What is the role of a wear ring in a centrifugal pump?

The role of a wear ring in a centrifugal pump is to help protect expensive pump parts and direct flow. Wear rings are precision-engineered components positioned between the pump impeller and the pump casing to minimize the clearance between these parts. This design helps to control the flow of fluid through the pump and reduces hydraulic losses, maintaining efficient performance.

Additionally, as the pump operates, wear rings absorb some of the wear that would otherwise affect the more costly components, such as the impeller and the casing. By absorbing this wear, wear rings extend the life of the pump and ensure consistent operation, which is crucial for maintaining efficiency and reducing operational downtime.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of wear rings. Energy consumption is influenced by various factors, but wear rings mainly serve to protect components and direct flow rather than directly reducing energy use. Filtering impurities and measuring flow rates are roles typically managed by other components such as filters and flow meters, rather than wear rings.