What is the purpose of wear rings in a centrifugal pump?

Wear rings serve a crucial role in a centrifugal pump by preventing the wear and tear that can occur between the pump housing and the impeller during operation. As the impeller rotates, it creates a significant amount of fluid motion, and for this reason, wear rings are designed to minimize the gap between these components. This effectively reduces the migration of fluid leakage and maintains operational efficiency by ensuring that most of the fluid moves through the intended pathways.

Over time, without wear rings, the continual friction and movement can cause both the impeller and the casing to degrade, leading to reduced performance, increased maintenance needs, and potentially catastrophic failure of the pump. Therefore, wear rings are a vital component to preserve the integrity of essential pump parts, extend the life of the pump, and maintain optimum performance levels throughout its service life.