Computational Investigation of the Flow Field Inside an Submersible Tubular Pump

Abstract

Submersible tubular pump is particularly suitable for ultra-low head (net head less than 2 m) pumping station which can reduce the excavation depth, lower engine room height, simplify hydraulic structure, and save civil engineering costs. Submersible tubular pump with smaller motor unit can reduce the flow resistance. The flow field inside the submersible tubular pump is simulated in a commercial computation fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT. The RNG k-ε turbulent model and SIMPLE algorithm are applied to analyze the full passage of a submersible tubular pump, the performance of pump such as head, shaft power and efficiency are predicted based on the calculation of different operating conditions. The simulations are carried out over a wide range of operating points, from 0.8 of the reference mass flow rate at the best efficiency point (BEP) to the 1.28 of the BEP flow rate at the same rotating speed. For verifying the accuracy and reliability of the calculation results, a model test is conducted. The comparison of simulation results and the experiment data show that the calculation performances are agree with the experiment results in the high efficiency area and large discharge condition, but in the condition of low discharge, it exists deviations between the two results. Compare with the numerical simulation and experiment, which can provide more evidences for the hydraulic performance prediction and optimization design of submersible tubular pump pumping system.