On the Effect of Volute Design on Unsteady Flow and Impeller–Volute Interaction in a Centrifugal Pump

Author(s):  
Oliver Litfin ◽  
Antonio Delgado

The main objective of the presented work is to investigate the effect of volute design on the impeller–volute interaction. Therefore a low specific speed centrifugal pump impeller has been employed and three different volutes with circular cross-sections have been designed using the constant-velocity approach. Numerical simulations of the simplified pump model have been performed by means of ANSYS® CFX®, solving the 3D unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The three designs are compared in terms of hydraulic performance and also the flow patterns in the different volutes are examined in detail, including velocity, swirl and pressure distributions on different cross-sections along the volute as well as the charging of the volute. To show the impact of the volute on the impeller flow, also the pump impeller has been simulated without the volute and a thorough comparison of the time averaged results has been conducted. This has been done at the design flow rate as well as for overload and part load conditions. Also the unsteady flow inside a blade channel of the impeller during a revolution is investigated, revealing significant variations of its operating point, especially at off-design conditions. As a result of the performed studies it can be seen how the different volute designs interact with the impeller depending on the operation point and how this affects the hydraulic performance of the pump.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Nicolas La Roche-Carrier ◽  
Guyh Dituba Ngoma ◽  
Walid Ghie

This paper deals with the numerical investigation of a liquid flow in a first stage of a multistage centrifugal pump consisting of an impeller, diffuser with return vanes, and casing. The continuity and Navier-Stokes equations with the k-ε turbulence model and standard wall functions were used. To improve the design of the pump's first stage, the impacts of the impeller blade height and diffuser vane height, number of impeller blades, diffuser vanes and diffuser return vanes, and wall roughness height on the performances of the first stage of a multistage centrifugal pump were analyzed. The results achieved reveal that the selected parameters affect the pump head, brake horsepower, and efficiency in a strong yet different manner. To validate the model developed, the results of the numerical simulations were compared with the experimental results from the pump manufacturer.


2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rau´l Barrio ◽  
Jorge Parrondo ◽  
Eduardo Blanco ◽  
Joaqui´n Ferna´ndez

A numerical study is presented on the unsteady flow at the tongue region of a single suction volute-type centrifugal pump with a specific speed of 0.46. The flow through the pump, available at laboratory, was simulated by means of a commercial CFD software that solved the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations for three-dimensional unsteady flow (3D-URANS). A sensitivity analysis of the numerical model was carried out and the numerical predictions were compared with previous experimental results of both global and unsteady variables. Once validated, the model was used to study the flow pulsations associated to the interaction between the impeller blades and the volute tongue as a function of the flow rate, from partial load to overload. The study allowed relating the passage of the impeller blades with the tangential and radial velocity pulsations at some reference positions and with the pressure pulsations at the tongue region.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. V. Rathish Kumar ◽  
T. Yamaguchi ◽  
H. Liu ◽  
R. Himeno

Abstract Unsteady flow dynamics in a doubly constricted vessel is analyzed by using a time accurate Finite Volume solution of three dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Computational experiments are carried out for various values of Reynolds number in order to assess the criticality of multiple mild constrictions in series and also to bring out the subtle 3D features like vortex formation. Studies reveal that pressure drop across a series of mild constrictions can get physiologically critical. Further this pressure drop is found to be sensitive to the spacing between the constrictions and also to the oscillatory nature of the inflow profile.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Zinke ◽  
Nils Reidar Bøe Olsen ◽  
Jim Bogen ◽  
Nils Rüther

A 3D numerical model was used to compute the discharge distribution in the channel branches of Lake Øyeren's delta in Norway. The model solved the Navier–Stokes equations with the k–ɛ turbulence model on a 3D unstructured grid. The bathymetry dataset for the modelling had to be combined from different data sources. The results for three different flow situations in 1996 and 1997 showed a relative accuracy of the computed discharges within the range of 0 to±20% compared with field measurements taken by an ADCP at 13 cross sections of the distributary channels. The factors introducing the most error in the computed results are believed to be uncertainties concerning the bathymetry. A comparison between the computational results of the older morphology data from 1985–1990 and the model morphology from 1995–2004 indicated that morphological changes in this period had already had consequences for the flow distribution in some channels. Other important error sources were the inevitable use of averaged water level gradients because of unavailable water level measurements within the delta.


Author(s):  
Shen C. Lee ◽  
Daying Chen

A numerical method was developed to consider the two-dimensional flowfield between impeller blades of a given geometry. Solution of the laminar Navier-Stokes equations in geometry-oriented coordinates was obtained for stream functions and vorticities. Velocities and pressures were calculated to determine the output fluid-energy head. The circumferential components of the normal and shear stresses along the blade were evaluated to give the input mechanical-energy head. Performance predictions were obtained for different load conditions. Comparisons were made with the measured velocity vectors of the flowfield of an air-pump impeller and with the measured performance of a production water pump, good agreements were reached.


