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The study of the efficiency enhancement of bionic coupling centrifugal pumps

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Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate a new method to increase the efficiency of the centrifugal pump under the guidance of the bionic coupling theory. A centrifugal pump with a bionic coupling impeller called a bionic coupling centrifugal pump (BCCP) was developed. Either riblets or concave dimples were engraved on the flank or blade back of the impellers and then coated with polyurethane. This design was inspired by the specific skin structure of living creatures and the theory of biological coupling. The BCCP efficiency was investigated using the method of pseudo-level orthogonal testing. The results show that the efficiency of BCCPs obviously improved and the efficiency curve became more compressed than that of a conventional centrifugal pump over the effective working range. This indicates that the BCCPs would still function within a higher efficiency range even when they deviate from the highest efficiency point. The efficiency enhancement of the BCCP could be attributed to the effect of the delayed release of energy because of the elastic deformation of polyurethane. Polyurethane coupled with non-smooth surface structures stabilized the turbulent flow. This coupling consequently reduced the turbulence and stabilized the water in the boundary layer of the impeller blade.

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Abbreviations

Q ′ :

Actual flow capacity of pump, m3/h

H ′ :

Actual total head of pump, m

P ′ :

Actual axis power of engine, W

n :

Rotation speed, rad/s

Q :

Flow capacity of pmup after conversion, m3/h

H :

Total head of pump after convesion, m

P :

Axis power of engine after conversion, W

r :

The increased rate of efficiency

η :

Pump efficiency, dimensionless

ρ :

Water density, kg/m3

g :

Acceleration of gravity, m/s

p:

Refer to the actual condition

sp:

Relative to actual condition

dij :

The efficiency difference of bionic coupling centrifugal pump sample i at flow capacity point j

ij :

Refer to sample i at flow capacity point j

smoothj :

Refer to the efficiency of the conventional centrifugal pump at flow capacity point j

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51105168, 51205160), the International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50920105504), the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50635030), and the research and special founding project of Ministry of Land and public service sectors (Grant No. 201011082-06-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, 130025, Changchun, Jilin province, China

    Limei Tian, Zhihua Gao, Luquan Ren, Zhiwu Han & Genghua Liao

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  1. Limei Tian
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  2. Zhihua Gao
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  3. Luquan Ren
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  4. Zhiwu Han
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  5. Genghua Liao
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Correspondence to Limei Tian.

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Technical Editor: Marcelo Savi.

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Tian, L., Gao, Z., Ren, L. et al. The study of the efficiency enhancement of bionic coupling centrifugal pumps. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 35, 517–524 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-013-0048-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-013-0048-4

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