/m3
δ1 Blade thickness near the leading edge,
mm
δ2 Blade thickness near the trailing edge,
mm
REFERENCES
[1] Kyushu Institute Technology, 1996, Training
Course, “Fluid Mechanics of Turbomachinery”,
Japan: Kyushu Institute of Technology.
[2] Austin .H .Church, 1972, “Centrifugal Pump and
Blowers”, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, New York.
[3] Igor. J. K, William. C. K, Warren. H. F and
Joseph. P. M, 1976, “Pump Handbook”.
[4] Touzson. J, 2000, “Centrifugal Pump Design”,
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.