Pump Affinity Laws

Pump Affinity Laws

The Pump Affinity laws predict the affects of changing the speed of a

centrifugal or rotary pump on flow rate, head and power. Being able to

predict these affects allows the rotating equipment engineer to

examine the effects before implementing the changes.

The laws can be summarised as follows

Flow rate is directly proportional to pump impeller speed, e.g.

where F = flow rate, and rpm =

F1 / F2 = rpm1 / rpm2
impeller speed

The ratio of Heads is directly proportional to the square of the ratio of

pump impeller speeds, e.g.

where H = Head, and rpm =

H1 / H2 = (rpm1 / rpm2)2
impeller speed

The ratio of Pump powers is directly proportional to the cube of the

ratio of pump impeller speeds, e.g.

where P = Power, and rpm =

P1 / P2 = (rpm1 / rpm2)3
impeller spd

Changing Pump Impeller Diameter

Experience also shows, that within limits, reducing the diameter of a

centrifugal pump impeller has similar effect to the above, i.e.

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Pump Affinity Laws

Flow rate is directly proportional to pump impeller diameter, e.g.

where F = flow rate, and D = impeller

F1 / F2 = D1 / D2
Diameter

The ratio of Heads is directly proportional to the square of the ratio of

pump impeller diameters e.g.

where H = Head, and D = impeller

H1 / H2 = (D1 / D2)2
Diameter

The ratio of Pump powers is directly proportional to the cube of the

ratio of pump impeller diameters

where P = Power, and D = impeller

P1 / P2 = (D1 / D2)3
Diameter

These relationships for impeller diameter are approximately correct for

impeller diameters down to 90% of the original size, since the pump

casing stays constant and does not reduce in line with the impeller.

Rules of Thumb
The following rules of thumb have also been observed as a result of

changing impeller diameters;

The net positive suction head required by the pump manufacturer is

directly proportional to pump impeller diameter, e.g.

where NPSH=Net Positive

NPSH1 / NPSH2 = D1 / D2 Suction Head,
and D = impeller Diameter

The amount of shaft run out (deflection) is directly proportional to

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Pump Affinity Laws

pump impeller diameter, e.g.

where d = deflection, and D =

d1 / d2 = D1 / D2
impeller Diameter

The ratio of Piping friction loss is proportional to 90% of the square of

the ratio of pump impeller diameters

where FL = Friction Loss,

FL1 / FL2 = 0.9x(D1 / D2)2
and D = impeller Diameter

The ratio of Wear Rate of the components varies in proportional to the

cube of the ratio of pump impeller diameters, e.g.

where WR = Wear Rate,

WR1 / WR2 = (D1 / D2)3
and D = impeller Diameter

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