Abstract
In order to control and balance axial thrust of turbo machine, many types of balancing devices are used but most of them are complicated and sometimes cause troubles. In this study, a very simple device of using shallow grooves mounted on a casing wall, known as "J-Groove", is proposed and studied experimentally and theoretically. The result shows that 70% of axial thrust in an industrial 4-stage centrifugal pump can be reduced at the best efficiency point. Moreover, the analytical method of "interfered gap flow" is established and a simple formula which can determine the optimum dimension of groove and its location is proposed.