Abstract
The blade load distributions reflect the working characteristics of centrifugal impellers, and the vortexes in the impeller channel affect the blade load distribution, but the mechanism of this phenomenon is still unclear. In this study, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was adopted to clarify the correlation between the internal flow pattern and the blade load distribution. The internal flow pattern and the blade load distribution were presented under different working conditions to study the influence of the internal flow pattern on the blade load. Results showed that the vortexes in the flow channel redistributed the blade load. The clockwise vortex made the position of the maximum blade load closer to the outlet, while the counterclockwise vortex had the opposite effect. Meanwhile, the vortexes caused the blade load distribution to be steeper, which reduced energy conversion efficiency. Moreover, the mean absolute flow angle was introduced to explain the mechanism of the effects of vortexes on blade load. The results can be used as a theoretical basis for the design of high-performance impellers.
Highlights
The centrifugal pump is an important energy conversion device
The results showed that when the flow rate was reduced to the flow rate of 0.8 QBEP, flow separation began to form on the suction side of the flow channel
The blade load distribution and the mean absolute flow angle distribution were analyzed along this meridian
Summary
The centrifugal pump is an important energy conversion device. Many researchers adopted various methods to analyze the flow characteristics of the pump and its influence on the pump performance [1,2,3]. Westra et al [16] used the PIV technology to study the internal velocity field distribution characteristics of centrifugal pumps, especially the secondary flow structure in the impeller flow channel. Liu et al [18] applied PIV technology to study the unstable internal flow of a double-blade centrifugal pump impeller at a design flow rate. It focused on the analysis of the change trend of the mean absolute flow angle and the average dynamic pressure. Li et al [29] proposed the blade load distribution based on PIV technology to analyze the energy conversion mechanism in the centrifugal pump impeller. The reasons for the special trend of some blade load distributions were analyzed
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