scholarly journals Investigation on centrifugal pump performance degradation under air-water inlet two-phase flow conditions

2018 ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaorui Si ◽  
Qianglei Cui ◽  
Keyu Zhang ◽  
Jianping Yuan ◽  
Gérard Bois
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Pulsation ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Performance Degradation ◽  
Inlet Pressure ◽  
Pulsation Frequency ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pump Performance

In order to study the flow characteristics of centrifugal pumps when transporting the gas-liquid mixture, water and air were chosen as the working medium. Both numerical simulation and experimental tests were conducted on a centrifugal pump under different conditions of inlet air volume fraction (IAVF). The calculation used URANS k-epsilon turbulence model combined with the Euler-Euler inhomogeneous two-phase model. The air distribution and velocity streamline inside the impeller were obtained to discuss the flow characteristics of the pump. The results show that air concentration is high at the inlet pressure side of the blade, where the vortex will exist, indicating that the gas concentration have a great relationship with the vortex aggregation in the impeller passages. In the experimental works, pump performances were measured at different IAVF and compared with numerical results. Contributions to the centrifugal pump performance degradations were analyzed under different air-water inlet flow condition such as IAVF, bubble size, inlet pressure. Results show that pump performance degradation is more pronounced for low flow rates compared to high flow rates. Finally, pressure pulsation and vibration experiments of the pump model under different IAVF were also conducted. Inlet and outlet transient pressure signals under four IAVF were investigated and pressure pulsation frequency of the monitors is near the blade passing frequency at different IAVF, and when IAVF increased, the lower frequency signal is more and more obvious. Vibration signals at five measuring points were also obtained under different IAVF for various flow rates.

An Experimental Study on the Gas Entrainment in Horizontally and Vertically Installed Centrifugal Pumps

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Neumann ◽  
Thomas Schäfer ◽  
André Bieberle ◽  
Uwe Hampel
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Gas Entrainment

In this work, we have studied how gas accumulates in an industrial centrifugal pump under various steady-state two-phase flow conditions. Thereby, we considered both horizontal and vertical pump installation positions. Phase fractions within the impeller region of the pump have been quantitatively disclosed using high-resolution gamma-ray computed tomography (HireCT) and applying time-averaged rotation-synchronized CT scanning technique. The study was made for inlet volumetric gas flow rates between 0% and 5%. To account for different inlet flow conditions, which are assumed to occur during unwanted gas entrainment by hollow vortices, we produced disperse and swirling gas–liquid inlet flows. In this way, the influence of inlet flow boundary conditions on the pump performance as well as gas fraction distributions and gas holdup within the impeller wheel region could be successfully analyzed and compared with respect to the impeller alignment. It was shown that the installation position offers only a minor effect on the pump performance in comparison to the inlet flow conditions. In addition, for the first time, thin gas films at the pressure side of the impeller wheel blades could be visualized in an industrial centrifugal pump.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigations on the Inner Flow Behavior of Centrifugal Pumps under Inlet Air-Water Two-Phase Conditions

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 4377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Bois ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Performance Degradation ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Impeller Blade ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Starting Point

Centrifugal pumps are widely used and are known to be sensitive to inlet air-water two-phase flow conditions. The pump performance degradation mainly depends on the changes in the two-phase flow behavior inside the pump. In the present paper, experimental overall pump performance tests were performed for two different rotational speeds and several inlet air void fractions (αi) up to pump shut-off condition. Visualizations were also performed on the flow patterns of a whole impeller passage and the volute tongue area to physically understand pump performance degradation. The results showed that liquid flow modification does not follow head modification as described by affinity laws, which are only valid for homogeneous bubbly flow regimes. Three-dimensional effects were more pronounced when inlet void fraction increased up to 3%. Bubbly flow with low mean velocities were observed close to the volute tongue for all αi, and returned back to the impeller blade passages. The starting point of pump break down was related to a strong inward reverse flow that occurred in the vicinity of the shroud gap between the impeller and volute tongue area.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study on Centrifugal Pump Designs and Two-Phase Flow Characteristic under Inlet Gas Entrainment Conditions

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaorui Si ◽  
Gérard Bois ◽  
Minquan Liao ◽  
Haoyang Zhang ◽  
Qianglei Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Pulsation ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Water Mixture ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Void Fractions

