The characteristics of flow instabilities as well as the cavitation phenomenon in a centrifugal pump operating at low flow rates were studied by experimental and numerical means, respectively. Specially, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model of cavitation was applied to simulate the internal flow through the pump and suitably long portions of the inlet and outlet ducts. As expected, cavitation proved to occur over a wide range of low flow rates, producing a characteristic creeping shape of the head-drop curve and developing in the form of nonaxisymmetric cavities. As expected, the occurrence of these cavities, attached to the blade suction sides, was found to depend on the pump's flow coefficient and cavitation number. The experiments focused on the flow visualization of the internal flow patterns by means of high-speed digital movies and in the analysis of the inlet pressure pulsations near the impeller eye by means of fast response pressure transducers. The experimental results showed that the unsteady behavior of the internal flow in the centrifugal pump operating at low flow rates has the characteristics of a peculiar low-frequency oscillation. Meanwhile, under certain conditions, the low-frequency pressure fluctuations were closely correlated to the flow instabilities induced by the occurrence of cavitation phenomena at low flow rates. Finally, the hydraulic performances of the centrifugal pump predicted by numerical simulations were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data.
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January 2015
Research-Article
Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Flow Phenomena in a Centrifugal Pump Operating Under Low Flow Rates
Yanxia Fu,
Yanxia Fu
National Research Center of Pumps,
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013
, China
;Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
e-mail: yanxiafu40@gmail.com
University of Pisa
,2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
Pisa 56121
, Italy
e-mail: yanxiafu40@gmail.com
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Jianping Yuan,
Jianping Yuan
1
Professor
National Research Center of Pumps,
Zhenjiang 212013,
e-mail: yh@ujs.edu.cn
National Research Center of Pumps,
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013,
China
e-mail: yh@ujs.edu.cn
1Corresponding author.
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Shouqi Yuan,
Shouqi Yuan
Professor
National Research Center of Pumps,
Zhenjiang 212013,
e-mail: shouqiy@ujs.edu.cn
National Research Center of Pumps,
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013,
China
e-mail: shouqiy@ujs.edu.cn
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Giovanni Pace,
Giovanni Pace
Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
e-mail: giov.pace@gmail.com
University of Pisa
,2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
Pisa 56121
, Italy
e-mail: giov.pace@gmail.com
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Luca d'Agostino,
Luca d'Agostino
Professor
Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
e-mail: luca.dagostino@ing.unipi.it
Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
University of Pisa
,2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
Pisa 56121
, Italy
e-mail: luca.dagostino@ing.unipi.it
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Ping Huang,
Ping Huang
National Research Center of Pumps,
e-mail: Huangping@ujs.edu.cn
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013
, China
e-mail: Huangping@ujs.edu.cn
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Xiaojun Li
Xiaojun Li
National Research Center of Pumps,
e-mail: lixiaojun530@gmail.com
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013
, China
e-mail: lixiaojun530@gmail.com
Search for other works by this author on:
Yanxia Fu
National Research Center of Pumps,
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013
, China
;Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
e-mail: yanxiafu40@gmail.com
University of Pisa
,2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
Pisa 56121
, Italy
e-mail: yanxiafu40@gmail.com
Jianping Yuan
Professor
National Research Center of Pumps,
Zhenjiang 212013,
e-mail: yh@ujs.edu.cn
National Research Center of Pumps,
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013,
China
e-mail: yh@ujs.edu.cn
Shouqi Yuan
Professor
National Research Center of Pumps,
Zhenjiang 212013,
e-mail: shouqiy@ujs.edu.cn
National Research Center of Pumps,
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013,
China
e-mail: shouqiy@ujs.edu.cn
Giovanni Pace
Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
e-mail: giov.pace@gmail.com
University of Pisa
,2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
Pisa 56121
, Italy
e-mail: giov.pace@gmail.com
Luca d'Agostino
Professor
Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
e-mail: luca.dagostino@ing.unipi.it
Civil and Industrial Engineering Department,
University of Pisa
,2 Largo L. Lazzarino,
Pisa 56121
, Italy
e-mail: luca.dagostino@ing.unipi.it
Ping Huang
National Research Center of Pumps,
e-mail: Huangping@ujs.edu.cn
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013
, China
e-mail: Huangping@ujs.edu.cn
Xiaojun Li
National Research Center of Pumps,
e-mail: lixiaojun530@gmail.com
Jiangsu University
,Zhenjiang 212013
, China
e-mail: lixiaojun530@gmail.com
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received October 26, 2013; final manuscript received February 27, 2014; published online September 10, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Satoshi Watanabe.
J. Fluids Eng. Jan 2015, 137(1): 011102 (12 pages)
Published Online: September 10, 2014
Article history
Received:
October 26, 2013
Revision Received:
February 27, 2014
Citation
Fu, Y., Yuan, J., Yuan, S., Pace, G., d'Agostino, L., Huang, P., and Li, X. (September 10, 2014). "Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Flow Phenomena in a Centrifugal Pump Operating Under Low Flow Rates." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. January 2015; 137(1): 011102. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4027142
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