scholarly journals Experimental Investigations on the Inner Flow Behavior of Centrifugal Pumps under Inlet Air-Water Two-Phase Conditions

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 4377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Bois ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Performance Degradation ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Impeller Blade ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Starting Point

Centrifugal pumps are widely used and are known to be sensitive to inlet air-water two-phase flow conditions. The pump performance degradation mainly depends on the changes in the two-phase flow behavior inside the pump. In the present paper, experimental overall pump performance tests were performed for two different rotational speeds and several inlet air void fractions (αi) up to pump shut-off condition. Visualizations were also performed on the flow patterns of a whole impeller passage and the volute tongue area to physically understand pump performance degradation. The results showed that liquid flow modification does not follow head modification as described by affinity laws, which are only valid for homogeneous bubbly flow regimes. Three-dimensional effects were more pronounced when inlet void fraction increased up to 3%. Bubbly flow with low mean velocities were observed close to the volute tongue for all αi, and returned back to the impeller blade passages. The starting point of pump break down was related to a strong inward reverse flow that occurred in the vicinity of the shroud gap between the impeller and volute tongue area.

Prediction of Pump Performance Under Air-Water Two-Phase Flow Based on a Bubbly Flow Model

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Minemura ◽  
Tomomi Uchiyama
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Performance Change ◽  
Void Fractions ◽  
Two Phases

This paper is concerned with the determination of the performance change in centrifugal pumps operating under two-phase flow conditions using the velocities and void fractions calculated under the assumption of an inviscid bubbly flow with slippage between the two phases. The estimated changes in the theoretical head are confirmed with experiments within the range of bubbly flow regime.

Development of Prediction Technology of Two-Phase Flow Dynamics Under Earthquake Acceleration: (12) Bubble Motion Along the Flow in Structure Vibration

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Kato ◽  
Rie Arai ◽  
Akiko Kaneko ◽  
Hideaki Monji ◽  
Yutaka Abe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Velocity Field ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Bubble Motion ◽  
Two Phase

In a nuclear power plant, one of the important issues is an evaluation of the safety of the reactor core and its pipes when an earthquake occurs. Many researchers have conducted studies on constructions of plants. Consequently, there is some knowledge about earthquake-resisting designs. However the influence of an earthquake vibration on thermal fluid inside a nuclear reactor plant is not fully understood. Especially, there is little knowledge how coolant in a core response when large earthquake acceleration is added. Some studies about the response of fluid to the vibration were carried out. And it is supposed that the void fraction and/or the power of core are fluctuated with the oscillation by the experiments and numerical analysis. However the detailed mechanism about a kinetic response of gas and liquid phases is not enough investigated, therefore the aim of this study is to clarify the influence of vibration of construction on bubbly flow behavior. In order to investigate the influence of vibration of construction on bubbly flow behavior, we visualized bubbly flow in pipeline on which sine wave was applied. In a test section, bubbly flow was produced by injecting gas into liquid flow through a horizontal circular pipe. In order to vibrate the test section, an oscillating table was used. The frequency and acceleration of vibration added from the oscillating table was from 1.0 Hz to 10 Hz and . 0.4 G (1 G=9.8 m/s2) at each frequency. The test section and a high speed video camera were fixed on the oscillating table. Thus the relative velocity between the camera and the test section was ignored. PIV measurement was also conducted to investigate interaction between bubble motion and surround in flow structure. Liquid pressure was also measured at upstream and downstream of the test section. The effects of oscillation on bubbly flow were quantitatively evaluated by these pressure measurements and the velocity field. In the results, it was observed that the difference of bubble motion by changing oscillation frequency. Moreover it was suggested that the bubble deformation is correlated with the fluctuation of liquid velocity field around the bubble and the pressure gradient in the flow area. In addition, these experimental results were compared with numerical simulation by a detailed two-phase flow simulation code with an advanced interface tracking method, TPFIT. Numerical simulation was qualitatively agreed with experimental results.

Development of Prediction Technology of Two-Phase Flow Dynamics Under Earthquake Acceleration: (11) Bubble Motion Under the Flow Vibration

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryotaro Yokoyama ◽  
Jun-ichi Takano ◽  
Hideaki Monji ◽  
Akiko Kaneko ◽  
Yutaka Abe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Plug Flow ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Bubble Behavior ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Rate Fluctuation

Earthquake is one of the most serious phenomena for safety of a nuclear power plant. Therefore, nuclear reactors were contracted considering structural safety for a big earthquake. In a nuclear reactor, the gas-liquid two-phase flow is the one of primary factor of the property and bubbly or plug flow behavior is important issue to evaluate of safety. However, the influence of an earthquake vibration on the gas-liquid two-phase flow inside the nuclear power plant is not understood enough. For example, the bubbly flow behavior under the flow rate fluctuation caused by the earthquake acceleration is not clear. It is necessary to clear the two-phase flow behavior under the earthquake conditions. To develop the prediction technology of two-phase flow dynamics under the earthquake acceleration, the detailed two-phase flow simulation code with an advanced interface tracking method, TPFIT was expanded to the two-phase flow simulation under earthquake accelerating conditions. In the present study, the objective is to clarify the behavior of the gas-liquid two-phase flow under the earthquake conditions. Especially, the bubble behavior in the two-phase flow, a diameter, shape and velocity of bubbles which are expected to be influenced by the oscillation of the earthquake is investigated. In this experiment, the flow was bubbly flow and/or plug flow in a horizontal circular pipe. The working fluids were water and nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas from gas cylinder was injected into the water through a nozzle and bubbly flow was generated at a mixer. The water was driven by a pump and the flow rate fluctuation was given by a reciprocating piston attached to the main flow loop. Main frequency of earthquakes is generally between 0.5Hz and 10Hz. Thus the frequency of the flow rate fluctuation in the experiment also was taken between 0.5Hz and 10Hz. The behavior of horizontal gas-liquid two-phase flow under the flow rate fluctuation was investigated by image processing using a high-speed video camera and PIV at test section. The pressure sensors were installed at the inlet of the mixer and the outlet of the test section. As the result, the bubble behavior mechanism under the flow rate fluctuation was obtained. In addition, the acceleration of a bubble and the pressure gradient in the pipe was synchronized under all frequency conditions. The prediction results by TPFIT were compared with the experimental results. They show good agreement on the flow field around a bubble and the bubble behavior.

