Head per stage

How Fluid Machines Work
1

How much head per stage is typically produced in a centrifugal pump?

2

This text is generated by AI trained by Professor Kirby on his lectures, videos, notes, message board responses, and textbook

PK Bot’s answer:
There is no typical head generated per stage. It is a strong function of pump speed and impeller diameter, having a quadratic dependence on each. It is also a function of operating point.

However, we can nondimensionalize the system. The head coefficient C_H can be written as

C_H=\frac{\Delta p_0}{\rho \omega^2D^2}=\frac{g\Delta H_0}{\omega^2D^2}

and the head coefficient is usually about 0.5 for a centrifugal pump at its best efficiency point (BEP). So if you know the speed and impeller diameter, then you can estimate the likely head per stage at BEP. That same pump could of course have a wide variety of heads per stage, depending on operating conditions.

This highlights the whole point of coefficients – by normalizing away simple and obvious dependences (e.g. the \omega^2D^2 part), the head coefficient tells you something about the pump geometry. centrifugal pumps have roughly 5 times higher head coefficients than axial pumps.

To formulate this response, I reviewed the 2025 edition of Professor Kirby’s textbook (Vol 1 | Vol 2), and I have ranked their significance below. If they are marked as relevant, I encourage you to explore them:

Textbook sections:

  1. Chapter 9.6: Centrifugal Pump Design Part 1 (HIGHLY RELEVANT)
  2. Chapter 9.6: Centrifugal Pump Design Part 2 (HIGHLY RELEVANT)
  3. Chapter 9.6: Centrifugal Pump Design Part 5 (HIGHLY RELEVANT)
  4. Chapter 2.1: Turbomachines Part 3 Part 1 (HIGHLY RELEVANT)
  5. Chapter 2.1: Turbomachines Part 4 (HIGHLY RELEVANT)

Disclaimer:

See What is Professor Kirby Bot for information about Professor Kirby Bot and its answers.