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Effects of rotational speeds on the performance of a centrifugal pump with a variable-pitch inducer

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Abstract

The centrifugal pumps usually work at various rotational speeds. The variation in the rotational speeds will affect the internal flow, the external performance, and the anti-cavitation performance of the pump. In order to improve the anti-cavitation performance of the centrifugal pumps, variable-pitch inducers are placed upstream of the impeller. Because the rotational speeds directly affect the flow and the performance of the pump, it is essential to characterize the performance of the pump with a variable-pitch inducer at various rotational speeds. In this paper, the simulations and the experimental tests of a centrifugal pump with a variable-pitch inducer are designed and carried out under various rotational speed conditions. Navier-Stokes equations, coupled with a Reynolds average simulation approach, are used in the simulations. In the experimental tests, the external and anti-cavitation performances of the pump are investigated in a closed system. The following results are obtained from the simulations. Firstly, the velocity in the passage of the inducer rises with the increase of the rotational speed. Secondly, the static pressure escalates on the inducer and the impeller with the increase of the rotational speed. Thirdly, the static pressure distribution on the inducer and the impeller is asymmetric. Fourthly, the anti-cavitation performance of the pump deteriorates with the increase of the rotational speed. Additional results are gathered from an analysis of the experiments. H−Q curves are similar parabolas at various rotational speeds, while η−Q curves are similar parabolas only when n ≤ 6 000 r/min. The anti-cavitation performance of the pump deteriorates with the increase of the rotational speed. Finally, the simulation results are found to be consistent with the experimental results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Xiao-mei Guo  (郭晓梅), Gao-ping Shi  (施高萍) & Yong Huang  (黄勇)

  2. The Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Fluid Transmission Technology, Zhejiang Science and Technology University, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Zu-chao Zhu  (朱祖超)

Authors
  1. Xiao-mei Guo  (郭晓梅)
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  2. Zu-chao Zhu  (朱祖超)
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  3. Gao-ping Shi  (施高萍)
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  4. Yong Huang  (黄勇)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zu-chao Zhu  (朱祖超).

Additional information

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51406185, 51579225), the Third Level 151 Talent Project in Zhejiang Province.

Biography: Xiao-mei Guo (1979-), Female, Ph. D., Professor

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Guo, Xm., Zhu, Zc., Shi, Gp. et al. Effects of rotational speeds on the performance of a centrifugal pump with a variable-pitch inducer. J Hydrodyn 29, 854–862 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-6058(16)60797-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-6058(16)60797-7

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