Effects of Meridional Flow Passage Shape on Hydraulic Performance of Mixed-flow Pump Impellers

During the process of designing the mixed-flow pump impeller, the meridional flow passage shape directly affects the obtained meridional flow field, which then has an influence on the three-dimensional impeller shape. However, the meridional flow passage shape is too complicated to be described by a simple formula for now. Therefore, reasonable parameter selection for the meridional flow passage is essential to the investigation. In order to explore the effects of the meridional flow passage shape on the impeller design and the hydraulic performance of the mixed-flow pump, the hub and shroud radius ratio (HSRR) of impeller and the outlet diffusion angle (ODA) of outlet zone are selected as the meridional flow passage parameters. 25 mixed-flow pump impellers, with specific speed of 496 under the design condition, are designed with various parameter combinations. Among these impellers, one with HSRR of 1.94 and ODA of 90° is selected to carry out the model test and the obtained experimental results are used to verify accuracies of the head and the hydraulic efficiency predicted by numerical simulation. Based on SIMPLE algorithm and standard k-ε two-equation turbulence model, the three-dimensional steady incompressible Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations are solved and the effects of different parameters on hydraulic performance of mixed-flow pump impellers are analyzed. The analysis results demonstrate that there are optimal values of HSRR and ODA available, so the hydraulic performance and the internal flow of mixed-flow pumps can be improved by selecting appropriate values for the meridional flow passage parameters. The research on these two parameters, HSRR and ODA, has further illustrated influences of the meridional flow passage shape on the hydraulic performance of the mixed-flow pump, and is beneficial to improving the design of the mixed-flow pump impeller.

Meridional Circulation with Latitude Bands of Long-Lived Cyclones in Jupiter’s Convective Atmosphere

Mayr et al. [1] proposed that the vertical velocities in the global scale meridional circulation can produce distinct latitude bands where Jovian vortices like the white and brown are observed, and we present here a brief review of the mechanism. The observed life times of the ovals are much longer than the estimated spin-down times, which indicates that the vortices must be sustained through the release of internal energy. Like Jupiter’s Great Red Spot (GRS), the white/brown ovals are treated like terrestrial hurricanes or cyclones, which are generated by convection. The planetary energy Jupiter emits is transferred by convection, and under this condition the upward motions in the meridional circulation, around the equator for example, release energy from below and decrease the convective instability to suppress the formation of cyclones. But the downward motions in the circulation, near 20° latitude for example, carry energy down so that the convective instability is amplified to produce a dynamical environment that is favorable for the development of cyclones like the GRS and white/brown ovals. This picture is supported by an analysis of results from a numerical model of Jupiter’s alternating jets (Chan and Mayr [2]). Generated by alternating vertical winds in the meridional circulation, the vertical temperature variations reveal distinct latitude bands with enhanced convective instability, most prominent at high latitudes where long-lived circumpolar cyclones are observed from the Juno spacecraft.

Advances in Research on Atmospheric Energy Propagation and the Interactions between Different Latitudes

Early theoretical analyses indicated that the tropics and extratropics are relatively independent due to the existence of critical latitudes.However,considerable observational evidence has shown that a clear dynamical link exists between the tropics and midlatitudes.To better understand such atmospheric teleconnection,several theories of wave energy propagation are reviewed in this paper：（1） great circle theory,which reveals the characteristics of Rossby waves propagating in the spherical atmosphere;（2） westerly duct theory,which suggests a ＂corridor＂ through which the midlatitude disturbances in one hemisphere can propagate into the other hemisphere;（3） energy accumulation-wave emanation theory,which proposes processes through which tropical disturbances can affect the atmospheric motion in higher latitudes;（4） equatorial wave expansion theory,which further explains the physical mechanisms involved in the interaction between the tropics and extratropics;and（5） meridional basic flow theory,which argues that stationary waves can propagate across the tropical easterlies under certain conditions.In addition,the progress made in diagnosing wave-flow interaction,particularly for Rossby waves,inertial-gravity waves,and Kelvin waves,is also reviewed.The meridional propagation of atmospheric energy exhibits significant annual and interannual variations,closely related to ENSO and variation in the westerly jets and tropical upper-tropospheric troughs,amongst others.