Assessment of cavitation noise in a centrifugal pump using acoustic finite element method and spherical cavity radiation theory

Abstract

To examine the cavitation noise characteristics of centrifugal pumps, the combination of test and simulation was applied in this study. The numerical method is based on spherical cavity radiation theory and the acoustic finite element method. A multi-field synchronized test-rig was built to study and validate the numerical results under cavitating flow and cavitation noise conditions. The three-dimensional unsteady flow-field simulation was carried out inside the centrifugal pump based on DES and the improved-RZGB cavitation model. The constructed numerical method for cavitation noise was used to solve the acoustic-field based on the flow-field solutions. The test–simulation comparison reveal that the numerical simulation results are consistent and reliable. The development of cavitation has a stronger influence on the strong vorticity regions in the impeller flow channel, and the vortex has a promotional-effect on the formation of cavitation. With the same cavitation number, the acoustic-power on the blade suction-side is greater than the pressure-side of the blade. As the cavitation number decreases, the pulsating radiated noise of cavitation volume is the primary noise-source for the increased acoustic-power value. At this stage, the SPL and total SPL at the model pump inlet show a decreasing trend during the severe cavitation-stage.