Sensors for centrifugal pumps
                     IIoT 
Sensors for 
Centrifugal 
Pumps
Introduction
The IoT platform for IIoT integrated smart pumping 
solutions comprise of three significant parts:
• Sensors, including cables and junction boxes
• Data collection device
• Monitoring/analysis software
Why Sensors?
Sensors are an integral component of IIoT solutions. 
• The type of sensor you choose will help your 
technology partner customize the solution to your 
specific business needs. 
• Sensors allow monitoring to be done remotely without 
any physical inspection.
• Since Centrifugal pumps owing to the nature of their 
operation tend to experience variable flow they have a 
greater probability of damage due to overheating and 
dry running among other causes.
•  Due to this these pumps can face long periods of 
downtime. However, with real-time monitoring, it is 
possible to provide predictive maintenance to avoid 
sudden component failure and eventual downtime.
• Real-time monitoring is possible by attaching relevant 
sensors to hardware to pick data about vital 
parameters of pump operation.
Types of sensors that can be 
attached to centrifugal pumps:
• Temperature sensors: Dry running or low flow can result in 
rise of internal temperature of the centrifugal pump. 
Temperature sensors help detect heating in real time as 
well as analyze operational patterns that lead to increase in 
temperature. It helps to ensure optimal environment 
temperature 
• Pressure sensors: Pressure sensors sense pressure and 
convert it into an electric signal. Here, the amount depends 
upon the level of pressure applied. Since Centrifugal Pumps 
rely on liquid for creating flow pressure; these sensors can 
detect any deviation from standard pressure range.
Types of sensors that can be 
attached to centrifugal pumps:
• Water quality sensors: If the pump deals in 
pumping water such as in municipal water quality 
sensors will help to detect the water quality, 
chlorine residue, suspended solids, pH-level and 
Ion monitoring among other requirements. 
• Chemical sensors: Chemical sensors are ideal for 
centrifugal pumps used in Chemical Industry. Their 
goal is to indicate changes in liquid or air chemical 
changes. Highly corrosive chemicals can lead to 
pump leakages causing health hazard.
Further presence of corrosive articles can erode 
internal pump components and substantially 
reduce pump performance. 
Types of sensors that can be 
attached to centrifugal pumps:
• Gas sensors: Used to monitor changes of air quality and 
detect the presence of various gases. Used in 
centrifugal pumps to detect presence of toxic or 
combustible gas. Hazardous gas monitoring is done in 
pumps used for coal mines, Oil & Gas industries, 
chemical Laboratory research, Manufacturing – paints, 
plastics, rubber, pharmaceutical & petrochemical, etc.
• Smoke sensors: A smoke sensor is a device that senses 
smoke (airborne particulates & gases ) and it’s level. 
They are especially useful to indicate leakage of 
poisonous gases from pumps. They are a good follow up 
to temperature sensors or chemical and gas sensors.
• IR sensors: An infrared is used to sense certain 
characteristics of its surroundings by either emitting or 
detecting infrared radiation. It is also capable of 
measuring the heat being emitted by an object. They 
can be installed on pumps to gather data about task 
competitions.
Types of sensors that can be 
attached to centrifugal pumps:
• Level sensors: Used to determine the level or amount of 
fluids, liquids or other substances that flow in an open or 
closed system. They are primarily known for measuring fuel 
levels, but they are also used in pumps that work with 
liquid materials.
• Magnetic Sensors: A Magnetic sensor or Hall Effect sensor 
is a transducer which varies its output voltage in reaction to 
a magnetic field. In Centrifugal pumps they can be used to 
detect structural wear on impeller blades of centrifugal 
pumps.