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Experimental and numerical study of the performance and cavitation flow of centrifugal pump with jetting device

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Abstract

Cavitation is a problem that must be considered when designing and operating a pump. This study proposes an active method using a jetting device to improve its cavitation performance. The influence of jetting flow rate on the external characteristics and cavitation performance of a centrifugal pump is analyzed through numerical simulation and experiment. Results show that the jetting fluid can improve the cavitation performance of a pump and the effect is most evident in the 6 % jetting flow rate. The distribution of entropy generation at the inlet pipe before the impeller shows that jetting flow can increase hydraulic loss in the pipe, thereby diminishing the performance of the centrifugal pump. An analysis of the transient cavitation flow in the centrifugal impeller under 6 % jetting flow rate reveals that the generation, development, and rupture of bubbles deteriorate the flow structure in the passage, thereby resulting in unstable flows and forces.

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Abbreviations

b 2 :

Outlet width of impeller (mm)

C p :

Static pressure coefficient \(({C_{\rm{p}}} = {p_{{\rm{in}}}}/0.5{\rho _l}u_2^2)\)

D 1 :

Inlet diameter of impeller (mm)

D 2 :

Outlet diameter of impeller (mm)

D i :

Nozzle diameter of jetting device (mm)

D j :

Drainage pipe diameter (mm)

EGR:

Entropy generation rate (W/m3/K)

Fx:

Radial force in X-direction (N)

Fy:

Radial force in Y-direction (N)

F cond :

Condensation coefficient

F vap :

Correction factor of evaporation

g :

Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2)

H :

Head (m)

H/H d :

Dimensionless head

L :

Axial distance between jetting device outlet and pump inlet (mm)

NPSHa:

Available net positive suction head (m)

NPSHc:

Critical net positive suction head (m)

n :

Design rotation speed (r/min)

P :

Power (Kw)

p in :

Pressure of impeller inlet (Pa)

Q :

Flow rate (m3/h)

Q d :

Design flow rate (m3/h)

Q J :

Jettting flow rate (%)

Q/Q d :

Dimensionless flow rate

R e :

Steam generation rate

R C :

Steam condensation rate

R B :

Bubble radius (m)

t:

Time(s)

u 2 :

Impeller outlet circumferential velocity (m/s)

Z j :

Nozzle number of jetting device

Z :

Number of blades

θ :

Incidence angle of jetting device (°)

η :

Efficiency (%)

α vap :

Vapor volume fraction

ρ vap :

Vapor density (kg/m3)

ρ l :

Liquid density (kg/m3)

Δt:

Time step

ψ :

Head coefficient \((\psi = 2gH/u_2^2)\)

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Joint Project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Liaoning Province (Grant No. U1608258), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51676173), and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. LY18E090007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Fluid Transmission Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China

    Baoling Cui, Kaicheng Zhu & Peifeng Lin

  2. College of Mechanical Engineering, Quzhou University, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Yuliang Zhang

Authors
  1. Baoling Cui
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  2. Kaicheng Zhu
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  3. Yuliang Zhang
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  4. Peifeng Lin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baoling Cui.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Sangyoup Lee

Baoling Cui is a Professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. She obtained a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University. Her research interests include unsteady flow and rotor dynamic characteristics of centrifugal pumps.

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Cui, B., Zhu, K., Zhang, Y. et al. Experimental and numerical study of the performance and cavitation flow of centrifugal pump with jetting device. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 4843–4853 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0925-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0925-6

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