How does the capacity of a pump change when operated at a constant speed?

When analyzing how the capacity of a pump changes with the impeller diameter at a constant speed, it is important to understand the principles of pump operation. The capacity or flow rate of a pump is directly proportional to the area of the impeller, which essentially becomes larger as the diameter increases. This means that as you make the impeller diameter larger, you increase the flow area available for the fluid, which results in an increased flow rate provided that the pump is operating at a constant speed.

This direct relationship shows how changes in the impeller diameter can effectively increase or decrease the volume of fluid that the pump can move within a given time frame. Therefore, at constant speed, as the impeller diameter increases, the capacity of the pump also increases correspondingly, establishing a direct relationship between the two. Understanding this relationship is essential in pump selection and system design, allowing for proper calculations related to flow rates and system requirements.