This work aims at studying the influence of adding splitter blades on the performance of a hydraulic centrifugal pump. The studied machine is an ENSIVAL-MORET MP 250.200.400 pump (diameter = 408 mm, 5 blades, specific speed = 32), whose impeller is designed with and without splitter blades. Velocity and pressure fields are computed using unsteady Reynolds-averaged NavierStokes (URANS) approach at different flow rates. The sliding mesh method is used to model the rotor zone motion in order to simulate the impeller-volute casing interaction. The flow morphology analysis shows that, when adding splitter blades to the impeller, the impeller periphery velocities and pressures become more homogeneous. An evaluation of the static pressure values all around the impeller is performed and their integration leads to the radial thrust. Global and local experimental validations are carried out at the rotating speed of 900 rpm, for both the original and the splitter blade impellers. The head is evaluated at various flow rates: 50%, 80%, 100%, and 120% of the flow rate at the best efficiency point (BEP). The pressure fluctuations are measured at four locations at the BEP using dynamic pressure sensors. The experimental results match the numerical predictions, so that the effect of adding splitter blades on the pump is acknowledged. Adding splitters has a positive effect on the pressure fluctuations which decrease at the canal duct.

A robust CFD model is described, suitable for general three-dimensional flows with extensive cavitation at large density ratios. The model utilizes a multiphase approach, based on volume-scalar-equations, a truncated Rayleigh-Plesset equation for bubble dynamics, and specific numerical modifications (in a finite-volume solution approach) to promote robust solutions when cavitation is present. The model is implemented in the CFD software CFX TASCflow 2.12. The validation of the model was done on an inducer designed and tested at LEMFI. First, The physical model and the numerical aspects are described. Then, the experimental and numerical methodologies, at cavitating regime, are presented. Finally, for several flow rates, the comparisons between experimental and simulated results on the overall performances, head drop and cavitation figures, are discussed. For a range of flow rates, good agreement between experiment and prediction was found.

A 3D-CFD simulation of the impeller and volute of a centrifugal pump has been performed using CFX codes. The pump has a specific speed of 32 (metric units) and an outside impeller diameter of 400 mm. First, a 3D flow simulation for the impeller with a structured grid is presented. A sensitivity analysis regarding grid quality and turbulence models were also performed. The final impeller model obtained was used for a 3D quasi-unsteady flow simulation of the impeller-volute stage. A procedure for designing the volute, the nonstructured grid generation in the volute, and the interface flow passage between the impeller and volute are discussed. This flow simulation was carried out for several impeller blades and volute tongue relative positions. As a result, velocity and pressure field were calculated for different flow rates, allowing to obtain the radial thrust on the pump shaft.

In order to better understand the behavior of the fluid flow in vaned centrifugal fans, theoretical and experimental work has been carried out on unsteady three-dimensional (3D) flows. Particular attention is given to the flows located at the rotor–stator interface. This zone is the seat of strong interactions between the moving part and the fixed part. This phenomenon has as consequences: Strongly unsteady flow, fluctuating forces on the stator blades, and an efficiency decrease. This work is part of a project which main objective is the aeroacoustic optimization of high speed centrifugal fans. We present in this paper the first results, mainly aerodynamic ones, which will be used thereafter as an input data to aeroacoustic modeling. A numerical simulation tool was used in order to determine the kinematics and the dynamics of these flows. The measurements of the steady and unsteady flow characteristics allowed a comparison of the theoretical and experimental results.