This text is intended as an introduction to rotodynamic pump design. Any successful pump must satisfy the following objectives:

It must give specific pressure rise and flow rate within acceptable limits at an acceptable rotational speed, and take minimum power from its drive; it must give a stable characteristic over the operating range required and while meeting all performance criteria, the cavitation behaviour must be good. The pump must be as small as possible, the power absorbed must normally be non-overloading over the flow range and the noise and vibration must be within specified limits. The design must always be economical, give good quality assurance, and be easily maintained.

In addition to the objectives stated, special requirements also have an influence on design. For example, pumps handling solids must resist erosion and blockage of flow passages. In many fluid processes the pumps have to cope with the multiphase fluids and high gas content. Modern boiler feed pumps pose particular problems of shaft and drive design. This text introduces the reader to design approaches which can deal with these and other problems.

It has been assumed that the reader has a basic understanding of fluid mechanics, so the treatment commences with a statement of the fundamental Euler equation and its applications, and continues with a fairly comprehensive discussion of cavitation, its effects, and basic design data relevant to rotodynamic pumps. The text then describes the fundamental design principles and information available on centrifugal and axial/mixed flow machines.