Study on the influence of the blade inlet area-to-impeller inlet area ratio on hydraulic performance under various specific speed conditions

Abstract To investigate the unknown effects of the relationship between the impeller inlet area and blade design on the hydraulic performance of centrifugal pumps at various specific speeds within typical rotating fluid equipment, this paper aims to conduct experiments on three types of pumps with different specific speeds ( n s =155, n s =125, and n s =88). The study analyzes how the S 1 /S 0 ratio, which represents the blade inlet area to impeller inlet area ratio, affects the hydraulic performance of different centrifugal impellers. Furthermore, it explores the changing patterns of how the S 1 /S 0 ratio influences the pump’s head and efficiency. The results indicate a recommended range of S 1 /S 0 ratios for centrifugal pumps optimized for efficiency at different speeds. When considering the impact on cavitation performance, it is suggested that the S 1 /S 0 ratio should not exceed the upper limit of this recommended range.