The Effects of Different Splitter Blades Number on Characteristics of Miniature Super-Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump

Abstract

Splitter blades are often used to improve the performance parameters of super-low specific speed centrifugal pumps, while the number of splitter blades is the most important influencing factor of head and efficiency. In order to study the effect of different number of splitter blades between long blades on the external characteristics and internal flow field of centrifugal pumps, the numerical simulation of four impeller models has been carried out by Fluent. The results show that splitter blades can raise head and efficiency of the centrifugal pump, so that the performance curve moves toward large flow rate area. The low speed area on the pressure surface of the long blade reduces with the slip and separation inhibited. When the number of splitter blades increase gradually, the head of the centrifugal pump has not much increase while the efficiency decreases. Most of the medium flow out through the runner on the pressure surface leaving the others blockage due to the backflow and vortexes, resulting in large hydraulic loss.