PUMPS DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

Pump: A pump is a device which adds to the energy of a liquid or gas (fluid) causing an increase
in its pressure and movement.

Before a fluid can be moved around any piping or trunking system, energy is required to
overcome the inertia of the fluid , the motional resistance imparted by pipe or trunk surfaces and
the resistance to flow created by pipe bends and valves. Energy is also required to overcome the
pressure at the discharge end of the system when it’s higher than at the suction end. For example,
in the boiler feed system energy is required to bring the inlet pressure at the pump suction branch
to a pressure high enough at the delivery branch to enable the feedwater to pass through pipe
bends , branches, valves, and feedwater regulators before overcoming the boiler pressure and
entering the boilers. The pump discharge pressure will then be considerably higher than the
pressure at the pump entry branch, in a similar way, energy is required to overcome the head
difference when pumping ballast water from double bottom tanks to a higher level through the
ships side’s side overboard valve. The energy used to move a fluid is obtained from pumps.
Pumps are usually driven by electric motors, but in some cases steam is used to supply the
motive, for reasons of safety, economics, or convenience.

Definitions, Principles & Characteristics of Pumps

STATIC SUCTION HEAD OR LIFT: This is the vertical height through which the
liquid has to be raised, or the vertical height from the liquid level to the Centre of the
pump, neglecting friction.

STATIC DELIVERY HEAD OR LIFT: This is the vertical height from the Centre of
the pump to the delivery liquid level or the highest point in delivery pipe.

TOTAL STATIC PUMP HEAD: This is the vertical height from the suction liquid
level to the delivery liquid level or the highest point in the delivery pipe.

TOTAL HEAD OF A PUMP: This is the pressure difference created by the pump
between the suction and discharge branches, which is necessary to produce a given flow
of water through a pipe system. (here all losses are taken into account).
SPECIFIC SPEED: This is defined as the speed in rpm at which an impeller would
operate if reduced proportionally in size so as to deliver a unit capacity against a unit total
head. OR It is the speed in rpm at which an impeller would operate so as to consume unit
energy whilst delivering unit capacity.

There is NO direct connection between the rotational speed of the pump shaft and the
specific speed of the pump, e.g. A large pump of high specific speed may have a low a
low shaft speed whereas a small pump of low specific speed could have a high shaft
speed.
 DUTY POINT: When a pump is so regulated that its performance confirms as nearly as
possible with the specified conditions, it is said to be working at its “Duty Point”. (But
this may not be necessarily being the design point.

DESIGN POINT: It is at a point at which, when running at a particular speed, the pump
works at its maximum possible efficiency.

To understand the meaning of efficiency of rotodynamic pumps we should first know the
losses that take place in a system. These losses can be classified as:

• “Entry Losses”-caused by liquid streaming past the vanes into the impeller. This
is especially important as this loss has a direct bearing on the capability of the
impeller. It can be kept low by correct vane shape and finish.

• “Hydraulic Losses”- are caused by friction and turbulence in all passages and
must be kept as low as possible by a smooth finish and correct velocity
distribution of flow.

• “Disc Friction Loss”-is caused by the impeller walls rotating in the liquid. Can
be kept low by providing good machining or casting finish to the impeller walls
and also by reducing the volume of liquid between the impeller and the volute.

• “Leakage Loss”- is across pressure differentials like wear rings.

• “Stuffing Box Losses”-kept low by providing correct number of packings and

not screwing the gland nuts too tight.

NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD REQUIRED:

The energy or head required by a pump to overcome losses like turbulence, entry losses and
other losses created in the suction passage is called NPSH required.

NET POSITIVE SUCTIOIN HEAD AVAILABLE:

The net available head or energy available at the entry into a pump impeller or chamber, that is
after subtracting all the losses including vapour loss, in the suction passage, is called NPSH

available.