Capability for handling entrained gas is an important design consideration for centrifugal pumps used in petroleum, chemistry, nuclear applications. An experimental evaluation on their two phase performance is presented for two centrifugal pumps working under air-water mixture fluid conditions. The geometries of the two pumps are designed for the same flow rate and shut off head coefficient with the same impeller rotational speed. Overal pump performance and unsteady pressure pulsation information are obtained at different rotational speeds combined with various inlet air void fractions (α0) up to pump stop condition. As seen from the test results, pump 2 is able to deliver up to 10% two-phase mixtures before pump shut-off, whereas pump 1 is limited to 8%. In order to understand the physics of this flow phenomenon, a full three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (3D-URANS) calculation using the Euler–Euler inhomogeneous method are carried out to study the two phase flow characteristics of the model pump after corresponding experimental verification. The internal flow characteristics inside the impeller and volute are physically described using the obtained air distribution, velocity streamline, vortex pattern and pressure pulsation results under different flow rates and inlet void fractions. Pump performances would deteriorate during pumping two-phase mixture fluid compared with single flow conditions due to the phase separating effect. Some physical explanation about performance improvements on handing maximum acceptable inlet two phase void fractions capability of centrifugal pumps are given.

scholarly journals Performance Optimization of Centrifugal Pump for Crude Oil Delivery

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A.I. Bellary ◽  
Afzal Hussain ◽  
Abdus Samad ◽  
R.A. Kanai
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Performance Optimization ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Vortical Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Pump Performance

Crude oil transport is an essential task in oil and gas industries, where centrifugal pumps are extensively used. The design of a centrifugal pump involves a number of independent parameters which affect the pump performance. Altering some of the parameters within a realistic range improves pump performance and saves a significant amount of energy. The present research investigated the pump characteristics by modifying the number of blades and the exit blade-angles. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations with standard k-ε two-equation turbulence closure were used for steady and incompressible flow of crude oil through the pump. The experimental set-up was installed and the pump performance calculated numerically  was compared with the experiments.   The investigations showed that the number of blades and the exit blade-angles have a significant influence on the head, shaft power, and efficiency. The vortical flow structures, recirculation and reverse flow characteristics around the impeller were investigated to explain the flow dynamics of impeller and casing. A larger number of blades on the rotor showed dominant streamlined flow without any wake phenomena. The combined effect of the number of blades and exit blade angle has led to an increase in head and efficiency through the parametric optimization.

Enhancing the Performance of Centrifugal Pump by Adding Cylindrical Disks at Inlet Suction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Sadik ◽  
Badih Jawad ◽  
Munther Y. Hermez ◽  
Liping Liu
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Pump Efficiency ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Suction Performance

Abstract Optimizing the high efficiency design of centrifugal pumps requires a detailed understanding of the internal flow. The prediction of the flow inside the pump can be acquired by understanding the rotatory motion and the three-dimensional shape of the impellers, as well as its fundamental unsteady behavior. The flow inside a centrifugal pump is three-dimensional, unsettled and always associated with secondary flow structures. When a centrifugal pump operates under low flow rates, a secondary flow, known as recirculation, starts to begin. Inside this, the separation of flow increases, which creates vortices and cause local pressure to decrease, which induces cavitation. This phenomenon of recirculation will increase the Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHR). Improving the suction performance continues to remain a vital and continuous topic in the development and application of centrifugal pumps. In this research, the focal point is to enhance the pump suction performance under low flow rates by modifying the impeller design. This research entails a numerical simulation investigation on the addition of three different designs, each consisting of two cylindrical disks at the impeller inlet suction. It is hypothesized that these modifications will assist suppressing the recirculation phenomenon. The turbulent flow within the centrifugal pump was analyzed by applying the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the k–ϵ equations for turbulence modelling. The computational domain consists of the inlet, impeller, diffuser and outlet. Analysis of ΔP, torque data and pump efficiency was conducted. The application of CFD solvers to predict pump performance resulted in reduced prices for testing as well as pump development time. The numerical simulation concluded that placing 3-D multi-cylindrical disks at the impeller inlet section improved the centrifugal pump performance under low flow rates. The model design 1 resulted in a pump efficiency improvement of about 5% at low flow rates by lowering the amount of flow leaking back (re-circulation) through the internal suction.

