Describe the working principle of a centrifugal pump.
A centrifugal pump works by converting rotational kinetic energy, generated by a motor, into energy that can be used to move fluid through a system.
When the motor spins the pump's impeller, the impeller's curved blades rotate rapidly, creating a vacuum at the center of the pump and pushing fluid through the pump's inlet. The fluid is then forced into the pump's volute casing, where the high-speed rotation of the impeller imparts energy to the fluid, causing it to move in a radial direction.
As the fluid moves through the pump, it gains velocity and pressure, which allows it to be pushed through the pump's outlet and into the system it is being used for. The rotation of the impeller also creates a centrifugal force that helps to propel the fluid out of the pump.
Overall, the working principle of a centrifugal pump relies on the transfer of kinetic energy from the motor to the impeller, which in turn transfers energy to the fluid and allows it to be moved through the system.