A typical centrifugal pump set up is comprised of one or more impellers attached to a rotary pump shaft. This arrangement provides the energy required to conduct fluid through the pump system and the associated piping.

The impellers turning in sync with the pump shaft converts dynamic mechanical energy from the pump motor into the energy of moving fluids. While most of the energy derived from the motor will be converted to kinetic energy in the pumped fluids, a portion will be channeled as potential energy in fluid pressure calculated against gravity.