Tip-Clearance Effects in Centrifugal Pumps

Abstract

Several design models of centrifugal pump impellers were tested in water to determine tip-clearance effects on noncavitating and cavitating performance. Although most of these impellers were designed without tip shrouds, three direct comparisons for shrouded versus unshrouded models are included. Within the scope of this investigation, varying degrees of tip clearance produced dissimilar trends in the hydraulic performance for the different design models tested. Fully shrouded impellers consistently yielded inferior cavitation performance as compared to unshrouded versions.