Application of three cavitation models in centrifugal pump cavitation flow simulation

Abstract

In order to solve the problems of difficult and inaccurate cavitation simulation in centrifugal pumps, this paper adopts the commercial software CFX and realizes the same-platform comparison of Zwart-Gerber-Belamri model, Kunz model and Schner-Saer model in the simulation of centrifugal pumps’ cavitation by using its own language. The research results show that the Schner-Saer model can predict the external characteristics of the pump more accurately without considering the coefficient correction; By adjusting the empirical coefficients, different cavitation models can achieve the same effect; The Kunz model can predict the pressure distribution in the impeller more accurately, and the error is basically kept within 10% except for the local complex flow area; The change of the pump head is more obviously affected by the volume of the vapour in impeller, but weakly affected by the morphology of the vapour.