Aquaculture equipment pumps that are centrifugal are horizontally installed.  These are less expensive pumps, but require priming.  Turbine pumps are vertical diffusers and are more expensive than their centrifugal counterparts.  They have more benefits because of the higher price, including the fact that you can position the pump below the surface of the water.  Many people choose this kind of pump when they are working in a condition with a deep well or when whatever the surface source is does not sensibly allow for the position of a horizontal volute pump, like a centrifuge.  Also, turbine pumps eliminate the need for priming.

Aquaculture equipment pumps have different flows of water through the pump itself.  Centrifugal pumps are radial flow pumps.  This means the water moves though the pump perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the propeller.  Axial flow is when the water moves parallel to the axis of rotation of the propeller.  Turbine pumps have water pumping at angels that are between the perpendicular flows of radial flow and the parallel flows of axial flow.  This makes for a very efficient pump.  Every operating water supply system, no matter the kind of pump being used, has water flowing through pipes.  The head under which the system is operating is known as “dynamic.”  A dynamic head is made up of several heads, known as the pressure head, elevation head, friction head and velocity head.  These heads are along different points of the piping and help the system function smoothly.

Aquaculture equipment pump performance levels are calculated by volume of water per time elapsed.  The heads along the piping move water into the actual pump and prevent cavitation, which is when vapor fills the cavities within the pump, making it sound like rocks are within the system.  As you decide which kind of pump is for you, take a look at Keeton Aqua’s pump section, which can give you many more details.