Effects of Different Silt Particle Concentrations on Cavitation Evolution in the Centrifugal Pump

Abstract

Numerical simulations on effects of diverse silt particle concentrations on cavitation evolution in the centrifugal pump were performed. It was silt particle-water cavitation flow. The concentrations employed were 1%, 5%, and 10%. Evolutions of cavitation bubbles and streamlines and variations of head were studied. Results indicated that under the cavitation number of 0.55, cavitation evolution degree under the concentration of 1% became stronger than in pure water cavitation flow (PWCF); for 5% and 10%, the degrees were weaker than that of PWCF. Streamlines were more disorder and corresponding regions were larger for 1% and 10%; for 5%, they had contrary variations. Head increased first and then, decreased. At the cavitation number of 0.11, cavitation evolution degree under all concentration conditions were more intense than in PWCF. With the concentration increase, cavitation evolution degree was stronger; streamline disorder degree was more intense and corresponding regions were larger; head decreased steadily.