Elementary

Pump Theory

Dr. P. I. Ayantha Gomes

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Water out Do always water in and out
over a blade is like this???

Water in

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 May be water in and out can be like
Water out this!!!

Water in

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 Does always water move
Water out along the blade like this???
Water in between
inlet and out let

Water in

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 Perhaps, the water move
Water out like this (e.g. localised
jumps)!!!?

Water in

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# As the other blade is
closely located, it will
generally flow along
the blade.
# Nevertheless,
turbulences, eddies,
localised jumps that are
not visible to naked eye
are obvious
# It is assumed there
are infinite number of
blades and the gap
between two blades
are extremely close,
when deriving
equations
#Also, this does not
mean velocity will be
tangential to the blade,
it will have a resultant
direction that is in
many cases unknown,
unless otherwise
specifically designed7 to
move so…
 Water particles (say
streamlines) will be at
different directions

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 V (water, earth) = V (water, blade) + V (blade, earth)
v1 = w1 + u1
Water out

w1 v1
w1
β1 Water
α1 in
u1

u1 = r 1 ω

V (blade, earth) = u1
V (water, blade) = w1
w1 should be tangential to the
blade at that point

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 V (water, earth) = V (water, blade) + V (blade, earth)
v1 = w1 + u1
Water out

v1
w1
β1

u1

Now we will introduce two more

velocities….
1) The absolute (i.e., relative to earth)
circumferential velocity of water
2) The absolute radial velocity
component (radial means it is
perpendicular to the circumferential
component)

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 V (water, earth) = V (water, blade) + V (blade, earth)
v1 = w1 + u1

w1

β1

u1
Now we will introduce two more
velocities….
1) The absolute (i.e., relative to earth)
circumferential velocity of water
2) The absolute radial velocity
component (radial means it is
perpendicular to the circumferential
component)
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 V (water, earth) = V (water, blade) + V (blade, earth)
v1 = w1 + u1

Both Vn1 and Vt1 are relative to

earth velocities (i.e. absolute)
Vn1
w1

α1 β1

Vt1
u1
• Vn1 is the absolute normal velocity component of the water.
Sometimes refer as radial velocity as this component crosses
the center of the impeller
• Vt1 is the absolute circumferential velocity of water
• Both these are velocities of water, and nothing to do with the
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blade of the impeller
Is Vn1 actually a radial
velocity?

v1 v1
w1 w1
Vn1 Vn1
β1 β1

u1 u1

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 V (water, earth) = V (water, blade) + V (blade, earth)
v1 = w1 + u1

Both Vn1 and Vt1 are relative to

earth velocities (i.e. absolute)
Vn1
w1
Vn1

α1 β1

Vt1
u1
Vt1
• Therefore, v1 (water, earth) can be found either by solving
velocity triangle involving v1, u1 and w1 (see the triangle and
the relative velocity equation)
• Also v1 can be found if we know its horizontal and vertical
components (i.e. Vn1 and Vt1)
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 By angular momentum
theory
Vt1 and Vt2 are absolute circumferential velocity components of the
flow; then Power delivered to fluid can be calculated as

Referred as Euler equations for pumps. It shows torque, power and

head are functions of rotor-tip velocities (u) and absolute fluid
velocities (v) only; in other words independent of any axial velocities
through the machine

Bernoulli equation in rotating

coordinates

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• As radial velocity Vn can be 𝑉 𝑛 =𝑉 𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑛∝ 
expressed as

• Therefore, by continuity equation power of

the pump can be expressed as :
• b1 and b2 are inlet and outlet blade
widths. This equation also can be used
to calculate the design flow rate and
usually estimated assuming the flow
enters exactly normal to the impeller
(i.e. α1 is 90°)

Example: Given are the following data for a commercial centrifugal

water pump: r1= 4 in, r2 = 7 in, β1= 30°, β2= 20°, speed = 1440 r/min. Estimate
(a) the design-point discharge (α1 =90 deg), (b) the water horse power, and
(c) the head if b1 = b2 = 1.75 in.

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