scholarly journals Unsteady Flow and Pressure Pulsation Characteristics Analysis of Rotating Stall in Centrifugal Pumps Under Off-Design Conditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoran Zhao ◽  
Yexiang Xiao ◽  
Zhengwei Wang ◽  
Yongyao Luo ◽  
Lei Cao
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Pulsation ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Pressure Pulsations ◽  
Stall Cells ◽  
The Impact

Unsteady flow phenomena like rotating stall frequently occur in centrifugal pumps under off-design conditions. Rotating stall could lead to flow instabilities and pressure pulsation, which affect the normal operation of pumps. The mechanism of rotating stall has not been sufficiently understood in previous researches. In this study, the impact of rotating stall in the impeller on centrifugal pump stability and pressure pulsation is numerically investigated. This paper aims to detect the unsteady flow characteristics inside the centrifugal pump by computational fluid dynamics technology, to analyze pressure pulsations caused by rotating stall and to explore the propagation mechanism of rotating stall. Unsteady numerical simulations are performed by ANSYS 16.0 to model the unsteady flow within the entire flow passage of a centrifugal pump under 0.4QBEP and 0.6QBEP working conditions. Through flow characteristics research, the generation and propagation of rotating stall are discovered. Flow separation appears near the leading edge of the pressure side and transforms into vortices, which move along the passage. Meanwhile, the stall cells rotate circumferentially in the impeller. Additionally, frequencies and amplitudes of pressure pulsations related to rotating stall are investigated by spectrum analysis. The results detect a possible characteristic frequency of rotating stall and show that the interaction between stall cells and the volute tongue could have an influence on rotor–stator interaction (RSI).

scholarly journals Numerical Study of the Performance Loss of A Centrifugal Pump Carrying Emulsion

2021 ◽  
Vol 321 ◽  
pp. 01010
Author(s):  
Lila Achour ◽  
Mathieu Specklin ◽  
Idir Belaidi ◽  
Smaine Kouidri
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Performance Degradation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Performance Loss ◽  
Cfd Models ◽  
Phase Liquid

The performance and hydrodynamic behavior of centrifugal pumps when handling two-phase liquid-liquid flow and emulsion remain relatively unexplored, although they are of fundamental importance in optimizing the operating conditions of these pumps. Hence, this study aims at investigating the performance degradation of a centrifugal pump under emulsion flow by combined means of analytical and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models. The analytical approach is based on internal energy loss equations while the CFD approach models the emulsion as a continuous and homogeneous single-phase fluid exhibiting shear thinning behavior. The results give a good insight into the performance degradation of such a system, especially at the best efficiency point (BEP).

Pump Performance Improvement by Restraining Back Flow in Screw-Type Centrifugal Pump

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasushi Tatebayashi ◽  
Kazuhiro Tanaka ◽  
Toshio Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Back Flow ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Impeller Outlet ◽  
Pump Head ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Set Up

The authors have been investigating the various characteristics of screw-type centrifugal pumps, such as pressure fluctuations in impellers, flow patterns in volute casings, and pump performance in air-water two-phase flow conditions. During these investigations, numerical results of our investigations made it clear that three back flow regions existed in this type of pump. Among these, the back flow from the volute casing toward the impeller outlet was the most influential on the pump performance. Thus the most important factor to achieve higher pump performance was to reduce the influence of this back flow. One simple method was proposed to obtain the restraint of back flow and so as to improve the pump performance. This method was to set up a ringlike wall at the suction cover casing between the impeller outlet and the volute casing. Its effects on the flow pattern and the pump performance have been discussed and clarified to compare the calculated results with experimental results done under two conditions, namely, one with and one without this ring-type wall. The influence of wall’s height on the pump head was investigated by numerical simulations. In addition, the difference due to the wall’s effect was clarified to compare its effects on two kinds of volute casing. From the results obtained it can be said that restraining the back flow of such pumps was very important to achieve higher pump performance. Furthermore, another method was suggested to restrain back flow effectively. This method was to attach a wall at the trailing edge of impeller. This method was very useful for avoiding the congestion of solids because this wall was smaller than that used in the first method. The influence of these factors on the pump performance was also discussed by comparing simulated calculations with actual experiments.

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