Optimization of helico-axial multiphase pump impeller based on orthogonal experimental design

Abstract

ABSTRACT In order to further optimize the helico-axial oil gas multiphase pump with higher efficiency and pressure rise, the orthogonal design method, numerical simulation and experiment investigation had been presented in this paper. Initially, for the purpose of obtaining the optimum parameters of multiphase pump with the pressure rise and efficiency as the evaluation targets, the L 9 (3 4 ) orthogonal table was implemented, the four parameters as factors are flange inlet angle, flange outlet angle, hub half cone angle and inlet top-hub ratio which generated nine combinations of the four parameters. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) was adopted to simulate every combination obtained by orthogonal design method, and the data of nine sets of evaluation targets were acquired which could reflect the external characteristic of the multiphase pump. Through analyzing the evaluation targets orthogonal design, the optimized combination parameters had been obtained. Then the new optimal impeller was processed and tested on the new test stand. After that, external characteristic comparison between original and optimized multiphase pump were performed in different working condition, such as the rotate speed were 3000rpm, 3600rpm, 3900rpm, 4200rpm, 4500rpm. The result showed that pressure rise and efficiency were increased respectively, also indicated the orthogonal design method combined with numerical simulation could be used for design of multiphase pump. Keywords: Multiphase pump, orthogonal table, Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes, external characteristic, experiment 1. INTRODUCTION Helico-axial multiphase pumps can be capable of pumping vari ous combinations of oil, water, gas and minor amounts of sand in the same pipeline without separation, which has been widely applied in offshore and onshore and also provides a cost effective option to develop remote and marginal oil filed discoveries