Turbine pumps typically have a high head
and high discharge pressure for their size and speed. It is not uncommon for turbine
pumps to produce heads over 1000 feet, at relatively low RPM compared with other
pumps. This high head from a single rotating impeller is caused by the unique
operation of the pump.
As fluid goes from intake to discharge (in just under
one revolution) it circulates around and around as shown in the lower (side view)
drawing. Each time it passes the turbine blades (shown in gray) it gains additional
pressure.
For relatively low flow rates this pump is often more efficient
than a comparably-sized centrifugal pump.
This pump is commonly used for clean
fluids of low viscosity because of the close tolerances needed between the blades
of the turbine and the casing,
(This is a still representation and possibly also a low-resolution
image of a pump which is fully animated in the CD-ROM version of this glossary.)
