Influence of Inlet Angle of Guide Vane on Hydraulic Performance of an Axial Flow Pump Based on CFD

Abstract

Axial flow pump has been widely used in hydraulic engineering, agriculture engineering, water supply and sewerage works, and shipbuilding industry. In order to improve the hydraulic performance of pump under off-design working conditions, the influence of the inlet segment axial chord and inlet angle adjustment of the guide vane on the pump segment efficiency and flow filed was simulated by using the renormalization group (RNG) k − ε turbulent model based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The results indicate that the inlet segment axial chord and inlet angle adjustment of guide vane have a strong influence on the pump segment efficiency. Considering the support function and hydraulic loss of the guide vane, the inlet segment axial chord is set to 0.25 times the axial chord of guide vane. On the basis of the inlet angle of the guide vane under design conditions, when the inlet segment angle is turned counterclockwise, the pump segment efficiency is improved in the lower flow rate region; moreover, the pump segment efficiency is improved in the larger flow rate region when the inlet segment angle is turned clockwise. As the conditions deviate from the design working conditions, the influence of the guide vane inlet angle on the pump segment efficiency increases. If the inlet segment angle is properly adjusted under off-design working conditions, the flow pattern in the guide vane is improved and the hydraulic loss is decreased, because the inlet segment angle matches with the flow direction of impeller outlet; consequently, the pump segment efficiency is increased.

Comparison of Energy Performance of Shaft Tubular Pump Device at Two Guide Vane Inlet Angles

“…For the original guide vane of the pump model, the inlet section angle adjustment ∆β is taken as 0 • (the inlet angle of guide vane β 0 ). Based on the research results of the influence of the guide vane inlet angle on the hydraulic performance of an axial-flow pump [19], in order to improve the efficiency under the conditions of large discharge and low head, the guide vane inlet angle needs to be rotated clockwise. For the above shaft tubular pump device in the extra-low head pumping station, according to research results in reference [19] and the design parameters of the pumping station, the inlet angle adjustment ∆β is taken as −12 • .…”

“…Based on the research results of the influence of the guide vane inlet angle on the hydraulic performance of an axial-flow pump [19], in order to improve the efficiency under the conditions of large discharge and low head, the guide vane inlet angle needs to be rotated clockwise. For the above shaft tubular pump device in the extra-low head pumping station, according to research results in reference [19] and the design parameters of the pumping station, the inlet angle adjustment ∆β is taken as −12 • . Figure 4 shows the perspective drawing of the model pump with the adjustment of the inlet angle ∆β of 0 • and −12 • when the impeller blade angle α is −2 on the research results of the influence of the guide vane inlet angle on the hydraulic performance of an axial-flow pump [19], in order to improve the efficiency under the conditions of large discharge and low head, the guide vane inlet angle needs to be rotated clockwise.…”

“…When the outlet angle of the guide vane is adjusted, it will affect the hydraulic performance of the outlet conduit [18], thereby affecting the hydraulic performance of the pump device. Therefore, Xu et al [19,20] studied the influence of the adjustment of the inlet angle of the guide vane on the energy performance of the axial-flow pump, which includes only the impeller and guide vane, and studied the influence of the adjustment of the inlet angle of the guide vane on the energy performance of a vertical axial-flow pump device with an elbow inlet conduit and a siphon outlet conduit.…”

Analysis of the Influence of Inlet Guide Vanes on the Performance of Shaft Tubular Pumps

“…ere have been a relatively large number of studies on rear guide vanes [20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Yang et al [27] studied the angle of the IGVs of an axial flow pump.…”

Influence of inflow directions and setting angle of inlet guide vane on hydraulic performance of an axial-flow pump

“…In fact, this inflow direction is not straight; instead, it swirls around the rotational shaft of the pump because of the effect of the impeller 16 . Therefore, a difference between simulation results and experimental results is inevitable while doing the practical test [17][18][19] . Currently, there are no specific research articles stating the effect of inflow direction to verify this occurrence.…”