scholarly journals A Review of Design Considerations of Centrifugal Pump Capability for Handling Inlet Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flows

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qifeng Jiang ◽  
Yaguang Heng ◽  
Xiaobing Liu ◽  
Weibin Zhang ◽  
Gérard Bois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Two Phase Flows ◽  
Two Phase

Most of the pumps working under two phase flows conditions are used in petroleum industry applications, like electrical submersible pumps (ESP) for hydrocarbon fluids, in chemistry, nuclear industries and in agriculture for irrigation purposes as well. Two-phase flows always deteriorate overall pump performances compared with single flow conditions. Several papers have been published aiming to understand flow physics and to model all the main mechanisms that govern gas pocket formation and surging phenomena. These mechanisms depend on the pump type, the impeller geometry, the rotational speed, design and off-design liquid flow rate conditions, the volumetric gas fraction, the fluid properties and the inlet pressure. In the present paper, a review on two phase performances from various centrifugal pumps designs is presented, mainly based on experimental results. The main focus is devoted to detect the significant geometrical parameters that: (1) Modify the pump head degradation level under bubbly flow regime assumption; (2) Allow single stage centrifugal pumps keep working under two-phase flow conditions with high inlet void fraction values before pump shut down, whatever the pump performance degradations and liquid production rates should be. Because most of the published experimental studies are performed on dedicated laboratory centrifugal pump models, most of the present review is based on air-water mixtures as the working fluid with inlet pressures close to atmospheric conditions. The following review supposes that gas phase is considered as a non-condensable perfect gas, while the liquid phase is incompressible. Both phases are isolated from external conditions: neither mass nor heat transfer take place between the phases.

An Experimental Study on the Gas Entrainment in Horizontally and Vertically Installed Centrifugal Pumps

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Neumann ◽  
Thomas Schäfer ◽  
André Bieberle ◽  
Uwe Hampel
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Pump Performance ◽  
Gas Entrainment

In this work, we have studied how gas accumulates in an industrial centrifugal pump under various steady-state two-phase flow conditions. Thereby, we considered both horizontal and vertical pump installation positions. Phase fractions within the impeller region of the pump have been quantitatively disclosed using high-resolution gamma-ray computed tomography (HireCT) and applying time-averaged rotation-synchronized CT scanning technique. The study was made for inlet volumetric gas flow rates between 0% and 5%. To account for different inlet flow conditions, which are assumed to occur during unwanted gas entrainment by hollow vortices, we produced disperse and swirling gas–liquid inlet flows. In this way, the influence of inlet flow boundary conditions on the pump performance as well as gas fraction distributions and gas holdup within the impeller wheel region could be successfully analyzed and compared with respect to the impeller alignment. It was shown that the installation position offers only a minor effect on the pump performance in comparison to the inlet flow conditions. In addition, for the first time, thin gas films at the pressure side of the impeller wheel blades could be visualized in an industrial centrifugal pump.

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.

Effects of Varying Geometrical Parameters on Boiling From Microfabricated Enhanced Structures

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ramaswamy ◽  
Y. Joshi ◽  
W. Nakayama ◽  
W. B. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Nucleate Boiling ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Wall Superheat

The current study involves two-phase cooling from enhanced structures whose dimensions have been changed systematically using microfabrication techniques. The aim is to optimize the dimensions to maximize the heat transfer. The enhanced structure used in this study consists of a stacked network of interconnecting channels making it highly porous. The effect of varying the pore size, pitch and height on the boiling performance was studied, with fluorocarbon FC-72 as the working fluid. While most of the previous studies on the mechanism of enhanced nucleate boiling have focused on a small range of wall superheats (0–4 K), the present study covers a wider range (as high as 30 K). A larger pore and smaller pitch resulted in higher heat dissipation at all heat fluxes. The effect of stacking multiple layers showed a proportional increase in heat dissipation (with additional layers) in a certain range of wall superheat values only. In the wall superheat range 8–13 K, no appreciable difference was observed between a single layer structure and a three layer structure. A fin effect combined with change in the boiling phenomenon within the sub-surface layers is proposed to explain this effect.

A Method for Correlating the Characteristics of Centrifugal Pumps in Two-Phase Flow

1978 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslaw Mikielewicz ◽  
David Gordon Wilson ◽  
Tak-Chee Chan ◽  
Albert L. Goldfinch
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Semiempirical Method ◽  
Head Loss ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Loss Ratio ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Reversed Flow ◽  
Two Phase

The semiempirical method described combines the ideal performance of a centrifugal pump with experimental data for single and two-phase flow to produce a so-called “head-loss ratio,” which is the apparent loss of head in two-phase flow divided by the loss of head in single-phase flow. This head-loss ratio is shown to be primarily a function of void fraction. It is demonstrated that the measured characteristics of a centrifugal pump operating in two-phase flow in normal rotation and normal and reversed flow directions (first and second -quadrant operation) and in reversed rotation and reversed flow direction (third-quadrant operation) can be reproduced with acceptable accuracy.

