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Optimization of impeller blades of an electric water pump via computational fluid dynamics

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Abstract

Electric water pumps (EWPs) are characterized by small sizes and variable operating conditions. Efficient operation of such a pump is important for the whole thermal management system. Here, comprehensive hydraulic optimization was performed to improve the performance of an EWP. The computational fluid dynamics technique was used to assist in the optimization. The numerical scheme was validated using experimental data. Variations in the blade number, blade profile, and blade inlet edge were implemented. The results showed that solely increasing the blade number leads to an increase in the pump head but cannot guarantee high pump efficiency. A combination of adjusting the blade wrap angle and extending the blade inlet edge toward the pump inlet promotes increases in both the pump head and efficiency. With the improvement in pump performance, the characteristics of the flow field alter remarkably. The pressure at the blade inlet is reduced, and the turbulent kinetic energy near the impeller blade decreases overall.

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Abbreviations

D 2 :

Impeller diameter (mm)

H :

Pump head (m)

I :

Turbulent intensity ratio

k :

Turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s2)

n :

Rotational speed (rpm)

Q :

Volumetric flow rate (L/min)

Q d :

Design flow rate (L/min)

Re :

Reynolds number

Z :

Blade number

β 2 :

Blade outlet angle (°)

ε :

Turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate (m2/s3)

η :

Pump efficiency (%)

φ :

Blade wrap angle (°)

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The Computation Center of Jiangsu University provided computer clusters for numerical simulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Shuang Teng & Can Kang

  2. Shanghai Marine Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai, 200031, China

    Yuehan Tian & Bing Li

  3. Key Laboratory of Centrifugal Pump of China Machinery Industry, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Can Kang

Authors
  1. Shuang Teng
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  2. Yuehan Tian
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  3. Bing Li
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  4. Can Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Can Kang.

Additional information

Can Kang is a Professor in the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, China. He received his Ph.D. from Jiangsu University. His research interests include impeller pumps, cavitation, hydrokinetic turbine rotors, and solid–liquid two-phase flow.

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Teng, S., Tian, Y., Li, B. et al. Optimization of impeller blades of an electric water pump via computational fluid dynamics. J Mech Sci Technol 38, 1281–1291 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-024-0223-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-024-0223-9

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