Definition

1. Noun:
   • A rotating component with blades: An impeller is a rotor or rotating assembly of blades designed to force a fluid (such as air or water) to move in a desired direction, typically within a pump, compressor, or turbine.
   • A device that imparts motion: More broadly, it is a device that uses rotation to increase the pressure and flow of a fluid.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The pump's efficiency depends on the design of its impeller.
  • A damaged impeller can cause the jet engine to lose thrust.
  • The engineer inspected the impeller for signs of wear.

Advanced Usage

• "Closed impeller": An impeller with shrouds or sidewalls enclosing the blades, often used for handling clean fluids.
  • Centrifugal pumps for water supply frequently use a closed impeller design.
• "Open impeller": An impeller with blades that are open on the sides, suitable for fluids containing solids or slurries.
  • The wastewater pump was fitted with an open impeller to prevent clogging.

Variants and Related Words

• Impellent (adjective): Having the quality of impelling or driving forward.
  • The impellent force of the propeller pushed the boat ahead.
• Impulse (noun): A sudden force or drive. While related conceptually as a driving force, it is not a variant of "impeller."
• Rotor (noun): The rotating part of a machine. An impeller is a specific type of rotor designed for fluid movement.

Synonyms

• Rotor blade: Especially in the context of turbines or compressors.
• Propeller: A device for propelling a vehicle, especially in air or water. While similar, a propeller typically acts on the fluid outside a casing, whereas an impeller usually operates inside a housing.
• Vane: A broad blade attached to a rotating axis.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Impeller" is a technical noun and does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(Note: "Impeller" is a technical term and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions.)

Noun

1. the blade of a rotor (as in the compressor of a jet engine)