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.

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.

Flow Structures and Pressure Fluctuations in a Centrifugal Pump at Design and Off-Design Conditions

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongyong Pan ◽  
Yongyan Ni ◽  
Jinyama Ho ◽  
Shouqi Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Flow Field Characteristics

The flow structures and the pressure fluctuations in a centrifugal pump at both design and off-design points are presented in this paper. The flow structures are numerically obtained by solving the viscous incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with a 3D unsteady flow model. A sliding mesh technique is applied to take into account the impeller-volute interaction. The pressure fluctuations are obtained by both numerical simulations and experimental measurements. The former data denote all the flow field characteristics including those in the impeller, the interface, the volute and the diffuser, while the latter ones that acquisitioned by a high-frequency pressure sensor show only one position at the outlet flange. The FFT technology is adopted to process those dynamic pressure data to reveal the frequency features. All the power spectrum results present that the dominant frequencies are the blade passing ones, while the subdominant ones are varied depending on the flow rates and the positions. At design condition, the mean velocity field in both impeller and volute show well behaved flow with no separation, while subtle separation is found along the tongue side in the diffuser. Some unknown high-frequency contents are discovered in the flow field.

The Effect of the Operating Point on the Pressure Fluctuations at the Blade Passage Frequency in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 784-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge L. Parrondo-Gayo ◽  
Jose´ Gonza´lez-Pe´rez ◽  
Joaquı´n Ferna´ndez-Francos
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Blade Passage ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Dynamic Forces ◽  
Response Pressure

An experimental investigation is presented which analyzes the unsteady pressure distribution existing in the volute of a conventional centrifugal pump with a nondimensional specific speed of 0.48, for flow-rates from 0% to 160% of the best-efficiency point. For that purpose, pressure signals were obtained at 36 different locations along the volute casing by means of fast-response pressure transducers. Particular attention was paid to the pressure fluctuations at the blade passage frequency, regarding both amplitude and phase delay relative to the motion of the blades. Also, the experimental data obtained was used to adjust the parameters of a simple acoustic model for the volute of the pump. The results clearly show the leading role played by the tongue in the impeller-volute interaction and the strong increase in the magnitude of dynamic forces and dipole-like sound generation in off-design conditions.

Experimental Investigation of Pressure Fluctuations on Inner Wall of a Centrifugal Pump

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Qi Jia ◽  
Bao-Ling Cui ◽  
Zu-Chao Zhu ◽  
Yu-Liang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
High Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency

Abstract Affected by rotor–stator interaction and unstable inner flow, asymmetric pressure distributions and pressure fluctuations cannot be avoided in centrifugal pumps. To study the pressure distributions on volute and front casing walls, dynamic pressure tests are carried out on a centrifugal pump. Frequency spectrum analysis of pressure fluctuation is presented based on Fast Fourier transform and steady pressure distribution is obtained based on time-average method. The results show that amplitudes of pressure fluctuation and blade-passing frequency are sensitive to the flow rate. At low flow rates, high-pressure region and large pressure gradients near the volute tongue are observed, and the main factors contributing to the pressure fluctuation are fluctuations in blade-passing frequency and high-frequency fluctuations. By contrast, at high flow rates, fluctuations of rotating-frequency and low frequencies are the main contributors to pressure fluctuation. Moreover, at low flow rates, pressure near volute tongue increases rapidly at first and thereafter increases slowly, whereas at high flow rates, pressure decreases sharply. Asymmetries are observed in the pressure distributions on both volute and front casing walls. With increasing of flow rate, both asymmetries in the pressure distributions and magnitude of the pressure decrease.

Effects of short blades on performance and inner flow characteristics of a low-specific-speed centrifugal pump

2017 ◽  
Vol 231 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Can Kang ◽  
Ning Mao ◽  
Chen Pan ◽  
Yang Zhu ◽  
Bing Li
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Back Surface ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pump Operation ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

A low-specific-speed centrifugal pump equipped with long and short blades is studied. Emphasis is placed on the pump performance and inner flow characteristics at low flow rates. Each short blade is intentionally shifted towards the back surface of the neighboring long blade, and the outlet parts of the short blades are uniformly shortened. Unsteady numerical simulation is conducted to disclose inner flow patterns associated with the modified design. Thereby, a comparison is enabled between the two schemes featured by different short blades. Both practical operation data and numerical results support that the deviation and cutting of the short blades can eliminate the positive slope of pump head curve at low flow rates. Therefore, the modification of short blades improves the pump operation stability. Due to the shortening of the outlet parts of the short blades, velocity distributions between impeller outlet and radial diffuser inlet exhibit explicitly altered circumferential flow periodicity. Pressure fluctuations in the radial diffuser are complex in terms of diversified periodicity and amplitudes. Flow rate influences pressure fluctuations in the radial diffuser considerably. As flow rate decreases, the regularity of the orbit of hydraulic loads exerted upon the impeller collapses while hydraulic loads exerted upon the short blades remain circumferentially periodic.

