Experimental and theoretical study of the flow in the volute of a low specific-speed pump

Abstract

The ow in the volute of a low speciÿc-speed pump was studied both experimentally and numerically near its design point. Measurements included time-averaged values of velocity and static pressure at a large number of locations in the volute. The numerical computations were based on the unsteady three-dimensional potential ow model for the core ow. Viscous losses were quantiÿed using additional models that use the potential ow as input. It is shown that near the design point of this pump, the core ow behaves like a potential ow, provided that no boundary layer separation occurs. Explanations are given for the presence of local deviations due to secondary ow. These local deviations do not in uence the overall potential ow characteristics signiÿcantly.

Development of new “multivolute casing” geometries for radial force reduction in centrifugal pumps

“…In the present study, we used experimental measurements of Kelder et al (2001) for CFD validation. The details of pump geometry used by Kelder et al are shown in Figure 1.…”

“…Nevertheless, numerous investigations have recently been carried out to predict turbulent flow in centrifugal pumps. Kelder, Dijkers, Vas Esch, and Kruyt (2001) used both experimental and numerical methods to study turbulent flow at a Reynolds number of 1.7 × 10 6 in the volute of a low specific-speed pump close to the design point. They showed that in such conditions, the core flow characteristics are similar to the potential flow.…”

“…As shown in Figure 1(a), with the pressure tabs are located at the shroud side just outside the impeller, yet in volute at mid-height of the outer wall. More details of the pump configuration and experimental methods can be found in (Kelder et al, 2001). …”

Effects of Volute Curvature on Performance of a Low Specific-Speed Centrifugal Pump at Design and Off-Design Conditions

“…They showed that the pump head could be estimated with a standard deviation of 2.5% by CFD simulation using the standard k-e turbulence model. Kelder et al [2] studied turbulent flow at Reynolds number of 1:7 Â 10 6 in the volute of a low specific-speed pump both experimentally and numerically close to the design point. They showed that in this condition, the core flow behaves like a potential flow.…”

Effects of Tongue Position and Base Circle Diameter on the Performance of a Centrifugal Blood Pump

“…Their results indicated the existence of a large circumferential nonuniformity in both the radial velocity and pressure distribution. The pressure variation creates an imbalanced radial force on the impeller that increases when the pump is operating away from the design point (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Hira and Vasandani (18) investigated the effects of the radial clearance between the impeller outlet and volute tongue by changing the volute tongue length or tongue starting angle.…”