What Is a Vertical Turbine Pump?

Vertical turbine pump 

A specialized centrifugal pump is designed to move water from a reservoir or well that is deep underground. Also known as a lineshaft turbine pump or a deep well turbine pump, it is one of two main types of turbine pumps. 

There are two types of turbine pumps; submersible turbine pumps and vertical turbine pump. While, vertical turbine pumps have the motor located above ground, connected via a long vertical shaft to impellers at the bottom of the pump, submersible pumps have the electric motor that are located underwater at the bottom of the pump. The term turbine in the pump name is somewhat of a misnomer, as this pump has nothing to do with a turbine.

How do they work?

A diesel engine or an AC electric induction usually drives the pump motor through a right angle drive. The pump end consists of at least one rotating impeller that is attached to a shaft and steers the well water into a diffuser casing that is known as a bowl.

Multiple impellers are used for multi-stage configurations on the same shaft to create higher pressure that would be needed for higher required pressure or deeper wells at ground level.

Vertical turbine pumps function through a bell-shaped part (which is known as the suction bell) when water enters the pump from the bottom. That's the first stage from where it moves into the impeller due to which the velocity of water is raised. Immediately, the water then enters the diffuser bowl that is above the impeller, where this high-velocity energy is transformed into high pressure. The bowl also runs the fluid into the next impeller located above the bowl, and this process continues through every stage of the pump.

Once the water starts leaving the last bowl of the diffuser, it starts driving through a long vertical pipe as it arises from the wellbore toward the exterior. Three- or five-foot intervals with sleeve bushings support the spinning shaft inside this column, which is lubricated by the water moving past them and mounted inside the column. The pump discharge head, which is at the surface, allows the flow to change direction towards the discharge pipe. A vertical high thrust A.C. motor is mounted above the released head. 

Also Read: A Helpful Guide to Understanding Vertical Turbine Pumps

Where are they used?

Vertical turbine pumps are primarily used wherever the use of the submersible pumps is not possible, because the flow is on the high range of turbines, or because the owner prefers a normal motor mounted at the top of the pump.

They are frequently used in wells that are bored to provide turf irrigation, agricultural, or to provide water supply for municipalities that are dependent on groundwater rather than surface water. They are also used to provide firewater or plant make-up water for industrial plants.

Flowmore Pump is one of the best vertical turbine pumps suppliers in India.