The Cavitation-Induced Pressure Fluctuations in a Mixed-Flow Pump under Impeller Inflow Distortion

Machines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 326
Author(s):  
Huiyan Zhang ◽  
Fan Meng ◽  
Yunhao Zheng ◽  
Yanjun Li
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Guide Vanes ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Critical Cavitation ◽  
Flow Pump

To reduce cavitation-induced pressure fluctuations in a mixed-flow pump under impeller inflow distortion, the dynamic pressure signal at different monitoring points of a mixed-flow pump with a dustpan-shaped inlet conduit under normal and critical cavitation conditions was collected using high-precision digital pressure sensors. Firstly, the nonuniformity of the impeller inflow caused by inlet conduit shape was characterized by the time–frequency-domain spectra and statistical characteristics of pressure fluctuation at four monitoring points (P4–P7) circumferentially distributed at the outlet of the inlet conduit. Then, the cavity distribution on the blade surface was captured by a stroboscope. Lastly, the characteristics of cavitation-induced pressure fluctuation were obtained by analyzing the time–frequency-domain spectra and statistical characteristic values of dynamic pressure signals at the impeller inlet (P1), guide vanes inlet (P2), and guide vanes outlet (P3). The results show that the flow distribution of impeller inflow is asymmetric. The pav values at P4 and P6 were the smallest and largest, respectively. Compared with normal conditions, the impeller inlet pressure is lower under critical cavitation conditions, which leads to low pav, pp-p and a main frequency amplitude at P1. In addition, the cavity covered the whole suction side under H = 13.6 m and 15.5 m, which led the pp-p and dominant frequency amplitude of pressure fluctuation at P2 and P3 under critical cavitation to be higher than that under normal conditions.

On a General Method of Unsteady Potential Calculation Applied to the Compression Stages of a Turbomachine—Part II: Experimental Comparison

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kouidri ◽  
T. Belamri ◽  
F. Bakir ◽  
R. Rey
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
The Other ◽  
Experimental Comparison ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Axial Fans ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Theoretical Pressure ◽  
General Method

Several applications were carried out in order to validate the method presented in Part I. In Part II, two examples of these applications are presented; one relating to the aeroacoustics of the axial fans and the other one to the interaction impeller-volute tongue in a centrifugal pump. The test benches used to study the behavior of these machines are presented. The study of the fan was capable of quantifying the discrete noise associated with the fluctuations in pressure linked to the potential flow. The analysis of the centrifugal pump permitted comparing the theoretical pressure fluctuations with experimental ones measured by various unsteady pressure sensors placed on the impeller shroud and in the volute. The qualitative and quantitative results obtained confirm the interest and the range of the developed algorithm.

The Effect of Impeller Cutback on the Fluid-Dynamic Pulsations and Load at the Blade-Passing Frequency in a Centrifugal Pump

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl Barrio ◽  
Eduardo Blanco ◽  
Jorge Parrondo ◽  
José González ◽  
Joaquín Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Dynamic Load ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Maximum Magnitude ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency ◽  
Radial Gap

A study is presented on the fluid-dynamic pulsations and the corresponding dynamic forces generated in a centrifugal pump with single suction and vaneless volute due to blade-volute interaction. Four impellers with different outlet diameters, obtained from progressive cutbacks (trimmings) of the greatest one, were successively considered in the test pump, so that the radial gap between the impeller and the volute ranged from 8.8% to 23.2% of the impeller radius. The study was based on the numerical computation of the unsteady flow through the machine for a number of flow rates by means of the FLUENT code, solving the 3D unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. Additionally, an experimental series of tests was conducted for the pump with one of the impellers, in order to obtain pressure fluctuation data along the volute front wall that allowed contrasting the numerical predictions. The data collected from the numerical computations were used to estimate the dynamic radial forces and torque at the blade-passing frequency, as a function of flow rate and blade-tongue radial gap. As expected, for a given impeller diameter, the dynamic load increases for off-design conditions, especially for the low range of flow rates, whereas the progressive reduction of the impeller-tongue gap brings about corresponding increments in dynamic load. In particular, varying the blade-tongue gap within the limits of this study resulted in multiplying the maximum magnitude of the blade-passing frequency radial force by a factor of about 4 for low flow rates (i.e., below the nominal flow rate) and 3 for high flow rates.

scholarly journals An Experimental Study on the Fluid Forces Induced by Rotor-Stator Interaction in a Centrifugal Pump

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shijie Guo ◽  
Hidenobu Okamoto
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Large Pressure ◽  
Rotor Stator Interaction ◽  
Frequency Components

The pressure fluctuations and the radial fluid forces acting on the impeller, the pressures in the volute, as well as the vibration of the shaft in a centrifugal pump were measured simultaneously, and their relationship was investigated. Experiments were done for various diffuser vanes, flow rates, and rotating speeds. It was demonstrated that both the blade-pressure fluctuations and the volute static pressures are nonuniform circumferentially (not axisymmetrical) under off-design operating conditions and that the two have a strong relationship. At high flow rates, the blade pressure fluctuations, induced by rotor-stator interactions, are large in areas where the volute static pressure is low. The traveling directions of the rotating pressure waves, the whirling directions of the radial fluid forces, and the most predominant frequency components of both the fluctuations and the forces are discussed, and an equation for predicting them is introduced. It was also noted that large alternating fluid forces are not necessarily associated with large pressure fluctuations. Furthermore, when measuring the radial fluid forces in the rotating frame, other frequency components, in addition to those related to the products of the diffuser vane number and the rotating frequency, may occur due to the circumferential unevenness of the pressure fluctuations on the impeller. These components are predictable.

Numerical Study of the Pulsating Flow at the Tongue Region of a Centrifugal Pump for Several Flow Rates

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rau´l Barrio ◽  
Jorge Parrondo ◽  
Eduardo Blanco ◽  
Joaqui´n Ferna´ndez
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Partial Load ◽  
Flow Through

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.

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