Centrifugal pump and method of adjusting the distance of the wear plate from the impeller of a centrifugal pump

A centrifugal pump (1) for lifting clean water or water with suspended solids, comprising:

• a hollow body (2) defining a center axis (L), said hollow body (2) having a front opening (3) and a volute (4) with a radial delivery port (5);
• an impeller (8) accommodated in said hollow body (2) and designed to be coupled to a motor, said impeller (8) having blades (9) whose tips (10) are substantially coplanar at an annular peripheral area (11);
• a cover (12) for closing said front opening (3), said cover (12) comprising a flange (13) with a central portion (14) which has a substantially axial suction port (15), and a substantially radial peripheral portion (16);
• a substantially annular wear plate (19), integral with said flange (13) and located at a predetermined axial distance (d1) from said annular peripheral area (11) of said impeller (8);
• and
• an adjustment system (24) for controlled adjustment of said axial distance (d1) of said wear plate (19);
• wherein said adjustment system (24) is mounted onto said flange (13) and is accessible from outside, said adjustment system (24) being configured to both calibrate an axial position of said wear plate (19) and to lock in said calibrated axial position.