Numerical investigation of solid-liquid two phase flow in a non-clogging centrifugal pump at off-design conditions

Abstract

The solid-liquid two-phase flow fields in the non-clogging centrifugal pump with a double-channel impeller have been investigated numerically for the design condition and also off-design conditions, in order to study the solid-liquid two-phase flow pattern and non-clogging mechanism in non-clogging centrifugal pumps. The main conclusions include: The sand volume fraction distribution is extremely inhomogeneous in the whole flow channel of the pump at off-design conditions. In the impeller, particles mainly flow along the pressure surface and hub; In the volute, particles mainly accumulate in the region near to the exit of volute, the largest sand volume fraction is observed at the tongue, and a large number of particles collide with volute wall and exit the volute after circling around the volute for several times. When the particle diameter increases, particles tend to accumulate on the pressure side of the impeller, and more particles crash with the pressure side of the blade. And larger sand volume fraction gratitude is also observed in the whole flow channel of the pump. With the decrease of the inlet sand volume fraction, particles tend to accumulate on the suction side of the blade. Compared with the particle diameter, the inlet sand volume fraction has less influence on the sand volume fraction gratitude in the whole channel of the pump. At the large flow rate, the minimum and maximum sand volume fraction in the whole flow channel of the model pump tends to be smaller than that at the small flow rate. Thus, it is concluded that the water transportation capacity increases with the flow rate. This research will strengthen people's understanding of the multiphase flow pattern in non-clogging centrifugal pumps, thus provides a theoretical basis for the optimal design of non-clogging centrifugal pumps.