Exit flow measurements of a centrifugal pump impeller

Abstract

Discharge flows from a centrifugal pump impeller with a specific speed of 150 [rpm, m3/min, m] were experimentally investigated. A large axisymmetric collector instead of a volute casing was installed to obtain circumferentially uniform flow, i.e. without interaction of the impeller and the volute. The unsteady flow was measured at the impeller exit and vaneless diffuser using a hot film probe and a pressure transducer. The flow at impeller exit showed pronounced jet-wake flow patterns. The wake, which was on the suction/hub side at high flow rate, became enlarged pitchwisely on both the hub and the shroud side as the flow rate decreases. The pitchwise non-uniformity of the flow rapidly decreased along the downstream and the nonuniformity almost disappeared at radius ratio of 1.18 for medium flow rate. The mean vaneless diffuser flow was reasonably predicted using a one dimensional analysis when an empirical constant was used to specify the skin friction coefficient. The data can be used for a centrifugal pump impeller design and validation of CFD codes and flow modeling.