Velocity and Pressure Distributions in the Impeller Passages of Centrifugal Pumps

The flow patterns in centrifugal pump impellers with three and seven blades, respectively, were measured using a cylindrical yaw probe and an oil surface flow method. The measured distributions of velocities and pressures for the seven (sufficient number) blade impeller at the design flow rate coincide well with the numerical solution obtained from the theoretical equation based on a potential flow. The flow patterns of the three (insufficient number) blade impeller deviate largely from those of the seven blade impeller both at the design and off-design conditions. The values of the slip factor deduced from the data of velocity measurements in the impeller passage were compared with those calculated by commonly-used formulae, and considerably good agreement was obtained for the seven blade impeller.