Several Common Adjustment Methods of

Centrifugal Pump Flowrate

1. Variable speed adjustment

Changing the speed of the centrifugal water pump can change the performance
of the water pump, thereby changing the working curve and point of the water
pump. This method is called variable speed adjustment.

2. Adjustable diameter

After the impeller is turned [ reduced], the performance of the centrifugal water
pump will change according to a certain rule, so that the operating point of the
water pump will change. We call the method of turning the impeller to change

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Several Common Adjustment Methods of
Centrifugal Pump Flowrate
the working condition of the pump, which is called the variable diameter
adjustment.

3. Variable blade angle adjustment

Changing the installation angle of the blades can change the performance of
the water pump, so as to achieve the purpose of changing the operating point
of the water pump. This way of changing the operating point is called variable
angle adjustment of the pump.

4. Throttle valve adjustment

For centrifugal water pump devices with gate or globe valves installed in the
outlet pipeline, if the gate valve is closed for a small amount of time, local
resistance is increased in the pipeline, and the pipeline characteristic curve
becomes steep, and its operating point moves to the upper left along the Q-H
curve of the pump. The smaller the gate valve is closed, the greater the
increased resistance and the smaller the flow rate. This method of changing the
operating point of the pump by closing the gate valve is called throttling
adjustment or variable valve adjustment.

When the gate valve is closed, the local head loss of the pipeline increases, the
characteristic curve of the pipeline system moves to the upper left, and the
pump operating point also moves to the upper left. The smaller the gate valve
is closed, the greater the local head loss and the smaller the flow rate. It can be
seen that throttling adjustment not only increases the local head loss, but also
reduces the water output, which is very uneconomical. However, due to its
simplicity and ease of use, it is widely used in small water pump installations
and water pump performance tests.

5. Valve adjustment

It is currently the most commonly used and most popular method of use. Install
a regulating valve on the water pump discharge pipeline, and adjust the flow
rate by changing the valve opening. The method is simple and reliable, but the
power loss is large, the economy is not good, and the effect of small flow or
small flow is not good.

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Several Common Adjustment Methods of
Centrifugal Pump Flowrate
6. Variable speed adjustment

By changing the speed of the pump impeller to adjust the flow rate, this method
has very little additional power loss and is the most economical method.
However, it is necessary to add a variable speed mechanism and a variable
speed motor. The initial investment cost is relatively high. The constant
pressure variable frequency water supply system and the central air
conditioning cooling water (frozen water) circulation system are two typical
examples of the application of variable frequency speed regulation in water
centrifugal pump regulation. The method of changing the speed is most suitable
for centrifugal pumps driven by steam turbines, internal combustion engines
and DC motors. Frequency conversion can also be used to change the motor
speed, and sometimes the speed can be adjusted by using a fluid coupling.

7. Bypass adjustment

Using bypass to adjust the flow rate can solve the problem of continuous
operation of the centrifugal pump at a small flow rate, but the additional loss
caused by the insufficient utilization of the split flow rate increases, and the
process pipeline also increases.

8. Cutting the outer diameter of the impeller

By cutting the outer diameter of the impeller to adjust the flow of the centrifugal
pump, the power loss is small, but the impeller cannot be recovered after
cutting, that is, the flow can only be adjusted in the direction of small flow.
Moreover, the cutting amount of the impeller is limited, and the flow rate
adjustment range is limited. It is suitable for occasions that need to work under
a small flow for a long time and the flow does not change much. For example:
ⅠS150-125-315A single-stage single-suction centrifugal pump and IS150-125-
315B centrifugal pump two types of centrifugal pumps are models obtained by
cutting the diameter of the impeller of the IS150-125-315 centrifugal pump.

9. Replace the impeller

Changing the impellers of different diameters to adjust the flow of the pump.
Power loss is small, but impellers of various diameters are required, and the
range of flow adjustment is limited.
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Several Common Adjustment Methods of
Centrifugal Pump Flowrate

10. Block several impeller flow passages

Blocking several impeller channels (even number vanes) reduces the flow of
the water pump. It is equivalent to throttling regulation, but it is more energy-
efficient than regulating valve throttling.

11. Adjust the exit angle of the blade

Adjusting the flow rate of centrifugal pumps by changing the outlet angle of the
impeller blades is mostly used in axial flow pumps.

12. Cavitation adjustment [ not normally recommended]

By changing the inlet pressure of the centrifugal pump (water level, suction
valve), cavitation occurs in the centrifugal pump, the characteristic curve of the
water pump is changed, and the method of changing the flow rate of the water
pump. Practice has proved that if the cavitation adjustment is used properly, the
damage to the flow parts of the centrifugal pump is not serious; on the other
hand, it can automatically adjust the flow rate and reduce the power
consumption of the pump. Cavitation adjustment methods are generally used
in the condensate pumps of small and medium thermal power plants.

13. Increase or decrease the number of operating centrifugal water pumps

Adjust the flow rate of centrifugal pumps by increasing or reducing the number
of centrifugal pumps in operation, supplemented by a suitable combination
method

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