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Numerical investigation on radial impeller induced vortex rope in draft tube under partial load conditions

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Abstract

The vortex rope phenomena appearing in a draft tube under partial load operations were investigated. The efforts were carried out by using a homogeneous equilibrium vapor-liquid two-phase model and a blending SST turbulence model, and the former takes account of the weak compressibility of mixed media. The vortex rope phenomena were induced by the radial impeller and three kinds of flow regimes were illustrated. Vortex rope was visible at some conditions and it displayed various patterns, while no obvious vortex rope was found under some conditions. It was found that the plant cavitation number determines that whether the vortex rope was visible or invisible. An interesting profile was that a secondary vortex filament ring entwining the vortex rope appeared clearly near the design condition. Both flow structures and pressure characteristics were studied to depict the vortex mechanism and the characteristics of the η-σ curves. Further analysis found that the shedding frequency of the vortex ring is similar with that of the precession movement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, China

    Yongyan Ni & Renqing Zhu

  2. National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Xiao Zhang & Zhongyong Pan

Authors
  1. Yongyan Ni
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  2. Renqing Zhu
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  3. Xiao Zhang
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  4. Zhongyong Pan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongyan Ni.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Shin Hyung Rhee

Yongyan Ni is currently a Lecturer at School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, China. She received her Ph.D. degree from Jiangsu University, China, in 2008. Her research interests include ship hydrodynamics, pumping systems and water jet propulsion.

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Ni, Y., Zhu, R., Zhang, X. et al. Numerical investigation on radial impeller induced vortex rope in draft tube under partial load conditions. J Mech Sci Technol 32, 157–165 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1217-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1217-7

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