High Efficiency and Low Pressure Fluctuation Redesign of a Centrifugal Pump Based on Unsteady CFD Analyses

Author(s):  
Peng Yan ◽  
Peng Wu ◽  
Dazhuan Wu

In this study, a double volute centrifugal pump of relative low efficiency and high vibration was redesigned with the aid of unsteady CFD analyses. The local Euler head distribution (LEHD) representing the energy growth from the blade leading edge to trailing edge on s1 stream surface in a viscous flow field was introduced to evaluate the flow on s1 stream surfaces from hub to shroud. To investigate the unsteady internal flow of the centrifugal pump, the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (URANS) were solved with realizable k-ε turbulence model using the CFD code FLUENT. The impeller was redesigned with the same outlet diameter as prototype pump. A two-step-form LEHD was recommended to suppress flow separation and secondary flow encountered in the prototype impeller to improve the efficiency. The splitter was added to improve the hydraulic performance and reduce unsteady radial forces. The original double volute was substituted by a newly designed single volute. The hydraulic efficiency of the redesigned centrifugal pump is 89.2%, 3.2% higher than the prototype pump. The pressure fluctuation in volute is significantly reduced and the mean and max values of unsteady radial force are only 30% and 26.5% of the prototype pump.

Author(s):  
Yiyun Wang ◽  
Ji Pei ◽  
Shouqi Yuan ◽  
Wenjie Wang

Two-stage split case centrifugal pumps play an important role in large flow rate and high lift water transfer situations. To investigate the influence of baffles in between stages on the performance and internal flow characteristics, the unsteady simulations for the prototype pump were carried out by solving the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. The structured grids were generated for the whole flow passage. The calculated performance results were verified by the experimental measurements. The entropy production method based on numerical simulation was applied to analyze the distribution and mechanism of flow losses. The results show that the turbulence dissipation is the dominant flow loss, and the viscous dissipation can be neglected. The baffles can reduce the turbulence dissipation power obviously and can improve the hydraulic efficiency by maximum 5%, especially under QBEP and over-load conditions. The baffles have the greatest effect on the hydraulic losses in the double suction impeller., because they change the flow characteristics in the channels between the first stage impeller and the double suction impeller, affecting the inflow condition dramatically for the impeller. The study can give a reference to optimize the design of the two-stage split case centrifugal pump for high efficiency.


2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Yan ◽  
Ning Chu ◽  
Dazhuan Wu ◽  
Linlin Cao ◽  
Shuai Yang ◽  
...  

In this study, a double volute centrifugal pump with relative low efficiency and high vibration is redesigned to improve the efficiency and reduce the unsteady radial forces with the aid of unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The concept of entropy generation rate is applied to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of the loss generation in pumps and it is proved to be a useful technique for loss identification and subsequent redesign process. The local Euler head distribution (LEHD) can represent the energy growth from the blade leading edge (LE) to its trailing edge (TE) on constant span stream surface in a viscous flow field, and the LEHD is proposed to evaluate the flow field on constant span stream surfaces from hub to shroud. To investigate the unsteady internal flow of the centrifugal pump, the unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations (URANS) are solved with realizable k–ε turbulence model using the CFD code FLUENT. The impeller is redesigned with the same outlet diameter as the baseline pump. A two-step-form LEHD is recommended to suppress flow separation and secondary flow encountered in the baseline impeller in order to improve the efficiency. The splitter blades are added to improve the hydraulic performance and to reduce unsteady radial forces. The original double volute is substituted by a newly designed single volute one. The hydraulic efficiency of the centrifugal pump based on redesigned impeller with splitter blades and newly designed single volute is about 89.2%, a 3.2% higher than the baseline pump. The pressure fluctuation in the volute is significantly reduced, and the mean and maximum values of unsteady radial force are only 30% and 26.5% of the values for the baseline pump.


2013 ◽  
Vol 694-697 ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Yue Jun Ma ◽  
Ji Tao Zhao ◽  
Yu Min Yang

In the paper, on the basis of three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the RNG κ-ε turbulence model, adopting Three-dimensional unstructured grid and pressure connection the implicit correction SIMPLEC algorithm, and using MRF model which is supported by Fluent, this paper carries out numerical simulation of the internal flow of the centrifugal pump in different operation points. According to the results of numerical simulation, this paper analyzes the bad flow phenomena of the centrifugal pump, and puts forward suggests about configuration perfected of the centrifugal pump. In addition, this paper is also predicted the experimental value of the centrifugal pump performance, which is corresponding well with the measured value.


