3D Quasi-Unsteady Flow Simulation in a Centrifugal Pump: Comparison With the Experimental Results

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Asuaje ◽  
Farid Bakir ◽  
Andres Tremante ◽  
Ricardo Noguera ◽  
Robert Rey
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Radial Thrust ◽  
Unsteady Flow Simulation

A 3D-CFD simulation of the impeller and volute casing of a centrifugal pump has been performed using commercial codes CFX 5.5 and CFX-TASCflow 2.12. The pump has an specific speed of 32 (metric units) and an outside impeller diameter of 400 mm. First, a 3D-flow simulation for the isolated impeller with a structured grid is presented. A sensitivity analysis regarding grid quality and turbulence models were also performed. A 3D quasi-unsteady flow simulation of the impeller-volute assembly is presented, as well. This flow simulation was carried out for several impeller blades and volute tongue relative positions. As a result, the radial thrust on the pump shaft were calculated for different flow rates. Experimental test were carried out in order to compare theoretical pressure fluctuations with the experimental ones measured by various unsteady pressure sensors placed on the impeller shroud and volute. The qualitative and quantitative results ratify numerical predictions.

scholarly journals Numerical Modelization of the Flow in Centrifugal Pump: Volute Influence in Velocity and Pressure Fields

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Asuaje ◽  
Farid Bakir ◽  
Smaïne Kouidri ◽  
Frank Kenyery ◽  
Robert Rey
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
3D Flow ◽  
Structured Grid ◽  
Pressure Fields ◽  
Pump Shaft ◽  
Radial Thrust

A 3D-CFD simulation of the impeller and volute of a centrifugal pump has been performed using CFX codes. The pump has a specific speed of 32 (metric units) and an outside impeller diameter of 400 mm. First, a 3D flow simulation for the impeller with a structured grid is presented. A sensitivity analysis regarding grid quality and turbulence models were also performed. The final impeller model obtained was used for a 3D quasi-unsteady flow simulation of the impeller-volute stage. A procedure for designing the volute, the nonstructured grid generation in the volute, and the interface flow passage between the impeller and volute are discussed. This flow simulation was carried out for several impeller blades and volute tongue relative positions. As a result, velocity and pressure field were calculated for different flow rates, allowing to obtain the radial thrust on the pump shaft.

scholarly journals Influence of Splitter Blades on the Flow Field of a Centrifugal Pump: Test-Analysis Comparison

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kergourlay ◽  
M. Younsi ◽  
F. Bakir ◽  
R. Rey
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Rotating Speed ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Radial Thrust

This work aims at studying the influence of adding splitter blades on the performance of a hydraulic centrifugal pump. The studied machine is an ENSIVAL-MORET MP 250.200.400 pump (diameter=408 mm, 5 blades, specific speed=32), whose impeller is designed with and without splitter blades. Velocity and pressure fields are computed using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) approach at different flow rates. The sliding mesh method is used to model the rotor zone motion in order to simulate the impeller-volute casing interaction. The flow morphology analysis shows that, when adding splitter blades to the impeller, the impeller periphery velocities and pressures become more homogeneous. An evaluation of the static pressure values all around the impeller is performed and their integration leads to the radial thrust. Global and local experimental validations are carried out at the rotating speed of 900 rpm, for both the original and the splitter blade impellers. The head is evaluated at various flow rates: 50%, 80%, 100%, and 120%of the flow rate at the best efficiency point (BEP). The pressure fluctuations are measured at four locations at the BEP using dynamic pressure sensors. The experimental results match the numerical predictions, so that the effect of adding splitter blades on the pump is acknowledged. Adding splitters has a positive effect on the pressure fluctuations which decrease at the canal duct.

Numerical investigation of influence of inlet guide vanes on unsteady flow in a centrifugal pump

2015 ◽  
Vol 229 (18) ◽  
pp. 3405-3416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Yuchuan ◽  
Tan Lei ◽  
Zhu Baoshan ◽  
Cao ShuLiang ◽  
Wang Binbin
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Rotational Frequency ◽  
Pump Impeller ◽  
Guide Vanes ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Inlet Guide Vanes ◽  
Dominant Frequencies

The influence of inlet guide vanes on unsteady flow in a centrifugal pump is numerically investigated. The independences of mesh elements, time steps and turbulence models are studied, and the satisfactory agreement between experimental and numerical results of the centrifugal pump performance validates the reliability and accuracy of the numerical model. The frequency characteristics of pressure fluctuations in impeller and volute are nearly the same for the pump without and with inlet guide vanes in the angle range from −36° to +36°. In the pump impeller, the dominant frequencies are mainly the rotational frequency fi (24.17 Hz) or 2 fi, and in volute they are the blade passing frequency fBPF (145 Hz). For the large inlet guide vanes angles of −60°and +60°, the maximum amplitudes of pressure fluctuations in pump impeller and volute are stronger than that in pump without inlet guide vanes. Therefore, the influence of inlet guide vanes on unsteady flow in the centrifugal pump is slight when the inlet guide vanes angles are regulated in a suitable region.

Relationship Between Unsteady Flow, Pressure Fluctuations, and Noise in a Centrifugal Pump—Part B: Effects of Blade-Tongue Interactions

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chu ◽  
R. Dong ◽  
J. Katz
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Pressure Measurements ◽  
Local Pressure ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Flow Pressure ◽  
Tip Of The Tongue

Maps of pressure distributions computed using PDV data, combined with noise and local pressure measurements, are used for identifying primary sources of noise in a centrifugal pump. In the vicinity of the impeller pressure minima occur around the blade and near a vortex train generated as a result of non-uniform outflux from the impeller. The pressure everywhere also varies depending on the orientation of the impeller relative to the tongue. Noise peaks are generated when the pressure difference across the tongue is maximum, probably due to tongue oscillations, and when the wake impinges on the tip of the tongue.

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