Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition

Cavitation is regarded as a considerable factor causing performance deterioration of pumps under off-design conditions, especially at overload conditions. To investigate the unsteady cavitation evolution around the tongue of a pump volute, and its influence on the flow field within passages of the i...

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Main Authors: Hu Qixiang, Yang Yang, Shi Weidong, Cao Weidong, Shi Yansheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/446
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author Hu Qixiang
Yang Yang
Shi Weidong
Cao Weidong
Shi Yansheng
author_facet Hu Qixiang
Yang Yang
Shi Weidong
Cao Weidong
Shi Yansheng
author_sort Hu Qixiang
collection DOAJ
description Cavitation is regarded as a considerable factor causing performance deterioration of pumps under off-design conditions, especially at overload conditions. To investigate the unsteady cavitation evolution around the tongue of a pump volute, and its influence on the flow field within passages of the impeller, numerical calculations and several hydraulic tests were performed on a typical centrifugal pump with a shrouded impeller. Emphasis was laid on the cavitation evolution and blade-loading distribution at flow rates above the optimal value. Results indicated that vapor is likely to first emerge from the tongue of the volute rather than at the leading edge of the blades at overload conditions. In contrast to the designed condition, the flow distribution in each passage is obviously different. The flow rate of the passage reaches a maximum just past the location of the tongue, while the minimum flow rate value is projected to appear at the passage upstream. The cavitation at the tongue squeezes the flow area at the outlet of the corresponding flow passage of the tongue, thereby causing a huge growth in the flow rate at the impeller outlet.
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spelling doaj.art-d662ed0b5c8d455ea4c70ff078901d862023-11-21T16:19:49ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-04-019444610.3390/jmse9040446Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal ConditionHu Qixiang0Yang Yang1Shi Weidong2Cao Weidong3Shi Yansheng4National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaNational Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaNational Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaNational Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaZhejiang LBX pump industry CO., LTD., Wenling 317500, ChinaCavitation is regarded as a considerable factor causing performance deterioration of pumps under off-design conditions, especially at overload conditions. To investigate the unsteady cavitation evolution around the tongue of a pump volute, and its influence on the flow field within passages of the impeller, numerical calculations and several hydraulic tests were performed on a typical centrifugal pump with a shrouded impeller. Emphasis was laid on the cavitation evolution and blade-loading distribution at flow rates above the optimal value. Results indicated that vapor is likely to first emerge from the tongue of the volute rather than at the leading edge of the blades at overload conditions. In contrast to the designed condition, the flow distribution in each passage is obviously different. The flow rate of the passage reaches a maximum just past the location of the tongue, while the minimum flow rate value is projected to appear at the passage upstream. The cavitation at the tongue squeezes the flow area at the outlet of the corresponding flow passage of the tongue, thereby causing a huge growth in the flow rate at the impeller outlet.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/446centrifugal pumptonguecavitationnumerical simulationblade loading
spellingShingle Hu Qixiang
Yang Yang
Shi Weidong
Cao Weidong
Shi Yansheng
Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
centrifugal pump
tongue
cavitation
numerical simulation
blade loading
title Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition
title_full Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition
title_fullStr Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition
title_full_unstemmed Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition
title_short Cavitating Flow in the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump at Flow Rates Above the Optimal Condition
title_sort cavitating flow in the volute of a centrifugal pump at flow rates above the optimal condition
topic centrifugal pump
tongue
cavitation
numerical simulation
blade loading
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/446
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AT shiweidong cavitatingflowinthevoluteofacentrifugalpumpatflowratesabovetheoptimalcondition
AT caoweidong cavitatingflowinthevoluteofacentrifugalpumpatflowratesabovetheoptimalcondition
AT shiyansheng cavitatingflowinthevoluteofacentrifugalpumpatflowratesabovetheoptimalcondition