To avoid cavitation in centrifugal pumps, the pressure of the fluid at all points within the pump
must remain above saturation pressure. The quantity used to determine if the pressure of the
liquid being pumped is adequate to avoid cavitation is the net positive suction head (NPSH). The
net positive suction head available (NPSHA) is the difference between the pressure at the suction
of the pump and the saturation pressure for the liquid being pumped. The net positive suction
head required (NPSHR) is the minimum net positive suction head necessary to avoid cavitation.
The condition that must exist to avoid cavitation is that the net positive suction head available
must be greater than or equal to the net positive suction head required. This requirement can be
stated mathematically as shown below. NPSHA ≥ NPSHR A formula for NPSHA can be stated
as the following equation. NPSHA = Psuction - Psaturation When a centrifugal pump

is taking suction from a tank or other reservoir, the pressure at the suction of the pump is the
sum of the absolute pressure at the surface of the liquid in the tank plus the pressure due to the
elevation difference between the surface of liquid in the tank and the pump suction less the head
losses due to friction in the suction line from the tank to the pump. NPSHA = Pa + Pst - hf - Psat
Where: NPSHA = net positive suction head available Pa = absolute pressure on the surface of the
liquid Pst = pressure due to elevation between liquid surface and pump suction hf = head losses
in the pump suction piping Psat = saturation pressure of the liquid being pumped Preventing
Cavitation If a centrifugal pump is cavitating, several changes in the system design or operation
may be necessary to increase the NPSHA above the NPSHR and stop the cavitation. One method
for increasing the NPSHA is to increase the pressure at the suction of the pump. For example, if
a pump is taking suction from an enclosed tank, either raising the level of the liquid in the tank or
increasing the pressure in the space above the liquid increases suction pressure. It is also possible
to increase the NPSHA by decreasing the temperature of the liquid being pumped. Decreasing
the temperature of the liquid decreases the saturation pressure, causing NPSHA to increase.
Recall from the previous module on heat exchangers that large steam condensers usually subcool
the condensate to less than the saturation temperature, called condensate depression, to prevent
cavitation in the condensate pumps. If the head losses in the pump suction piping can be reduced,
the NPSHA will be increased. Various methods for reducing head losses include increasing the
pipe diameter, reducing the number of elbows, valves, and fittings in the pipe, and decreasing the
length of the pipe. It may also be possible to stop cavitation by reducing the NPSHR for the
pump. The NPSHR is not a constant for a given pump under all conditions, but depends on
certain factors. Typically, the NPSHR of a pump increases significantly as flow rate through the
pump increases. Therefore, reducing the flow rate through a pump by throttling a discharge valve
decreases NPSHR.

NPSHR is also dependent upon pump speed. The faster the impeller of a pump rotates, the
greater the NPSHR. Therefore, if the speed of a variable speed centrifugal pump is reduced, the
NPSHR of the pump decreases. However, since a pump's flow rate is most often dictated by the
needs of the system on which it is connected, only limited adjustments can be made without
starting additional parallel pumps, if available. The net positive suction head required to prevent
cavitation is determined through testing by the pump manufacturer and depends upon factors
including type of impeller inlet, impeller design, pump flow rate, impeller rotational speed, and
the type of liquid being pumped. The manufacturer typically supplies curves of NPSHR as a
function of pump flow rate for a particular liquid (usually water) in the vendor manual for the
pump.

Marine pumps are categorized into two main classes;

a) Positive Displacement Pumps

b) Rotodynamic Pumps

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS:

These are self- priming pumps but are not suitable for very high speeds or large
capacities/quantities/volumes. Positive displacement pumps physically entrap a quantity of liquid
at the suction of the pump and push that quantity out the discharge of the pump. The positive
displacement pump delivers liquid in separate volumes with no delivery in between, although a
pump having several chambers may have an overlapping delivery among individual chambers,
which minimizes this effect. The positive displacement pump differs from centrifugal pumps,
which deliver a continuous flow for any given pump speed and discharge resistance. They are of
three types viz:

• Reciprocating pumps: Piston or Plunger type which can be used for water, air, gas or oil
and are driven by either by Steam or by an electric motor or by the main engine.

Figure 1

All positive displacement pumps operate on the same basic principle. This principle can be most
easily demonstrated by considering a reciprocating positive displacement pump consisting of a
single reciprocating piston in a cylinder with a single suction port and a single discharge port as
shown in Figure 1 above. Check valves in the suction and discharge ports allow flow in only one
direction. During the suction stroke, the piston moves to the left, causing the check valve in the
suction line between the reservoir and the pump cylinder to open and admit water from the
reservoir. During the discharge stroke, the piston moves to the right, seating the check valve in
the suction line and opening the check valve in the discharge line. The volume of liquid moved
by the pump in one cycle (one suction stroke and one discharge stroke) is equal to the change in the
liquid volume of the cylinder as the piston moves from its farthest left position to its farthest
right position.
 Figure 2

• Rotary Pumps; Gear ,Screw, Vane ,Lobe etc; Mainly used for oils or viscous fluids
having some lubricating qualities and can be driven by an electric motor or a steam
turbine or by the main engine.