2011 ◽  
Vol 354-355 ◽  
pp. 615-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Wei Dong Shi ◽  
Ting Jiang ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Tong Tong Li

In order to research the effect of the blade wrap angle and outlet angle on the hydraulic performance of the low-specific speed sewage pump, the Reynolds time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations was discretized based on the finite volume method, and the modified k-ε turbulence model were chosen in FLUENT. Numerical simulation of the internal flow within the centrifugal pump with the specific speed of 60 at different blade wrap angle and outlet angle is carried out. The analysis of the velocity and the turbulent kinetic energy distribution in different cases, and predicts the external characteristics of the several cases based on the loss analysis method. The study results show that the efficiency of pumps increase with decreasing the outlet angle and increasing the wrapping angle at the design of sewage pumps. According to the analysis, changing the blade outlet Angle has much more influence on the performance of the pump than changing the wrap angle.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Cheah ◽  
T. S. Lee ◽  
S. H. Winoto ◽  
Z. M. Zhao

The current investigation is aimed to simulate the complex internal flow in a centrifugal pump impeller with six twisted blades by using a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code with a standardk-εtwo-equation turbulence model. Different flow rates were specified at inlet boundary to predict the characteristics of the pump. A detailed analysis of the results at design load,Qdesign, and off-design conditions, Q = 0.43Qdesignand Q = 1.45Qdesign, is presented. From the numerical simulation, it shows that the impeller passage flow at design point is quite smooth and follows the curvature of the blade. However, flow separation is observed at the leading edge due to nontangential inflow condition. The flow pattern changed significantly inside the volute as well, with double vortical flow structures formed at cutwater and slowly evolved into a single vortical structure at the volute diffuser. For the pressure distribution, the pressure increases gradually along streamwise direction in the impeller passages. When the centrifugal pump is operating under off-design flow rate condition, unsteady flow developed in the impeller passage and the volute casing.


2020 ◽  
pp. 2150062
Author(s):  
Yong Wang ◽  
Jie Chen ◽  
Lei Xie ◽  
Hou-Lin Liu ◽  
Kai-Kai Luo

The objective of this paper is to apply combined experimental and computational modeling to investigate the influence of different coating thickness on the operation characteristics of solid–liquid two-phase flow centrifugal pump. According to the characteristics of sediment flow in the Yellow River Basin, the effects of polyurethane coating thickness on the energy performance and pressure fluctuation are analyzed under the condition of solid–liquid two-phase flow and clean water. Meanwhile, the internal flow characteristics and radial force of the coated pump under the condition of solid–liquid two-phase flow are studied. The results show that the blade inlet and outlet of impeller are easy to wear, and the pressure fluctuation at the outlet of the model pump can be reduced by spraying proper coating thickness. The model pump with coating increases the low-speed zone of internal flow, which is mainly due to the increase of the viscous bottom layer area. The variation amplitude of radial force in sediment-laden water decreases with the increase of coating thickness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 168781402110499
Author(s):  
Xianfang Wu ◽  
Xuelei Sun ◽  
Minggao Tan ◽  
Houlin Liu

The operating characteristics of a centrifugal pump with broken impeller malfunction was studied by tests and numerical simulation. One blade was cut 1/4 as a broken impeller. The energy characteristics, vibration, internal flow, pressure fluctuation, and radial force of the pump were studied in detail. The test results show that as for the pump with broken impeller, the head decreased by 9.85% and efficiency decreased by 1.06% under 1.0 Q0. The vibration increase amplitudes at the outlet flange are the maximum. The APF (axial passing frequency) of all monitoring points increased significantly, and a new frequency – 5APF appeared, except for the inlet of the pump. It can be found that the low-speed region of blade fracture surface is more obvious than other blades through numerical simulation. The radial force of the broken impeller increased obviously and became more concentrated. Due to the broken blade, the peak-to-peak magnitude of pressure fluctuation at the tongue and pump outlet increased by 4.7% and 9.5% respectively. The research results provide some reference for the malfunction diagnosis of centrifugal pump.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjie Niu ◽  
Weimin Sang ◽  
Feng Zhou ◽  
Dong Li

