Impeller Plates

Impeller plates, also known as impeller blades, are a rotating part of a machine designed to move a fluid by rotation. They transfer energy from the unit or machine to the liquid. Impellers are usually short cylinders with an open inlet, called an eye, to take in the fluid, vanes or blades then push the liquid radially.

Impeller plates are separated into three categories- open, semi-open or enclosed and of those three categories there are two types, single suction or double suction. They are classified based on the number of points a liquid can enter the impeller plate. Open plates consist of only blades attached to a hub; semi-open impeller blades are constructed with a circular plate, also known as the web, attached to one single side of the impeller blade; an enclosed plate is comprised of circular plates attached to both sides of the blades. Enclosed impeller plates are also known sometimes as shrouded impellers because of how the are designed. Within these classifications, there are single or double suction types. A single suction product allows liquid in in one direction only, a double suction impeller plate allows liquid to enter at both sides, simultaneously.

Because they are used in products dealing with liquid, impeller plates are very common in products that we use on a daily basis. Water pumps, compressors, boat motors, mixers, garbage disposals and dishwashers all have impeller plates or blades as part of their machine.

In pumps, they are generally made of iron, steel, bronze, brass, aluminum or even plastic. In the other products, impeller plates can be made out of various products, depending on the use for those blades. Because they are used in so many everyday products, impeller blades can be made into a large assortment of sizes from very small to very large.