Class 4 (4th Engineer) MEKG 📅 Oct 2022

Exam Question

(a) Explain why centrifugal pumps cannot handle air or vapors to affect priming yet turbo-blowers operating on the same principle can (6)

(b) If a vessel is fully laden, how may it be ascertained that fire pump priming arrangements would operate satisfactorily in the ballast condition. (6)

Reference Answer

### (a) Centrifugal Pumps vs. Turbo-Blowers: Handling Air
The fundamental reason centrifugal pumps cannot handle air for priming while turbo-blowers can, despite operating on similar principles, lies in the vast difference in fluid density, operating speeds, and internal design clearances.
The pressure head (H) generated by a centrifugal machine is directly proportional to the density (ρ) of the fluid being handled and the square of the impeller's rotational speed (N).
1. **Fluid Density and Pressure Head**:

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