Figure 3

Screw Pumps
Screw pumps are a special type of rotary positive displacement pump in which the flow through
the pumping elements is truly axial. the liquid is carried between the screw threads on one or
more rotors and is displaced axially as the screws rotate and mesh.

In all other rotary pumps the liquid is forced to travel circumferentially, thus giving the screw
pump with its unique axial flow pattern and low internal velocities a number of advantages in
many application areas where liquid agitation or churning is objectionable. Screw pumps like
other rotary positive displacement pumps, are self priming and are always fitted with a relief
valve on the discharge side. They are most commonly used on board ships for main engine lub.
oil pumps, cargo pumps and oil transfer pumps.

Principle: In screw pumps, it is the intermeshing of the threads on the rotors and the close fit of
the surrounding housing which creates one or more sets of moving seals in series between pump
inlet and outlet. These sets of seals acts as a labyrinth and provide the screw pump with its
positive pressure capability. The cavities trap liquid at the inlet and carry it along to the outlet,
providing a smooth flow. To balance the hydraulic thrust, two pairs of screw are used (as will be
shown in the figure following).

Figure 3

This is the simplest type of rotary positive displacement pumps and is more commonly
used onboard ships for handling small quantities of fluids usually oils example;
lubricating oil transfer pump, aux engine lubricating oil pump ,purifier oil pumps. The
gear pump is also classified by the type of gears used such as spur gears, helical gears or
other special gears as HERRING BONE type. The efficiency of these pumps depend
upon the accuracy with which the component parts are machined then meshed together.

OPERATION: In the simplest form ,two spur gears rotate in opposite direction within a
casing with very fine clearance and trap the liquid flowing In between the teeth on the
suction side and carry it around to the discharge side. When the pump is primed the fluid
with flow in between the gear teeth just as it would flow into the cylinder of a
reciprocating pump when the plunger is on the suction side.
LOBE PUMPS

These resemble the gear pumps in action and have two or more rotors cut with two, three, four or
more lobes on each rotor. The rotors are synchronise for positive rotation by external gears.
Because the liquid is delivered in a smaller number of larger quantities than in the gear pump,
flow from the lobular type pumps is not quite so constant as from the gear type.
Positive displacement pumps deliver a definite volume of liquid for each cycle of pump
operation. Therefore, the only factor that effects flow rate in an ideal positive
displacement pump is the speed at which it operates. The flow resistance of the system in
which the pump is operating will not effect the flow rate through the pump. Figure 4
shows the characteristic curve for a positive displacement pump. The dashed line in
Figure 4 shows actual positive displacement pump performance. This line reflects the fact
that as the discharge pressure of the pump increases, some amount of liquid will leak
from the discharge of the pump back to the pump suction, reducing the effective flow rate
of the pump. The rate at which liquid leaks from the pump discharge to its suction is
called slippage.

REGENERATIVE TURBINE PUMPS:

A centrifugal impeller basically traps some liquid at the inlet and rapidly slings through
the discharge port. The liquid velocity is increased by the impeller and manifests as outlet
pressure. The key distinction here is that the liquid enters and exits the impeller only one
time. A regenerative turbine pump has an impeller with a comparatively larger number of
vanes, also of a different shape. This shape imparts a circulatory movement of the liquid
from the vanes to the casing, and back to the vanes. Each return to the vane
section increases fluid velocity, which can be converted to increased pressure. As the
impeller rotates, liquid enters, leaves, then re-enters the vane section many times. This
process is called regeneration. The impact of this design is a pump that can deliver
substantially greater pressure than a centrifugal pump with the same impeller diameter
and rotational speed.
A regenerative turbine pump is capable of pumping fluids with up to forty
percent entrained gases without damage from cavitation or any performance loss. Fluid
conditions with even low levels of entrained gases would likely produce substantial loss
of performance in a centrifugal pump, evidenced as fluctuating discharge pressure and
excessive wear and vibration. Where cavitation is a concern, the regenerative turbine
pump holds the advantage over centrifugal. Applications with low flow and high head
requirements will also be better serviced by a regenerative turbine pump.
JET DISPLACEMENT PUMPS:
DEEP WELL PUMP

1. Composed of several centrifugal pump stages mounted in series on a common vertical shaft.

2. The pump is installed directly into the cargo tank with the pumping element at the lower end of the
pump column.
3. Vertical flameproof electric motors are used as pump drivers mounted directly on to the pump
discharge on the open deck.

