The effect of wear ring clearance on flow field in the impeller sidewall gap and efficiency of a low specific speed centrifugal pump

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (17) ◽  
pp. 3062-3073 ◽  
Author(s):  
M DaqiqShirazi ◽  
R Torabi ◽  
A Riasi ◽  
SA Nourbakhsh
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Volumetric Efficiency ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Disk Friction ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
Specific Speed

In this paper, the flow in the impeller sidewall gap of a low specific speed centrifugal pump is analyzed to study the effect of wear ring clearance and the resultant through-flow on flow field in this cavity and investigate the overall efficiency of the pump. Centrifugal pumps are commonly subject to a reduction in the flow rate and volumetric efficiency due to abrasive liquids or working conditions, since the wear rings are progressively worn, the internal leakage flow is increased. In the new operating point, the overall efficiency of the pump cannot be predicted simply by using the pump characteristic curves. The flow field is simulated with the use of computational fluid dynamics and the three-dimensional full Navier–Stokes equations are solved using CFX software. In order to verify the numerical simulations, static pressure field in volute casing and pump performance curves are compared with the experimental measurements. The results show that, for the pump with minimum wear ring clearance, the disk friction efficiency is the strongest factor that impairs the overall efficiency. Therefore, when the ring clearance is enlarged more than three times, although volumetric efficiency decreases effectively but the reduction in overall efficiency is remarkably smaller due to improvement in the disk friction losses.

Very Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump—Hydraulic Design and Physical Limitations

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grunde Olimstad ◽  
Morten Osvoll ◽  
Pål Henrik Enger Finstad
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Hydraulic Design ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Gear Pumps ◽  
Disk Friction ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
High Head ◽  
Specific Speed

For low-flow and high-head applications, pump types such as progressive cavity or gear pumps are often used. However, centrifugal pumps are much more robust and wear resistant, and are beneficial if they can handle the rated head and flows. By challenging the limitations of low specific speed (Nq), centrifugal pumps can be made to handle a combination of low flow and high head, which previously required other pump types. Conventional centrifugal pumps have specific speed down to 10, while in this paper a design with specific speed of 4.8 is presented. The paper describes several iterative steps in the design process of the low Nq pump. These iterations were done one physical pumps, which were successively tested in a test rig. Motivation for each step is explained theoretically and followed up by discussion of the measured results. Four different geometries of the pump were tested, all of them manufactured by rapid prototyping in nylon material. A substantial question is how low the specific speed of a centrifugal pump can be. Limitations of low Nq pumps are discussed and new findings are related to volute cavitation. In addition, limitations due to disk friction, volute losses, leakage flow, and pump stability are discussed and show to limit the design space for the pump designer.

scholarly journals The Effect of Viscosity on Performance of a Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rouhollah Torabi ◽  
Seyyed Ahmad Nourbakhsh
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Reduction Rate ◽  
Viscous Fluids ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

Centrifugal pump delivery head and flow rate drop effectively during the pumping of viscous fluids. Several methods and correlations have been developed to predict reduction rate in centrifugal pump performance when handling viscous fluids, but their results are not in very good agreement with each other. In this study, a common industrial low specific speed pump, which is extensively used in different applications, is studied. The entire pump, including impeller, volute, pipes, front and rear sidewall gaps, and balance holes, is simulated in Computational Fluid Dynamics and 3D full Navier Stokes equations are solved. CFD results are compared with experimental data such as pump performance curves, static pressure in casing, and disk friction loss. Dimensionless angular velocity and leakage rate are investigated in sidewall gap and efficiency variation due to viscosity is studied. The results demonstrate that the behavior of the fluid in sidewall gap is strictly sensitive to viscosity. Increasing viscosity improves the volumetric efficiency by reducing internal leakage through wear rings and balance holes, causing, however, a significant fall in the disk and overall efficiency. Results lead to some recommendations for designing centrifugal pumps which may be used in transferring viscous fluids.

scholarly journals Effect of Short Blade Circumferential Position Arrangement on Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow Performance of Centrifugal Pump