2020 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 100-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Boudin ◽  
Céline Grandmont ◽  
Bérénice Grec ◽  
Sébastien Martin ◽  
Amina Mecherbet ◽  
...  

In this paper, we propose a coupled fluid-kinetic model taking into account the radius growth of aerosol particles due to humidity in the respiratory system. We aim to numerically investigate the impact of hygroscopic effects on the particle behaviour. The air flow is described by the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, and the aerosol by a Vlasov-type equation involving the air humidity and temperature, both quantities satisfying a convection-diffusion equation with a source term. Conservations properties are checked and an explicit time-marching scheme is proposed. Twodimensional numerical simulations in a branched structure show the influence of the particle size variations on the aerosol dynamics.


Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agostino Lauria ◽  
Giancarlo Alfonsi ◽  
Ali Tafarojnoruz

Ski jump spillways are frequently implemented to dissipate energy from high-speed flows. The general feature of this structure is to transform the spillway flow into a free jet up to a location where the impact of the jet creates a plunge pool, representing an area for potential erosion phenomena. In the present investigation, several tests with different ski jump bucket angles are executed numerically by means of the OpenFOAM® digital library, taking advantage of the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) approach. The results are compared to those obtained experimentally by other authors as related to the jet length and shape, obtaining physical insights into the jet characteristics. Particular attention is given to the maximum pressure head at the tailwater. Simple equations are proposed to predict the maximum dynamic pressure head acting on the tailwater, as dependent upon the Froude number, and the maximum pressure head on the bucket. Results of this study provide useful suggestions for the design of ski jump spillways in dam construction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paran Pourteimouri ◽  
Kourosh Hejazi

An integrated two-dimensional vertical (2DV) model was developed to investigate wave interactions with permeable submerged breakwaters. The integrated model is capable of predicting the flow field in both surface water and porous media on the basis of the extended volume-averaged Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (VARANS). The impact of porous medium was considered by the inclusion of the additional terms of drag and inertia forces into conventional Navier–Stokes equations. Finite volume method (FVM) in an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation was adopted for discretization of the governing equations. Projection method was utilized to solve the unsteady incompressible extended Navier–Stokes equations. The time-dependent volume and surface porosities were calculated at each time step using the fraction of a grid open to water and the total porosity of porous medium. The numerical model was first verified against analytical solutions of small amplitude progressive Stokes wave and solitary wave propagation in the absence of a bottom-mounted barrier. Comparisons showed pleasing agreements between the numerical predictions and analytical solutions. The model was then further validated by comparing the numerical model results with the experimental measurements of wave propagation over a permeable submerged breakwater reported in the literature. Good agreements were obtained for the free surface elevations at various spatial and temporal scales, velocity fields around and inside the obstacle, as well as the velocity profiles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 903
Author(s):  
Sixtine Neuvéglise ◽  
Gaële Perret ◽  
Hassan Smaoui ◽  
François Marin ◽  
Philippe Sergent

This paper studies the behaviour of a quayside floater oscillating in front of a vertical dike. In order to study the floater motion and the impact of the dike on the floater, a linear analytical model based on 2D potential flow theory in intermediate water depth conditions and a numerical model resolving 2D Navier–Stokes equations are developed. Physical tests performed for different floater dimensions in a wave tank are used as references for the analytical and numerical models. The comparison of the results obtained analytically, numerically and experimentally leads to the validity domain of the potential model. A correction of this model is proposed, based on the optimization of the radiated coefficients, and a quadratic drag term is added according to Morison equation. The impact of the different parameters of the system on floater behaviour is considered. Results show that the draft has the most important impact on floater motion.


Author(s):  
K M Guleren ◽  
A Pinarbasi

The main goal of the present work is to analyse the numerical simulation of a centrifugal pump by solving Navier-Stokes equations, coupled with the ‘standard k-∊’ turbulence model. The pump consists of an impeller having five curved blades with nine diffuser vanes. The shaft rotates at 890r/min. Flow characteristics are assumed to be stalled in the appropriate region of flowrate levels of 1.31-2.861/s. Numerical analysis techniques are performed on a commercial FLUENT package program assuming steady, incompressible flow conditions with decreasing flowrate. Under stall conditions the flow in the diffuser passage alternates between outward jetting when the low-pass-filtered pressure is high to a reverse flow when the filtered pressure is low. Being below design conditions, there is a consistent high-speed leakage flow in the gap between the impeller and the diffuser from the exit side of the diffuser to the beginning of the volute. Separation of this leakage flow from the diffuser vane causes the onset of stall. As the flowrate decreases both the magnitude of the leakage within the vaneless part of the pump and reverse flow within a stalled diffuser passage increase. As this occurs, the stall-cell size extends from one to two diffuser passages. Comparisons are made with experimental data and show good agreement.


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