Different Components of a Centrifugal Pump


A centrifugal pump is a pump that uses an impeller to move water or other fluids in a system. These devices are often used for pumping oil and gas, waste management, and agriculture, among many other useful operations. When looking at the variety of centrifugal pumps used, there are several key components that are found in nearly every one of them. These components include the impeller, casing, shaft, shaft sleeves, bearings, and a sealing arrangement. Each of these key parts are discussed here along with some general information to know about centrifugal pumps.

All of the parts that are essential to a centrifugal pump may be divided into two main sections: the wet end, and the mechanical end.

Wet End

The wet end of the pump includes those parts that control the hydraulic function of the pump. These include the two primary parts of a pump which are the casing and impeller. The impeller is shaped much like a spiral which rotates at high speeds and flings fluid outwards from its center. As such, it translates this rotational motion into velocity of the fluid. The impeller is positioned within the casing so that the fluid velocity generated by the impeller is converted into pressure which helps force the fluid along a pipeline.

Mechanical End

The mechanical end of the pump includes parts that support the impeller within the casing, seal the area where the shaft enters the casing, and facilitate rotation.

Pump Shaft: The impeller is mounted on a shaft that is typically made of steel or stainless steel. Shafts must be sized appropriately for the impeller. If the shaft is undersized, it could result in increased pump vibration, shorter bearing life, and an increased risk of shaft breakage. Otherwise, if the shaft is oversized, it can increase the cost of the pump unnecessarily.

Shaft Sleeve: Most pumps have a portion of the shaft covered with a shaft sleeve which is used to position the impeller correctly, as well as to protect the shaft. The shaft sleeve is typically made of metal, usually bronze or stainless steel, that is designed to either slide onto a smooth shaft or twist onto a threaded one.

Sealing Arrangement: The opening where the shaft passes through the casing is called the stuffing box. In order to seal the gap between the shaft and the wall of the stuffing box, pumps must use sealing arrangements. These will consist of either packing or mechanical seals that typically include a stationary seal ring, a rotating seal ring, a gland, and a spring.

  • The gland fits around the pump shaft and is attached to the face of the stuffing box directly onto the pump casing.
  • The stationary seal ring, sometimes called the mating ring, is sealed to the gland and held in place around the pump shaft.
  • The rotating seal ring, sometimes called the primary ring, is sealed to the shaft by an elastomeric element, and is pressed against the stationary mating ring by a spring.
  • The spring applies pressure to the rotating primary ring by exerting force against a retaining clip or collar on the pump shaft.

Pump Bearings: Lastly, there is the bearing arrangement which typically consist of standard ball-type, anti-friction bearings. The pump shaft is supported and held in place by the bearings which have been designed to handle the force created by the rotation of the impeller.

Conclusion

Centrifugal pumps are essential machinery to aircraft in the fuel system. As such, it is essential for aircraft owners and operators to have durable, high-quality components for your centrifugal pump systems that will last the test of time. AOG Purchasing is an online distributor of Aircraft parts with quality at the forefront of our operations. We supply a broad range of components that have been subjected to rigorous evaluations for their durability and effectiveness in their associated applications. To get started on the purchasing process today, we invite you to take advantage of our Instant RFQ service to receive competitive solutions catered to your location and part requirements.


Share


Recent Twitter Posts

Semiconductor's Certifications and Memberships
Thank You for Visiting AOG Purchasing.

Don't Forget That We Can Give You a Quote for Parts Within 15 Minutes If You Fill Out The Instant RFQ Form.

Request for Quote

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.