4. Pumps are fully submerged when discharge commences, priming/venting not necessary.

5. When pumping starts, liquid flow up the pump stages, column piping and discharge head to deck pipe.

Submerged pumps, hydraulically operated operation

1. Cargo tanks efficiently stripped as pump is located very close to tank bottom (sump).

2. When pumping completed, cargo line is pressurised from ship system via a 2-way valve on pump deck.

3. Cargo retained in pump discharge pipe is purged through riser pipe.

4. Rotating impeller acting as a closing valve preventing cargo from draining back to tank.

5. A pressure of 1 bar is required for this purpose depending on the type of cargo/compressed air

6. C.S require two means of discharge: a std. by pump

 ROTODYNAMIC PUMPS

Rotodynamic pumps are centrifugal pumps and are essentially high speed acting. They consist
of a set of rotating vanes enclosed within a housing or casing and uses centrifugal force to impact
energy to the fluid.

Centrifugal force has two main parts:

 a) A rotating element which is made up of an impeller mounted on a shaft and
b) A stationary element made up of a casing with inlet and outlet branches, stuffing box and
bearings.

Impellers are fitted with a number of vanes which impart a centrifugal force on the fluid within
the impeller causing it to move radially outwards from the suction eye or the Centre into the
casing surrounding the impeller. Because of the outward flow of fluid a void is formed in the
suction eye inducing a flow from the suction casing. The fluid is discharged into the casing at a
higher velocity and this velocity is converted into pressure energy by means of the volute or by a
set of stationary diffuser vanes surrounding the impeller periphery. The former type is called a
volute pump and the later a “Diffuser Pump or Turbine Pump”.

Pump Head Calculation – Pump Performance Calculation

The theoretical head is the head calculated using the net power input to the impeller under
common assumptions like-

1. The impeller passages are completely filled with flowing working fluid all the time,
i.e., there are no void spaces during the operation.
2. The working fluid is incompressible, inviscid, and single phase.
3. The velocity profile is symmetric.
In theoretical head calculation, being an ‘ideal’ case consideration, no head losses are taken into
consideration unlike in that of actual head. There is head loss due to leakage, friction, turning,
eddying and fluid impact shock at the inlet.

So, after taking into consideration the above specified losses the obtained net head is the actual
head. Lesser the difference between the theoretical and actual head, more desirable is the design
as the hydraulic efficiency is defined as the ratio of actual head to theoretical head.

Pump Head – Performance Curve

In fluids dynamics the term pump head is used to measure the kinetic energy which a pump
creates. Head is a measurement of the height of the incompressible fluid column the pump
could create from the kinetic energy that the pump gives to the liquid. The head and flow
rate determine the performance of a pump, which is graphically shown in the figure as
the performance curve or pump characteristic curve. The main reason for using head instead
of pressure to determine the performance of a centrifugal pump is that the height of the fluid
column is not dependent on the specific gravity (weight) of the liquid, while the pressure
from a pump will change. In terms of pressure the pump head (Pump) is difference between
system back pressure and the inlet pressure of the pump.
The maximum pump head of a centrifugal pump is mainly determined by the outside diameter
of the pump’s impeller and the shaft angular velocity – speed of the rotating shaft. The head
will also change as the volumetric flow rate through the pump is increased.
When a centrifugal pump is operating at a constant angular velocity, an increase in the system
head (back pressure) on the flowing stream causes a reduction in the volumetric flow rate that
the centrifugal pump can maintain.
The relationship between the pump head and the volumetric flow rate (Q), that a centrifugal
pump can maintain, is dependent on various physical characteristics of the pump as:
 the power supplied to the pump
 the angular velocity of shaft
 the type and diameter of the impeller
and the used fluid:

 fluid density
 fluid viscosity
 In this example, we will see how to predict
 the design discharge
 water horsepower
 the pump head
Of a centrifugal pump. This performance data will be derived from the Euler’s turbo
machine equation:
Shaft torque:                         Tshaft    =   ρQ(r2Vt2 – r1Vt1)
Water horsepower:             Pw       =     ω . Tshaft        =      ρQ(u2Vt2 – u1Vt1)
Pump head:                            H       =     Pw / ρgQ  =      (u2Vt2 – u1Vt1)/g

