<![CDATA[Centrifugal pump performance is strongly determined by impeller geometry, yet many small- and medium-scale water pumps such as the Aqua 401 unit operate below their optimum efficiency because impeller design parameters are rarely optimized systematically. This study analyzes the effect of impeller blade count and blade outlet angle on the efficiency and hydraulic performance of the Aqua 401 centrifugal pump using a factorial Design of Experiment (DOE) approach. Two factors were varied: blade count (3, 5, and 7 blades) and outlet angle (25° and 30°), producing six treatment combinations tested experimentally under real operating conditions. Flow rate, head, input power, and efficiency were measured directly, and the results were analyzed using two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by regression modeling. Both blade count and outlet angle significantly affected pump efficiency (p < 0.05), while their interaction was not significant. The five-blade impeller with a 30° outlet angle produced the highest efficiency of 74.8%, an improvement of about 21% over the least efficient configuration. The regression model achieved a coefficient of determination of 0.923, indicating strong predictive accuracy. These findings provide a data-driven, empirically validated basis for optimizing impeller geometry in small-scale centrifugal pumps and support more energy-efficient pump operation.]]>
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