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the anti-icing performance of the nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (NSDBD) plasma actuator. Design/methodology/approach With the Lagrangian approach and the Messinger model, two different ice shapes known as rime and glaze icing are predicted. The air heating in the boundary layer over a flat plate has been simulated using a phenomenological model of the NSDBD plasma. The NSDBD plasma actuators are planted in the leading edge anti-icing area of NACA0012 airfoil. Combining the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the phenomenological model, the flow field around the airfoil is simulated and the effects of the peak voltage, the pulse repetition frequency and the direction arrangement of the NSDBD on anti-icing performance are numerically investigated, respectively. Findings The agreement between the numerical results and the experimental data indicates that the present method is accurate. The results show that there is hot air covering the anti-icing area. The increase of the peak voltage and pulse frequency improves the anti-icing performance, and the direction arrangement of NSDBD also influences the anti-icing performance. Originality/value A numerical strategy is developed combining the icing algorithm with the phenomenological model. The effects of three parameters of NSDBD on anti-icing performance are discussed. The predicted results show that the anti-icing method is effective and may be helpful for the design of the anti-icing system of the unmanned aerial vehicle.


Author(s):  
Qian-qian Li ◽  
Da-zhuan Wu

Due to the distinctive characteristic of massive flow rates, double-suction centrifugal pump has been extensively applied in lots of perspectives, such as drainage, irrigation, transportation projects and other hydraulic engineering realms. Nevertheless, the significance of the pressure fluctuation inside the double-suction centrifugal pump, which is getting more and more prominent under the soaring demands for low noise and comfortable living environment, could not be underestimated. Consequently, how to reduce the pressure fluctuation as far as possible and enhance the running stability of the pump is always the research hotspot. In this study, the double-suction centrifugal impeller with abominable vibration performance is redesigned to improve the internal flow and reduce the flow-induced noise. What’s addition, the two redesigned impellers wearing splitter blades were compared in staggered arrangement with different angles for the purpose of ulteriorly decreasing the pressure fluctuation. On the basis of Realizable k-ε model and SIMPLEC algorithm, the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (URANS) were resolved by means of CFD simulation and the flow performance and the vibration performance were validated with the experiments. The results illustrate that the redesigned impeller with multi-blade could raise the hydraulic performance and reduce the pressure fluctuation inside the pump. When the impeller of each side was laid with the staggered angle of 12 degrees, the pressure distribution tended to be more uniform and the pressure fluctuation was well ameliorated. Through the pressure fluctuation analysis in time domain and frequency domain, the pressure change inside the pumps could be evaluated quantitatively and accurately, hence different pumps could be contrasted in detail. The consequences of this paper could provide reference for pressure fluctuation reduction and vibration performance reinforcement of double-suction centrifugal pumps as well as other vane pumps.


Author(s):  
Pingfan He ◽  
Dragos Licu ◽  
Martha Salcudean ◽  
Ian S. Gartshore

The effect of varying coolant density on film cooling effectiveness for a turbine blade-model was numerically investigated and compared with experimental data. This model had a semi-circular leading edge with four rows of laterally-inclined film cooling orifices positioned symmetrically about the stagnation line. A curvilinear coordinate-based CFD code was developed and used for the numerical investigation. The code used a domain segmentation strategy in conjunction with general curvilinear grids to model the complex blade configuration. A multigrid method was used to accelerate the convergence rate. The time-averaged, variable-density, Navier-Stokes equations together with the energy or scalar equation were solved. Turbulence closure was attained by the standard k–ε model with a near-wall k model. Either air or CO2 was used as coolant in three cases of injection through single rows and alternatively staggered double raws of holes. Two different blowing rates were investigated in each case and compared with experimental data. The experimental results were obtained using a wind tunnel model, and the mass/heat analogy was used to determine the film cooling effectiveness. The higher density of the carbon dioxide coolant (approximately 1.5 times the density of air) in the isothermal mass injection experiments, was used to simulate the effects of injection of a colder air in the corresponding adiabatic heat transfer situation. Good agreement between calculated and measured film cooling effectiveness was found for low blowing ratio M ≤ 0.5 and the effect of density was not significant. At higher blowing ratio M > 1 the calculations consistently overpredict the measured values of film cooling effectiveness.


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