Unsteady flow in a viscous oil transporting centrifugal pump

Abstract

AbstractAcoustic resonances are frequently fatal problems in centrifugal pump operations. Low pressure pulsation of fluid in the blade pass frequency is helpful to prevent from such problems. In addition, for a high quality centrifugal pump, a lower broadband noise level is also on demand. The acoustic resonance and broadband noise are associated with unsteadiness of flow in the pump. Even there exist extensive analyses of unsteady flow in centrifugal pumps by means of CFD so far, the effect of high viscosity of fluid pumped on the unsteadiness of flow feature remains unclear. Thus, the unsteady flow in an experimental centrifugal pump was exploited numerically when it transported the liquids with different viscosities. The velocity profiles at the impeller discharge were validated with the results of LDV measurement for water. The viscosity effect on the fluctuation of flow in the volute was clarified quantitatively. It was shown the increasing viscosity of fluid makes the fluctuation in flow variables less substantial and results into a less noticed tendency of separation of flow from the blade pressure side.