A method of optimization design for the blade profile of a centrifugal impeller by controlling velocity distribution is presented, and a plenum fan is successfully designed. This method is based on the inner flow calculation inside the centrifugal impeller, and is related to the distribution of relative velocity. The results show that after optimization, the boundary layer separation on the suction surface has been inhibited and the stability of plenum fan is improved. The flow at the impeller outlet is also studied, and the jet-wake pattern at the impeller outlet is improved obviously by optimization. The calculation result shows that the static pressure and static pressure efficiency can be increased by 15.4% and 21.4% respectively.