Study on tip leakage vortex in an axial flow pump based on modified shear stress transport k-ω turbulence model

Abstract

The tip leakage vortex structure and trajectory in an axial flow pump were investigated numerically and experimentally based on the modified shear stress transport k-? turbulence model. Numerical results were compared with the experimental leakage vortex trajectories, and a good agreement was presented. The detailed trajectories of tip leakage vortex show that the starting point of tip leakage vortex occurs near the leading edge at small flow rate, and it moves from leading edge to about 30% chord length at design flow rate. At larger flow rate condition, the starting point of tip leakage vortex shifts to the middle of chord.