Given are the following data for a centrifugal water pump:

 diameters of the impeller at the inlet and outlet

  r1 = 10 cm
 r2 = 20 cm
 Speed = 1500 rpm (revolutions per minute)
 the blade angle at inlet β1 = 30°
 the blade angle at outlet β2 = 20°
 Assume that the blade widths at inlet and outlet are: b1 = b2 = 4 cm.
Solution:

First, we have to calculate the radial velocity of the flow at the outlet. From the velocity
diagram the radial velocity is equal to (we assume that the flow enters exactly normal to the
impeller, so tangential component of velocity is zero):
Vr1 = u1 tan 30° = ω r1 tan 30° = 2π x (1500/60) x 0.1 x tan 30° = 9.1 m/s
Radial component of flow velocity determines how much the volume flow rate is entering the
impeller. So when we know Vr1 at inlet, we can determine the discharge of this pump according
to following equation. Here b1 means the blade width of the impeller at inlet.
Q = 2π.r1.b1.Vr1 = 2π x 0.1 x 0.04 x 9.1 = 0.229 m3/s
In order to calculate the water horsepower (Pw) required, we have to determine the outlet
tangential flow velocity Vt2, because it has been assumed that the inlet tangential velocity Vt1 is
equal to zero.
The outlet radial flow velocity follows from conservation of Q:
Q = 2π.r2.b2.Vr2  ⇒ Vr2 = Q / 2π.r2.b2 = 0.229 / (2π x 0.2 x 0.04) =  4.56 m/s
From the figure (velocity triangle) outlet blade angle, β2, can be easily represented as follows.
cot β2 = (u2 – Vt2) / Vr2
and therefore the outlet tangential flow velocity Vt2 is:
Vt2 = u2 – Vr2 . cot 20° = ω r2 – Vr2 . cot 20° = 2π x 1500/60 x 0.2 – 4.56 x 2.75 = 31.4 – 12.5
= 18.9 m/s.
The water horsepower required is then:

Pw  = ρ Q u2 Vt2 = 1000 [kg/m3] x 0.229 [m3/s] x 31.4 [m/s] x 18.9 [m/s] = 135900 W = 135.6
kW
and the pump head is:

H ≈ Pw / (ρ g Q) = 135900 / (1000 x 9.81 x 0.229) = 60.5 m

Multi-Stage Centrifugal Pumps

A centrifugal pump with a single impeller that can develop a differential pressure of more
than 150 psid between the suction and the discharge is difficult and costly to design and
construct.
A more economical approach to developing high pressures with a single centrifugal pump is
to include multiple impellers on a common shaft within the same pump casing. Internal
channels in the pump casing route the discharge of one impeller to the suction of another
impeller.
The figure below shows a diagram of the arrangement of the impellers of a four-stage pump.
The water enters the pump from the top left and passes through each of the four impellers in
series, going from left to right. The water goes from the volute surrounding the discharge of
one impeller to the suction of the next impeller.

A pump stage is defined as that portion of a centrifugal pump consisting of one impeller and
its associated components. Most centrifugal pumps are single-stage pumps, containing only
one impeller. A pump containing seven impellers within a single casing would be referred to
as a seven-stage pump or, or generally, as a multi-stage pump.

Impeller Classification

Impellers of pumps are classified based on the number of points that the liquid can enter the
impeller and also on the amount of webbing between the impeller blades.
Impellers can be either single-suction or double-suction. A single-suction impeller allows
liquid to enter the center of the blades from only one direction. A double-suction impeller
allows liquid to enter the center of the impeller blades from both sides
simultaneously. The Figure below shows simplified diagrams of single and double-suction
impellers
Impellers can be open, semi-open, or enclosed. The open impeller consists only of blades
attached to a hub. The semi-open impeller is constructed with a circular plate (the web) attached
to one side of the blades. The enclosed impeller has circular plates attached to both sides of the
blades. Enclosed impellers are also referred to as shrouded impellers. Figure 5 illustrates
examples of open, semi-open, and enclosed impellers.
The impeller sometimes contains balancing holes that connect the space around the hub to the
suction side of the impeller. The balancing holes have a total cross-sectional area that is
considerably greater than the cross-sectional area of the annular space between the wearing ring
and the hub. The result is suction pressure on both sides of the impeller hub, which maintains a
hydraulic balance of axial thrust.
Diffuser