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1317
Author(s):  
Biaobiao Wang ◽  
Haoyang Zhang ◽  
Fanjie Deng ◽  
Chenguang Wang ◽  
Qiaorui Si
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

In order to study the internal flow characteristics of centrifugal pumps with a split impeller under gas-liquid mixed transportation conditions, this paper conducted a steady calculation of the flow field in the centrifugal pump under the conditions of different inlet gas volume fractions based on the Eulerian-Eulerian heterogeneous flow model, using air and water as the working media and the Schiller Nauman model for the interphase resistance. This paper takes a low specific speed centrifugal pump as the research object, through the controlling variables, using the same pump body structure and pump body geometric parameters and setting three different arrangements of long and short blades (each plan uses the same long and short blades) to explore the influence of the short blade arrangement on the low specific speed centrifugal pump performance under a gas-liquid two-phase flow. The research results show that, under pure water conditions, the reasonable arrangement of the short blade circumferential position can eliminate the hump of the centrifugal pump under low-flow conditions, can make the flow velocity in the impeller more uniform, and can optimize the performance of the pump. Under the design conditions and the gas-liquid two-phase inflow conditions, when the circumferential position of the short blades is close to the suction surface of the long blades, some of the bubbles on the suction surface of the long blade can be broken under the work of the pressure surface of the short blade and flow out of the impeller with the liquid, which improves the flow state of the flow field in the impeller.

scholarly journals Optimal Design of Slit Impeller for Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump Based on Orthogonal Test

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Hongtao Zhou ◽  
Wanning Lv ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Orthogonal Test ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Initial Model ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed ◽  
Four Levels

Marine centrifugal pumps are mostly used on board ship, for transferring liquid from one point to another. Based on the combination of orthogonal testing and numerical simulation, this paper optimizes the structure of a drainage trough for a typical low-specific speed centrifugal pump, determines the priority of the various geometric factors of the drainage trough on the pump performance, and obtains the optimal impeller drainage trough scheme. The influence of drainage tank structure on the internal flow of a low-specific speed centrifugal pump is also analyzed. First, based on the experimental validation of the initial model, it is determined that the numerical simulation method used in this paper is highly accurate in predicting the performance of low-specific speed centrifugal pumps. Secondly, based on the three factors and four levels of the impeller drainage trough in the orthogonal test, the orthogonal test plan is determined and the orthogonal test results are analyzed. This work found that slit diameter and slit width have a large impact on the performance of low-specific speed centrifugal pumps, while long and short vane lap lengths have less impact. Finally, we compared the internal flow distribution between the initial model and the optimized model, and found that the slit structure could effectively reduce the pressure difference between the suction side and the pressure side of the blade. By weakening the large-scale vortex in the flow path and reducing the hydraulic losses, the drainage trough impellers obtained based on orthogonal tests can significantly improve the hydraulic efficiency of low-specific speed centrifugal pumps.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of 3D Solid-Liquid Turbulent Flow in a Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump: Flow Field Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 814108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baocheng Shi ◽  
Jinjia Wei
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Numerical Convergence ◽  
Phase Calculation ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed ◽  
3D Solid ◽  
Solid Liquid ◽  
Numeral Simulation

For numerically simulating 3D solid-liquid turbulent flow in low specific speed centrifugal pumps, the iteration convergence problem caused by complex internal structure and high rotational speed of pump is always a problem for numeral simulation researchers. To solve this problem, the combination of three measures of dynamic underrelaxation factor adjustment, step method, and rotational velocity control means according to residual curves trends of operating parameters was used to improve the numerical convergence. Numeral simulation of 3D turbulent flow in a low specific speed solid-liquid centrifugal pump was performed, and the results showed that the improved solution strategy is greatly helpful to the numerical convergence. Moreover, the 3D turbulent flow fields in pumps have been simulated for the bottom ash-particles with the volume fraction of 10%, 20%, and 30% at the same particle diameter of 0.1 mm. The two-phase calculation results are compared with those of single-phase clean water flow. The calculated results gave the main region of the abrasion of the impeller and volute casing and improve the hydraulic design of the impeller in order to decrease the abrasion and increase the service life of the pump.

