Numerical Investigation of Flow Field and Energy Loss in a Centrifugal Pump as Turbine

Yong Zhu,Dongrong Meng,Jingze Li,Xun Qiao

doi:10.1155/2020/8884385

Abstract

Centrifugal pumps as turbine (PAT) are widely used in petrochemical and water conservancy industries. The research on the internal flow field and energy loss of PAT is of great significance to improve the performance and efficiency of PAT. In this paper, experimental and numerical simulation methods are used to study the energy loss and flow field. The results show that the numerical simulation method can accurately simulate the internal flow field of PAT. And the entropy generation theory is applied to visualize the internal energy loss of PAT through the comparison of total pressure loss and entropy generation. The highest energy loss among PAT components is the guide vane. The loss in the guide vane is mainly caused by the flow separation caused by the wake of the guide vane and the asymmetric structure of the volute. The losses in the impeller are mainly due to flow separation and wake. Besides, the unsteady simulation results show that rotor-stator interaction has a great influence on the gap between the impeller and the guide vane. The research results provide a reference for the design of the PAT. This study is beneficial to studying the dynamic and static interference and PAT vibration to improve the stability of the PAT.

Highlights

Centrifugal pumps as turbines (PAT) are widely used in steel, petrochemical, and water conservancy industries to recover energy from high-pressure liquids in the production process due to their low cost and high efficiency
Bozorgi et al [11] used numerical simulation to numerically simulate and verify the reverse mode industrial axial pump. e results show that the numerical simulation method can accurately predict the PAT performance and confirm that the axial flow pump in the reverse mode can operate normally in a small hydropower station
A new method to determine the best efficiency point (BEP) of PAT was proposed, and it is found that the high-efficiency area of PAT is relatively wide, which exists in large flow conditions

Summary

Research Article

Numerical Investigation of Flow Field and Energy Loss in a Centrifugal Pump as Turbine. Centrifugal pumps as turbine (PAT) are widely used in petrochemical and water conservancy industries. E research on the internal flow field and energy loss of PAT is of great significance to improve the performance and efficiency of PAT. Experimental and numerical simulation methods are used to study the energy loss and flow field. E results show that the numerical simulation method can accurately simulate the internal flow field of PAT. E highest energy loss among PAT components is the guide vane. E losses in the impeller are mainly due to flow separation and wake. The unsteady simulation results show that rotor-stator interaction has a great influence on the gap between the impeller and the guide vane. The unsteady simulation results show that rotor-stator interaction has a great influence on the gap between the impeller and the guide vane. e research results provide a reference for the design of the PAT. is study is beneficial to studying the dynamic and static interference and PAT vibration to improve the stability of the PAT

Introduction

Results and Discussion

SIM EXP

Guide vane

Volute Guide vane Impeller