CFD simulation and experimental validation of a horizontal pump intake system

Abstract

In the present study, the numerical simulation of a horizontal pump intake system with multiple pumps has been presented. Simulations were performed using a commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software code FLUENT, which included estimation of variables such as velocity distribution at the cross section of draft tube inlet, swirl angle in the pump suction pipe and streamline patterns in the sump chamber. Four different cases given by three different sets of discharges and three different operating conditions defined by number of pumps running both symmetrically and asymmetrically were tested. Numerically computed average velocity data, vertical velocity profiles at the draft tube inlet and swirl angle at the pump suction pipe are in good agreement with the experimentally obtained ones. CFD also predicted the formation of a circulation zone in the forebay, which is in good agreement with the experimental observations although its size was greater than that estimated by CFD.