Prediction of the Effect of Impeller Trimming on the Hydraulic Performance of Low Specific-Speed Centrifugal Pumps

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. J. Detert Oude Weme ◽  
M. S. van der Schoot ◽  
N. P. Kruyt ◽  
E. J. J. van der Zijden
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Hydraulic Performance ◽  
New Method ◽  
Prediction Methods ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pump Head ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

The effect of trimming of radial impellers on the hydraulic performance of low specific-speed centrifugal pumps is studied. Prediction methods from literature, together with a new prediction method that is based on the simplified description of the flow field in the impeller, are used to quantify the effect of trimming on the hydraulic performance. The predictions by these methods are compared to measured effects of trimming on the hydraulic performance for an extensive set of pumps for flow rates in the range of 80% to 110% of the best efficiency point. Of the considered methods, the new prediction method is more accurate (even for a large impeller trim of 12%) than the considered methods from literature. The new method generally overestimates the reduction in the pump head after trimming, and hence results less often in impeller trims that are too large when the method is used to determine the amount of trimming that is necessary in order to attain a specified head.

scholarly journals Comparison of energy parameters of a centrifugal pump with a multi-piped impeller in cooperation either with an annular channel and a spiral channel

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 513-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartłomiej Chomiuk ◽  
Janusz Skrzypacz
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Annular Channel ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Impeller Outlet ◽  
Flow Geometry ◽  
Quantitative Verification ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

Abstract The article presents results of numerical analyzes, which raise a subject of influence of the cooperation the multi-piped impeller with a rationalized flow geometry of annular casing and volute casing for liquid flow through centrifugal pump and their operating parameters in the extremely low specific speed nq<10. The multi-piped impeller (patented by authors) is a major alternative to classic vane impellers. The stator type is responsible for the conversion of the kinetic energy of the liquid by the impeller outlet into potential energy, which determines the overall efficiency of the pump. Also, the article presents qualitative and quantitative verification of results obtained by computer modeling and an attempt to estimate their accuracy. The article focuses mainly on the comparison of the performance parameters of the pump with a multi-piped impeller in cooperation with two stator types with a rationalized flow geometry. Both outlet elements were tested in various configurations of constructional features. The complexity of the construction of the stator can significantly affect the manufacturing costs of pump unit. Knowledge concerning construction of hydraulic elements of centrifugal pumps working in the range of parameters corresponding specific speed (nq<10) is insufficient. As shown in the paper, the annular type casing model pump cooperating with a multi-piped impeller, designed in accordance with literature, reached far poorer operating parameters than the rational annular construction in a configuration with the same impeller.

Effect of Baffles in Between Stages on Performance and Flow Characteristics of a Two-Stage Split Case Centrifugal Pump

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyun Wang ◽  
Ji Pei ◽  
Shouqi Yuan ◽  
Wenjie Wang
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Stage

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.

Analysis on Effects of the Blade Wrap Angle and Outlet Angle on the Performance of the Low-Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump

2011 ◽  
Vol 354-355 ◽  
pp. 615-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Wei Dong Shi ◽  
Ting Jiang ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Tong Tong Li
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Outlet Angle ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Wrap Angle ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed ◽  
Blade Wrap Angle

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.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of 3D Solid-Liquid Turbulent Flow in a Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump: Performance Comparison of Four Geometric Models

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 678271
Author(s):  
Baocheng Shi ◽  
Jinjia Wei
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Geometric Models ◽  
The Real ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed ◽  
3D Solid ◽  
Solid Liquid

For numerically simulating 3D solid-liquid turbulent flow in low specific speed centrifugal pumps, there exist several problems including how to design geometrical shape of the calculation model to represent the real pump and how to predict pump performance accurately to guide the design of pump. To solve these problems, four kinds of geometric models were designed. The performance of a low specific speed solid-liquid centrifugal pump was predicted, and the results showed that the improved prediction methods are more accurate than the traditional method. Moreover, the simulation results of the entire flow field of the geometric model including balance holes and the lateral clearances of impeller in which liquid rotates with half speed of impeller are closer to the real situation.

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