A Performance Test and Internal Flow Field Simulation of a Vortex Pump

Abstract

Vortex pumps have good non-clogging performance and are widely used in the fluid transportation of food, sewage treatment, and mineral and coal slurry transportation. In order to design and manufacture a vortex pump with good performance and establish a method of optimum design, we must master the internal flow rules of the pump. Based on the self-design vortex pump (32WB8-12) experiment, the discharge-pump head (q v -H), discharge-pump shaft power (q v -P), discharge-pump efficiency (q v -η), and discharge-critical net positive suction head (q v -NPSH c ) curves are obtained, and the q v -NPSH c curve shows an opposite tendency compared with the centrifugal pump. With the mathematical model selected with respect to the optimal condition, the three-dimensional internal flow within the vortex pump has been numerically simulated by a renormalization group k-ε (RNG k-ε) turbulence model. The static pressure (p s ) and velocity distribution of the impeller and the middle section of the volute at 0 • , 90 • , 180 • , and 270 • are obtained, and the performance curves have been fitted using a CFX-calculated energy parameter. It was illustrated that the velocity field is relatively disordered and the flow in the impeller region is of a forced vortex character. The flow in the volute is similar to that of the combined vortex with backflow, which is a non-axisymmetric unsteady flow with quite high turbulence intensity. These factors are the main reasons for the relatively low efficiency of the vortex pump. The measurement of flow field in volute with a five-hole probe was conducted, and it is demonstrated that the numerical results are in good agreement with the flow field measurement data. An upward pressure gradient forms in the portal area of the impeller, and it is confirmed that the lowest pressure point is located in the upper position of the impeller hub. It is revealed that for the vortex pump to have advanced suction and anti-cavitation performance, the lowest pressure in the pump should be −4 × 10 4 Pa and it should be located at the center of the vortex chamber cavity.

Experimental and CFD Simulation Studies on Bell-Type Air Nozzles of CFB Boilers

“…Therefore, the RNG k-ε was used for calculation. The model was developed by Yokhot and Orszag et al [27,28] using the RNG method based on the standard k-ε model, which is suitable for the simulation of high-speed gas flow [7,14,[29][30][31].…”

Multiobjective Hydraulic Design and Performance Analysis of a Vortex Pump Based on Orthogonal Tests

“…Its basic characteristic is to use partial test instead of comprehensive test, and it is an efficient, fast, and economical experimental design method [29,30]. By studying and summarizing the previous research results on the blade of the vortex pump, it can be found that the most important factors of the blade deflecting of the vortex pump mainly include the position of the blade deflecting point, the angle of the blade inlet and outlet, and the thickness and width of the blade [31][32][33][34][35].…”