Influence of Splitter Blades on the Flow Field of a Centrifugal Pump: Test-Analysis Comparison

Abstract

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.

Unsteady Pressure Pulsation and Rotating Stall Characteristics in a Centrifugal Pump with Slope Volute

“…Pressure magnitude at 2 reaches the maximum value, and it achieves minimum value at 4 . Root mean square (RMS) method was adopted to deal with unsteady pressure signals at different computing moments in order to analyze pressure characteristics on periphery of slope volute as shown in (5). Figure 9 shows RMS values of different monitoring points at three flow rates.…”

“…Many researches have been done in order to reduce pressure fluctuation in centrifugal pump, and most of them are focusing on parameters of impeller. Some special structures of impeller have been proposed, for instance, the splitter blade [5]. However the structure of volute is rarely taken into account to reduce rotor-stator interaction.…”

Influence of Splitter Blades on the Cavitation Performance of a Double Suction Centrifugal Pump

“…For instance, HR\^@XP\j^ [1] studied centrifugal pumps with different splitter blades and found that splitter blades can increase pump efficiency and head and can improve pump cavitation and noise performances. Kergourlay et al [2] simulated the internal flow of centrifugal pump with and without splitter blades. They compared the numerical results with the experiments and affirmed a positive role of the splitter blades in internal flow improvement and hydraulic performance improvement.…”

Numerical Investigation on Aerodynamic Performance of a Centrifugal Fan with Splitter Blades

“…A splitter blade can guide flow direction along the blade passage, and especially is more effective for enhancing the pressure rise in centrifugal impeller types. Kergourlay et al [1] investigated the influence of adding splitter blades on the hydraulic performance of a centrifugal pump through experimental and computational methods. Miyamoto et al [2] studied experimentally the effects of splitter blades on the flow behaviours and characteristics in unshrouded and shrouded centrifugal impellers.…”