Centrifugal pumps are one of the most commonly used equipment in fluid transfer. Although there are many types, as long as you grasp several key dimensions, you can quickly determine which application a pump is suitable for. Based on five core standards—working pressure, impeller water intake method, pump casing joint form, pump shaft position, and impeller discharge method—this article helps you clarify the characteristics and typical application scenarios of different types of centrifugal pumps.
Pressure determines how far and high a pump can "push" fluid:
Simple in structure and stable in operation, they are often used in municipal water supply, agricultural irrigation, ordinary circulating water systems, etc.
Balancing flow rate and pressure, they have the widest range of applications. They are indispensable for industrial process pressurization, building fire protection, and boiler feed water. They are also commonly used in internal crude oil transfer in oilfields and oil tank farm transfer operations.
Mostly of multi-stage structure with high strength. Typical applications include high-pressure cleaning, reverse osmosis water treatment, and long-distance crude oil or refined oil pipeline transportation—they are one of the core equipment for petroleum transportation, often requiring continuous and stable maintenance of pressure up to tens of megapascals.
Affects flow capacity and operational stability:
Water enters from one side of the impeller. Compact in structure and low in cost, they are suitable for small and medium flow rate scenarios, such as household pressure boosting and small process pumps.
Water enters from both sides simultaneously, featuring large flow rate, automatic axial force balance, low vibration, and long service life. They are common in large power plants and sewage treatment plants; in large crude oil gathering stations or refinery main transfer pumps, double-suction structures are also often adopted to meet high flow rate requirements.
Relates to the convenience of maintenance:
The pump casing is split horizontally. The rotor can be pulled out by opening the upper cover without disassembling the pipelines and motor. Particularly suitable for large, multi-stage pumps, such as boiler feed water pumps, mine drainage pumps, and main oil transfer pumps—for these equipment, downtime losses are significant, so rapid maintenance is crucial.
More compact in structure and good in sealing performance, but the entire pump body needs to be disassembled for maintenance. Mostly used in small single-stage pumps, such as chemical process pumps and household pumps, they are more suitable for space-sensitive occasions or those with strict leakage requirements.
Determines the installation method and floor space:
The pump shaft is installed horizontally, featuring stable installation and convenient maintenance, and is the mainstream in industry. Most general scenarios, including ground oil transmission pipelines and refinery process pumps, prefer horizontal structures.
The pump shaft is installed vertically, occupying small floor space, and can be directly inserted into water tanks or wells. Suitable for space-constrained occasions, such as offshore platforms, deep well water extraction, or oil extraction from the bottom of certain storage tanks. However, they are rarely used in long-distance oil transmission main lines.
Relates to energy conversion efficiency and flow stability:
Convert kinetic energy into pressure energy through a gradually expanding volute. Simple in structure and high in efficiency, they are the first choice for most single-stage pumps, such as fire pumps and household pressure boosting pumps.
Fixed diffusers are installed behind the impeller, resulting in more stable water flow and less energy loss. Almost all multi-stage centrifugal pumps adopt a diffuser structure, especially in occasions requiring high pressure and high efficiency—for example, main transfer pumps for long-distance pipelines and high-pressure injection pumps in refineries are basically multi-stage diffuser pumps.
| Classification Standard | Pump Type | Core Parameters / Structural Features | Typical Application Scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Working Pressure | Low-Pressure Pump | Rated discharge pressure ≤1.0MPa, simple structure | Urban municipal water supply, agricultural irrigation, ordinary industrial circulating water, household tap water pressure boosting |
| Medium-Pressure Pump | Rated discharge pressure 1.0~10.0MPa, balances flow rate | Industrial process fluid pressurization, low-pressure boiler feed water, building fire protection water supply, central air conditioning water circulation | |
| High-Pressure Pump | Rated discharge pressure ≥10.0MPa, multi-stage impeller | High-pressure cleaning equipment, oil and gas field fracturing, reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment, high-pressure steam boiler feed water | |
| By Impeller Water Intake Method | Single-Suction Pump (Single-Side Intake) | Single-side intake, small volume, low cost | Household pressure boosting pumps, small industrial process pumps, ordinary water supply and drainage pumps, small laboratory fluid transfer pumps |
| Double-Suction Pump (Double-Side Intake) | Double-side intake, large flow rate, axial force balance | Large power plant circulating water pumps, large-flow lift pumps in urban sewage treatment plants, main pumps for large-area agricultural irrigation, port ballast pumps | |
| By Pump Casing Joint Form | Horizontally Split Casing Pump | Horizontal joint, maintenance without disassembling pipelines | Large multi-stage boiler feed water pumps, mine drainage pumps, industrial large-flow circulating water pumps, heavy-duty pumps requiring frequent maintenance |
| Vertically Jointed Casing Pump | Vertical joint, compact structure, good sealing | Small chemical process pumps, household pumps, precision equipment supporting pumps, small-flow pumps with strict sealing requirements | |
| By Pump Shaft Position | Horizontal Pump | Horizontal pump shaft, stable installation, convenient maintenance | Industrial general process pumps, main municipal water supply and drainage pumps, fixed agricultural irrigation pumping stations, workshop equipment supporting pumps |
The selection of centrifugal pumps never depends on a single parameter but requires comprehensive judgment. For example, an inter-provincial crude oil pipeline may require a combination of horizontal, multi-stage, diffuser, high-pressure, and double-suction (depending on flow rate); while a small unloading pump at a gas station may be a horizontal single-suction volute low-pressure pump.
Understanding these five classification dimensions can not only help you quickly identify the type of pump but also make more reasonable choices in practical engineering. Want to learn more practical content about centrifugal pump selection, oil transmission system configuration, or industrial fluid solutions? Welcome to visit www.teffiko.com, where we continuously share frontline engineering experience and technical insights.
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