Effect of temperature of working fluid on the performance of centrifugal thermal pumps

Abstract

In this study, an attempt is made to understand and report the effect of the temperature of working fluid on the performance of a centrifugal pump. Centrifugal pumps which are used in typical automobile applications are considered in this study and the working fluid is taken as water, the temperature ranging from 25°C to 90°C. Simulations are carried out using COMSOL software for varying pressure and temperature values of the working fluid [1]. The changes in the values of discharge, efficiencies, viscous effects of the fluid are observed and analyzed. The results showed that the pressure head and flow rate are inversely proportional which matches with the theory of centrifugal pumps. Viscous effects on pump casing are observed to have higher impact in the volute casing region at all temperatures. The pump efficiency increases initially and then decreases with respect to suction pressure, hence optimum pressure for best efficiency is obtained. However, it is observed that there are marginal changes in the efficiency at higher temperatures.