Abstract
Vortex pumps can impel solid-containing fluids and are therefore widely applied, from wastewater transport to the food industry. Despite constant efforts to improve vortex pumps, however, they have remained relatively inefficient compared to conventional centrifugal pumps. To find an optimized design of vortex pumps, this paper provides a systematic analysis on experimental studies that investigated how variations in geometric parameters influence vortex pump characteristics, in particular the pump head, the pressure coefficient and the efficiency for best point operation. To this end, an extensive literature search was conducted, and eighteen articles with 53 primary investigations were identified and meta-integrated. This showed that it is not yet clarified how vortex pumps operate. Two different assumptions of the underlying operating principle of a vortex pump lead to diverging design principles. From the results of this meta-analysis, we deduce recommendations for a more efficient design of a vortex pump and emphasize further aspects on the underlying operating principle of a vortex pump.
Highlights
The semi-open, recessed impeller and the enlarged side gap at the front chamber are the characteristics of vortex pumps that impel fluids with solid and fibrous material at a minimal risk of clogging
Both are based on different assumptions of the underlying operating principle of a vortex pump
In the covered design (Figure 2a), the impeller is set back into the casing, and the casing completely covers the radial impeller outlet. Researchers who follow this design concept likely assume that the operating principle of vortex pumps is comparable to a hydraulic coupling, where the impeller induces a vortex in the enlarged side chamber and thereby transports the fluid (e.g., [11,29])
Summary
The semi-open, recessed impeller and the enlarged side gap at the front chamber are the characteristics of vortex pumps that impel fluids with solid and fibrous material at a minimal risk of clogging. The aim of this paper is to find an improved design of vortex pumps in terms of efficiency and flow characteristics To this end, an extensive literature search was conducted. All articles varied geometrical aspects in the impeller and/or the casing and reported the pump characteristics. From these results, we deduce recommendations for a more efficient design. The literature search revealed that vortex pumps were designed according to two diverging design principles: the covered design or the open design. Both are based on different assumptions of the underlying operating principle of a vortex pump
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