Influence of trailing edge flap length and deflection angle on the performance of the multiphase pump

Abstract

At medium to high gas content rates, the gas-liquid separation phenomenon and the stagnation behaviors of the gas masses occurring in the impeller channels are essential factors affecting the hydraulic performance of multiphase pumps. This paper designs a split trailing edge flap suitable for the multiphase pump to improve the hydraulic performance in the impeller by varying the flap deflection angle and length. The model’s reliability was assessed by comparing the experimental outcome with the external characteristics of the experimental data. Based on the Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase model and the SST k‐ω turbulence model, the effects of different flap lengths on external characteristics, the turbulent kinetic energy and pressure distribution are analyzed. The study results show that when the length of the separated trailing edge flap is 0.25 l0 and the deflection angle is 5°, the transporting efficiency of the multiphase pump is the highest at IGVF=50% with an efficiency increase of 3.40% compared to the original model. Its optimal flap length scheme effectively reduces the radial pressure gradient and the inverse pressure gradient in the impeller channel, which suppresses the gas blockage phenomenon to a certain extent.