Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Applied Mathematical Modelling. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Applied Mathematical Modelling, 89, 2, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2020.08.074
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Numerical simulation of the performance of a centrifugal pump with a semi-open impeller under normal and cavitating conditions
AU - Mousmoulis, Georgios
AU - Kassanos, Ioannis
AU - Aggidis, George
AU - Anagnostopoulos, Ioannis
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Applied Mathematical Modelling. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Applied Mathematical Modelling, 89, 2, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2020.08.074
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - An important flow mechanism that can affect the performance and efficiency, as also the maintenance cost of centrifugal pumps is cavitation. Scientific research has been focusing on the mechanisms that govern cavitation in order to develop experimental and numerical tools that are able either to detect the phenomenon or to anticipate its appearance. In this study, a computational model is used in order to study the cavitation performance of a radial flow centrifugal pump with a semi open impeller. The numerical model includes and studies the effects of the blade tip clearance and its thickness, and it is validated against corresponding laboratory measurements and visualization data obtained for this pump under normal and cavitating flow conditions. The total head drop variation curves versus cavitation parameter are extracted both numerically and experimentally, and compared for various pump loading conditions with satisfactory agreement. A non-periodic pattern of flow and cavitation bubbles between the impeller blades, which is caused by the inlet pipe bending, is also well reproduced by the model. The numerical results display in detail the complex flow field and the secondary flows developed in the tip clearance area, close to the blades leading edge. The effects of the latter on the onset and development of cavitation at the suction side of the impeller, as well as on the backflow cavitation phenomenon are presented and analyzed. Backflow cavitation is found to affect the suction ability of the pump, especially for moderate cavitation conditions, as far as the pressure differences between the two blade sides remain significant.
AB - An important flow mechanism that can affect the performance and efficiency, as also the maintenance cost of centrifugal pumps is cavitation. Scientific research has been focusing on the mechanisms that govern cavitation in order to develop experimental and numerical tools that are able either to detect the phenomenon or to anticipate its appearance. In this study, a computational model is used in order to study the cavitation performance of a radial flow centrifugal pump with a semi open impeller. The numerical model includes and studies the effects of the blade tip clearance and its thickness, and it is validated against corresponding laboratory measurements and visualization data obtained for this pump under normal and cavitating flow conditions. The total head drop variation curves versus cavitation parameter are extracted both numerically and experimentally, and compared for various pump loading conditions with satisfactory agreement. A non-periodic pattern of flow and cavitation bubbles between the impeller blades, which is caused by the inlet pipe bending, is also well reproduced by the model. The numerical results display in detail the complex flow field and the secondary flows developed in the tip clearance area, close to the blades leading edge. The effects of the latter on the onset and development of cavitation at the suction side of the impeller, as well as on the backflow cavitation phenomenon are presented and analyzed. Backflow cavitation is found to affect the suction ability of the pump, especially for moderate cavitation conditions, as far as the pressure differences between the two blade sides remain significant.
KW - Cavitation
KW - Centrifugal pumps
KW - Semi open impeller
KW - Flow visualization
KW - Tip clearance flow
KW - Backflow cavitation
U2 - 10.1016/j.apm.2020.08.074
DO - 10.1016/j.apm.2020.08.074
M3 - Journal article
VL - 89
SP - 1814
EP - 1834
JO - Applied Mathematical Modelling
JF - Applied Mathematical Modelling
SN - 0307-904X
IS - 2
ER -