What is the difference between centrifugal pump and self-priming pump

Category: Product Knowledge

Time: 2026-04-25

Summary: Startup requirements: Before starting a regular centrifugal pump, the pump casing and suction pipe must be filled with water

Working principle and start-up method

Startup requirements: Before starting a regular centrifugal pump, the pump casing and suction pipe must be filled with water, or a bottom valve must be installed to assist in pumping, otherwise it will not be able to suction water. After the first use of the self-priming pump, liquid remains in the pump body, and there is no need to fill it with water when restarted. It can automatically discharge air from the suction pipe.

Working principle: Centrifugal pumps use impeller rotation to generate centrifugal force and transport liquids; The self-priming pump adds a gas-liquid separation chamber and a liquid storage chamber on this basis, achieving self-priming by internally refluxing the mixed gas.

Structural performance and efficiency

Structural complexity: The self-priming pump has a relatively complex structure, a large volume, and includes special components such as reflux holes; Ordinary centrifugal pumps have a compact and simple structure.

Efficiency and cavitation: Under the same parameters, ordinary centrifugal pumps usually have higher efficiency and better cavitation performance; Self priming pumps have slightly lower efficiency due to internal reflux losses, but their resistance to cavitation is stronger under gas containing conditions.

Application scenario selection

Self priming pump: suitable for situations where the liquid level is unstable, frequent start stop, mobile operations are required, or bottom valves cannot be installed, such as agricultural irrigation and emergency drainage.

Ordinary centrifugal pump: suitable for continuous operation scenarios such as industrial cooling, urban water supply, etc. with sufficient water source, liquid level higher than the pump inlet or fixed pipeline system.

Keywords: What is the difference between centrifugal pump and self-priming pump

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