An Investigation of Cavitation and Suction Vortices Behavior in Pump Sump

A numerical and an experimental investigation on a suction vortices including cavitation, free vortices and subsurface vortices behavior in the model sump system with multi-intakes is performed at several flow rates and water levels. A test model sump and piping system were designed based on Froude similitude for the prototype of the recommended structure layout by HI-9.8 American National Standard for Pump Intake Design of the Hydraulic Institute. An experiment is performed according to the sump model test procedure of Hyosung Goodsprings, Inc. A numerical analysis of three dimensional multiphase flows through the model sump is performed by using the finite volume method of the CFX code with multi-block structured grid systems. A k-ω Shear Stress Transport turbulence model and the Rayleigh-Plesset cavitation model are used for solving turbulence cavitating flow. Several types of free surface and submerged vortex which occurs with each different water level are identified through the experimental investigation. From the numerical analysis, the vortices are reproduced and their formation, growing, shedding and detailed vortex structures are investigated. To reduce abnormal vortices, an anti-vortex device is considered and its effect is investigated and discussed.