Numerical simulation and analysis of flow characteristics in the front chamber of a centrifugal pump

Abstract

We performed numerical simulations to study the flow characteristic in a centrifugal pump based on the RANS equations and the RNG k-e turbulent model. The flow field, including the front and back pump chambers, the impeller wear-ring, the impeller passage, the volute casing, the inlet section and outlet section was calculated to obtain accurate numerical results of fluid flow in a centrifugal pump. The flow characteristic was studied from the internal flow structure in pump chambers, the radial velocity at impeller outlet as well as the pressure inside of the pump, the circumferential velocity and the radial velocity in front pump chamber. The variation of flow parameters in internal flow versus flow rate in the centrifugal pump was analyzed. The results show that the overall performance of the pump is in good agreement with the experimental data. The simulation results show that the distribution of flow field in the front pump chamber is axial asymmetry. The energy dissipation at the impeller outlet is larger than other areas. The distribution of the circumferential velocity and that of radial velocity are similar along the axial direction in the front pump chamber, but the distribution of flow is different along the circumferential and the radial directions. It was also found that the vorticity is large at the impeller inlet compared with other areas.