scholarly journals Investigation on the Handling Ability of Centrifugal Pumps under Air–Water Two-Phase Inflow: Model and Experimental Validation

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaorui Si ◽  
Gérard Bois ◽  
Qifeng Jiang ◽  
Wenting He ◽  
Asad Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Local Flow

The paper presents experimental and numerical investigations performed on a single stage, single-suction, horizontal-orientated centrifugal pump in air–water two-phase non-condensable flow conditions. Experimental measurements are performed in a centrifugal pump using pressure sensor devices in order to measure the wall static pressures at the inlet and outlet pump sections for different flow rates and rotational speeds combined with several air void fraction (a) values. Two different approaches are used in order to predict the pump performance degradations and perform comparisons with experiments for two-phase flow conditions: a one-dimensional two-phase bubbly flow model, and a full “Three-Dimensional Unsteady Reynolds Average Navier–Stokes” (3D-URANS) simulation using a modified k-epsilon turbulence model combined with the Euler–Euler inhomogeneous two-phase flow description. The overall and local flow features are presented and analyzed. Limitations concerning both approaches are pointed out according to some flow physical assumptions and measurement accuracies. Some additional suggestions are proposed in order to improve two-phase flow pump suction capabilities.

Behavior of Bubbles Separated by a Cross-Shaped Obstacle Placed in a Circular Flow Channel

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyuki Takase ◽  
Hiep H. Nguyen ◽  
Gaku Takase ◽  
Yoshihisa Hiraki
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Validation Data

Clarifying two-phase flow characteristics in a nuclear reactor core is important in particular to enhance the thermo-fluid safety of nuclear reactors. Moreover, bubbly flow data in subchannels with spacers are needed as validation data for current CFD codes like a direct two-phase flow analysis code. In order to investigate the spacer effect on the bubbly flow behavior in a subchannel of the nuclear reactor, bubble dynamics around the simply simulated spacer was visually observed by a high speed camera. Furthermore, the void fraction and interfacial velocity distributions just behind the simulated spacer were measured quantitatively by using a wire-mesh sensor system with three wire-layers in the flow direction. From the present study, bubble separation behavior dependence upon the spacer shape was clarified.

Ultrafast X-Ray Computed Tomography Imaging for Hydrodynamic Investigations of Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow in Centrifugal Pumps

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Schäfer ◽  
Martin Neumann-Kipping ◽  
André Bieberle ◽  
Martina Bieberle ◽  
Uwe Hampel
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Computed

Abstract Gas entrainment into centrifugal pumps decreases pump performance and may raise safety issues, e.g., through insufficient cooling. Although there is some phenomenological knowledge in the form of correlations between operating parameters and pump performance, a further understanding via direct observation of the gas–liquid mixture was so far not possible. In this paper, we demonstrate the capability of ultrafast X-ray computed tomography (UFXCT) to disclose gas–liquid two-phase flow dynamics in the impeller region of a centrifugal pump mockup. Experiments were performed for gas injection at impeller speeds between 1300 rpm and 1600 rpm. We analyzed the X-ray image sequences with respect to characteristics of the gas distribution and compared them with time-averaged image data of a real pump obtained earlier with gamma-ray computed tomography (CT).

Numerical Investigations of Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow in a Pump Inducer

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mansour ◽  
Trupen Parikh ◽  
Sebastian Engel ◽  
Dominique Thévenin
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Pressure Change ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Part Load ◽  
Gas Volume

Abstract Inducers show generally a positive influence on the performance of centrifugal pumps in the two-phase regime, since they produce more uniform mixtures and increase the pressure before the impeller. However, the effect is much more pronounced in part-load compared to overload conditions. In this study, the air–water two-phase flow behavior in a pump inducer was numerically investigated. The main objectives were to clarify the effect of the inducer, the effective operating range, and to examine flow mixing. Several flow conditions were studied, covering part-load, optimal, and overload pumping conditions, together with different relevant gas volume fractions (1%, 3%, and 5%). The simulations were performed using a transient setup and a moving-mesh approach. Two-phase air–water interactions were modeled by the volume of fluid (VOF) method. After checking the proper discretization in space and time, the model was validated against experimental results, revealing excellent agreement. The numerical analysis was able to explain different effects of inducers in part-load and overload conditions. Under overload conditions, the flow separates, leading to the generation of axial vortices and to a negative pressure change across the inducer; additionally, the residence time is reduced, hindering mixing. These vortices are intensified as the gas volume fraction increases, reducing further the pressure downstream of the inducer. This is the reason why inducers can mainly be used in part-load and near optimal conditions in order to improve pumping of two-phase flows.

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