Numerical Simulation and Experimental Research on the Influence of Solid-phase Characteristics on Centrifugal Pump Performance

The law governing the movement of particles in the centrifugal pump channel is complicated; thus, it is difficult to examine the solid-liquid two-phase turbulent flow in the pump. Consequently, the solid-liquid two-phase pump is designed based only on the unary theory. However, the obvious variety of centrifugal-pump internal flow appears because of the existence of solid phase, thus changing pump performance. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the flow characteristics of the solid-liquid two-phase pump. In the current paper, two-phase numerical simulation and centrifugal pump performance tests are carried out using different solid-particle diameters and two-phase mixture concentration conditions. Inner flow features are revealed by comparing the simulated and experimental results. The comparing results indicate that the influence of the solid-phase characteristics on centrifugal-pump performance is small when the flow rate is low, specifically when it is less than 2 m3/h. The maximum efficiency declines, and the best efficiency point tends toward the low flow-rate direction along with increasing solid-particle diameter and volume fraction, leading to reduced pump steady efficient range. The variation tendency of the pump head is basically consistent with that of the efficiency. The efficiency and head values of the two-phase mixture transportation are even larger than those of pure-water transportation under smaller particle diameter and volume fraction conditions at the low-flow-rate region. The change of the particle volume fraction has a greater effect on the pump performance than the change in the particle diameter. The experimental values are totally smaller than the simulated values. This research provides the theoretical foundation for the optimal design of centrifugal pump.

Abrasion characteristic analyses of solid-liquid two-phase centrifugal pump

Based on the solid-liquid two-phase mixture transportation test, the renormalization group (RNG) k-e turbulent model was utilized to simulate the solid-liquid two-phase turbulent flow in a centrifugal pump. By comparing the simulated and experimental results, inner flow features were revealed to improve the abrasion characteristic of the solid-liquid two-phase centrifugal pump. The influence of the solid phase on centrifugal pump abrasive performance is small when the particle volume fraction is less than 2.5%. The aggregation degree of the solid particles is enhanced as the particle diameter increases from 0.1 to 1 mm; however, the mixture density on the pressure side is reduced when the particle diameter increases to 1 mm for the impact of inertia. The wear on the hub is most severe for the shear stress on this position; it is also the largest. The wear characteristic is affected greatly by the parameters of the solid phase. The wear chracteristic can be optimized by decreasing the blade outlet angle. In the modified design, the blade angle is different, whereas the other geometric dimensions remain the same. The improved pump is simulated to contrast with the original pump. The results show that the values of mixture density and shear stress both decrease. The wear condition of the blade is improved to a certain extent.