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.

scholarly journals Effects of a Combination Impeller on the Flow Field and External Performance of an Aero-Fuel Centrifugal Pump

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 919
Author(s):  
Jia Li ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Wancheng Wang ◽  
Baibing Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Significant Feature ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Losses ◽  
Simulation And Experiment ◽  
Aero Engines

Aero-fuel centrifugal pumps are important power plants in aero-engines. Unlike most of the existing centrifugal pumps, a combination impeller is integrated with the pump to improve performance. First, the critical geometrical parameters of the combination impeller and volute are given. Then, the effects of the combination impeller on the flow characteristics of the impeller and volute are clarified by comparing simulation results with that of the conventional impeller, where the effectiveness of the selected numerical method is validated by an acceptable agreement between simulation and experiment. Finally, the experiment is set to test the external performance of the studied pump. A significant feature of this study is that the flow characteristics are significantly ameliorated by reducing the flow losses that emerged in the impeller inlet, impeller outlet, and volute tongue. Correspondingly, the head and efficiency of a combination impeller are higher with comparison to a conventional impeller. Consequently, it is a promising approach in ameliorating the flow field and improving external performance by applying a combination impeller to an aero-fuel centrifugal pump.

scholarly journals Investigation on centrifugal pump performance degradation under air-water inlet two-phase flow conditions

2018 ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaorui Si ◽  
Qianglei Cui ◽  
Keyu Zhang ◽  
Jianping Yuan ◽  
Gérard Bois
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Pressure Pulsation ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Performance Degradation ◽  
Inlet Pressure ◽  
Pulsation Frequency ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pump Performance

In order to study the flow characteristics of centrifugal pumps when transporting the gas-liquid mixture, water and air were chosen as the working medium. Both numerical simulation and experimental tests were conducted on a centrifugal pump under different conditions of inlet air volume fraction (IAVF). The calculation used URANS k-epsilon turbulence model combined with the Euler-Euler inhomogeneous two-phase model. The air distribution and velocity streamline inside the impeller were obtained to discuss the flow characteristics of the pump. The results show that air concentration is high at the inlet pressure side of the blade, where the vortex will exist, indicating that the gas concentration have a great relationship with the vortex aggregation in the impeller passages. In the experimental works, pump performances were measured at different IAVF and compared with numerical results. Contributions to the centrifugal pump performance degradations were analyzed under different air-water inlet flow condition such as IAVF, bubble size, inlet pressure. Results show that pump performance degradation is more pronounced for low flow rates compared to high flow rates. Finally, pressure pulsation and vibration experiments of the pump model under different IAVF were also conducted. Inlet and outlet transient pressure signals under four IAVF were investigated and pressure pulsation frequency of the monitors is near the blade passing frequency at different IAVF, and when IAVF increased, the lower frequency signal is more and more obvious. Vibration signals at five measuring points were also obtained under different IAVF for various flow rates.

scholarly journals Experimental Analysis of Gas–Liquid–Solid Three-Phase Flows in Horizontal Pipelines

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 1035-1054
Author(s):  
Paolo Sassi ◽  
Youssef Stiriba ◽  
Julia Lobera ◽  
Virginia Palero ◽  
Jordi Pallarès
Keyword(s):  
Flow Visualization ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
High Complexity ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Two Phase Flows ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Inner Diameter ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThe dynamics of three-phase flows involves phenomena of high complexity whose characterization is of great interest for different sectors of the worldwide industry. In order to move forward in the fundamental knowledge of the behavior of three-phase flows, new experimental data has been obtained in a facility specially designed for flow visualization and for measuring key parameters. These are (1) the flow regime, (2) the superficial velocities or rates of the individual phases; and (3) the frictional pressure loss. Flow visualization and pressure measurements are performed for two and three-phase flows in horizontal 30 mm inner diameter and 4.5 m long transparent acrylic pipes. A total of 134 flow conditions are analyzed and presented, including plug and slug flows in air–water two-phase flows and air–water-polypropylene (pellets) three-phase flows. For two-phase flows the transition from plug to slug flow agrees with the flow regime maps available in the literature. However, for three phase flows, a progressive displacement towards higher gas superficial velocities is found as the solid concentration is increased. The performance of a modified Lockhart–Martinelli correlation is tested for predicting frictional pressure gradient of three-phase flows with solid particles less dense than the liquid.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow Characteristics of Centrifugal Pump Based on the CFD–PBM

Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Lufeng Zhu ◽  
Ke Chen ◽  
Weicheng Yan ◽  
Desmond Appiah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Coalescence Rate ◽  
Breakage Rate

This work seeks to apply the computational fluid dynamics–population balance model (CFD–PBM) to investigate the gas distribution and flow mechanism in the gas–liquid two-phase flow of a centrifugal pump. The findings show that the numerical simulation accurately captures the bubble distribution characteristics in the process of coalescence and breakage evolution. In addition, comparing the CFD–PBM with the Double Euler, the hydraulic head of the pump are similar, but the efficiency using the Double Euler is much higher—even close to single-phase. This is in contrast to previous experimental research. Then, the unsteady flow usually led to the formation of bubbles with larger diameters especially where vortices existed. In addition, the rotor–stator interaction was a main reason for bubble formation. Generally, it was observed that the coalescence rate was greater than the breakage rate; thus, the coalescence rate decreased until it equaled the breakage rate. Thereafter, the average diameter of the bubble in each part tended to be stable during the process of bubble evolution. Finally, the average diameter of bubbles seemed to increase from inlet to outlet. The results of this study may not only enhance the gas–liquid two-phase internal flow theory of centrifugal pumps, but also can serve as a benchmark for optimizations of reliable operation of hydraulic pumps under gas–liquid two-phase flow conditions.

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