Performance characteristics of a centrifugal pump impeller with running tip clearance pumping solid-liquid mixtures

This paper presents extensive results on the performance of an unshrouded centrifugal pump impeller handling solid-liquid mixtures. The effect of the clearance between the impeller tip and the casing and of the solid concentration, density and mean diameter on the pump performance characteristics is investigated. The results are discussed and utilized, together with data available in the literature, to establish a correlation allowing the prediction of the head reduction factor for shrouded/unshrouded impeller centrifugal pumps handling solid-liquid mixtures. The predictions made with the proposed correlation show a better agreement with experimental results than previous ones.