Calculation of flow in incompressible regenerative turbo-machines with bucket form blades based on the geometry of flow path

Abstract

Purpose Regenerative flow pumps are dynamic machines with the ability to develop high heads at low flow rates. Simplicity, compactness, stable features and low manufacturing costs make them interesting for many applications in industries. The purpose of this study is to present a new method for calculating the flow through regenerative pumps with bucket form blades to predict the performance curves by a cheap and easy-to-use way. Design/methodology/approach The analysis was carried out based on the geometric shape of a fluid particle trajectory in a regenerative turbomachine. The fluid particle path was assumed to be a helix wrapped into a torus. Loss models were considered and the results of predictions were compared with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data. Findings The overall trend of performance curves resulted from presented model looked consistent with CFD data. However, there were slight differences in high and low flow coefficients. The results showed that the predicted geometric shape of the flow path with the presented model (a helix wrapped into a torus) was not consistent with CFD results at high flow coefficients. Due to the complexity and turbulence of the fluid flow and errors in the calculation of losses, as well as slip factor, there was a discrepancy between the results of the presented model and numerical simulation, especially in high and low flow coefficients. Originality/value The analysis was carried out based on the geometric shape of a fluid particle trajectory in a regenerative turbomachine with bucket form blades. The fluid particle path was assumed to be a helix wrapped into a torus.

Regression-Analysis-Based Empirical Correlations to Design Regenerative Flow Machines

“…No parametric studies involving the stripper angle have been carried out for doubleside vane impeller machines. For pumps, Badami and Mura [13] used 311 • , Maity et al [35] used 316 • , and an angle of 344 • was used by [23][24][25][26]. For hydrogen and air compressors, Badami and Mura [14] used an angle of 340 • , whereas, for helium, they used 270 • .…”

“…They considered symmetric as well as asymmetric vanes. Nejadali [23] presented an easy and novel method to compute flow in a pump with a bucket shape vane. Nejad et al [24] conducted experiments and found out the best vane angle (10 • ) for a pump.…”

Regenerative flow pumps, blowers and compressors – A review

“…As a general practice, CFD studies are validated by experimental results. However, Nejadali 60 developed an analytical method to compute the flow characteristics in a Regenerative Flow Pump (RFP). He treated the fluid flow trajectory as helical and wrapped in a Taurus.…”