Some centrifugal pumps contain diffusers. A diffuser is a set of stationary vanes that
surround the impeller. The purpose of the diffuser is to increase the efficiency of the
centrifugal pump by allowing a more gradual expansion and less turbulent area for the
liquid to reduce in velocity. The diffuser vanes are designed in a manner that the liquid exiting
the impeller will encounter an ever-increasing flow area as it passes through the diffuser.
This increase in flow area causes a reduction in flow velocity, converting kinetic energy into
flow pressure.
Centrifugal Pump Classification by Flow

Centrifugal pumps can be classified based on the manner in which fluid flows through the pump.
The manner in which fluid flows through the pump is determined by the design of the pump
casing and the impeller. The three types of flow through a centrifugal pump are radial flow, axial
flow, and mixed flow.

Cavitation

The flow area at the eye of the pump impeller is usually smaller than either the flow area of the
pump suction piping or the flow area through the impeller vanes. When the liquid being pumped
enters the eye of a centrifugal pump, the decrease in flow area results in an increase in flow
velocity accompanied by a decrease in pressure. The greater the pump flow rate, the greater the

pressure drop between the pump suction and the eye of the impeller. If the pressure drop is
large enough, or if the temperature is high enough, the pressure drop may be sufficient to cause
the liquid to flash to vapor when the local pressure falls below the saturation pressure for the
fluid being pumped. Any vapor bubbles formed by the pressure drop at the eye of the impeller
are swept along the impeller vanes by the flow of the fluid. When the bubbles enter a region
where local pressure is greater than saturation pressure farther out the impeller vane, the vapor
bubbles abruptly collapse. This process of the formation and subsequent collapse of vapor
bubbles in a pump is called cavitation.

Cavitation in a centrifugal pump has a significant effect on pump performance. Cavitation

degrades the performance of a pump, resulting in a fluctuating flow rate and discharge pressure.

Cavitation can also be destructive to pumps internal components. When a pump cavitates, vapor
bubbles form in the low pressure region directly behind the rotating impeller vanes. These vapor
bubbles then move toward the oncoming impeller vane, where they collapse and cause a physical
shock to the leading edge of the impeller vane. This physical shock creates small pits on the
leading edge of the impeller vane. Each individual pit is microscopic in size, but the
cumulative effect of millions of these pits formed over a period of hours or days can literally
destroy a pump impeller. Cavitation can also cause excessive pump vibration, which could
damage pump bearings, wearing rings, and seals.

A small number of centrifugal pumps are designed to operate under conditions where cavitation
is unavoidable. These pumps must be specially designed and maintained to withstand the small
amount of cavitation that occurs during their operation. Most centrifugal pumps are not
designed to withstand sustained cavitation.

Noise is one of the indications that a centrifugal pump is cavitating. A cavitating pump can
sound like a can of marbles being shaken. Other indications that can be observed from a
remote operating station are fluctuating discharge pressure, flow rate, and pump motor current.
Methods to stop or prevent cavitation are presented in the following paragraphs.
Gas Binding

Gas binding of a centrifugal pump is a condition where the pump casing is filled with
gases or vapors to the point where the impeller is no longer able to contact enough
fluid to function correctly. The impeller spins in the gas bubble, but is unable to force
liquid through the pump. This can lead to cooling problems for the pump's packing and
bearings.

Centrifugal pumps are designed so that their pump casings are completely filled
with liquid during pump operation. Most centrifugal pumps can still operate when a
small amount of gas accumulates in the pump casing, but pumps in systems containing
dissolved gases that are not designed to be self-venting should be periodically vented
manually to ensure that gases do not build up in the pump casing.

Priming Centrifugal Pumps

Most centrifugal pumps are not self-priming. In other words, the pump casing must be
filled with liquid before the pump is started, or the pump will not be able to function.
If the pump casing becomes filled with vapors or gases, the pump impeller becomes
gas-bound and incapable of pumping. To ensure that a centrifugal pump remains
primed and does not become gas-bound, most centrifugal pumps are located below the
level of the source from which the pump is to take its suction. The same effect can
be gained by supplying liquid to the pump suction under pressure supplied by
another pump placed in the suction line.