| Summary: | An impeller blade with a slot structure can affect the velocity distribution in the impeller flow passage of the centrifugal pump, thus affecting the pump’s performance. Various slot structure geometric parameter combinations were tested in this study to explore this relationship: slot position <i>p</i>, slot width <i>b</i><sub>1</sub>, slot deflection angle <i>β</i>, and slot depth <i>h</i> with (3–4) levels were selected for each factor on an L<sub>16</sub> orthogonal test table. The results show that <i>b</i><sub>1</sub> and <i>h</i> are the major factors influencing pump performance under low and rated flow conditions, while <i>p</i> is the major influencing factor under the large flow condition. The slot structure close to the front edge of the impeller blade can change the low-pressure region of the suction inlet of the impeller flow passage, thus improving the fluid velocity distribution in the impeller. Optimal slot parameter combinations according to the actual machining precision may include a small slot width <i>b</i><sub>1</sub>, slot depth <i>h</i> of ¼ <i>b</i>, slot deflection angle <i>β</i> of 45°–60°, and slot position <i>p</i> close to the front edge of the blade at 20–40%.
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