Numerical investigation of cavitation suppression of centrifugal pump based on the bionic humpback whale blade

Abstract

Cavitation is inevitable during the operation of centrifugal pumps, it leads to the decrease in head and efficiency, and induced pressure fluctuation. This paper takes low specific speed centrifugal pump as the research object, a method of inhibiting cavitation by bionic humpback whale blade is proposed, the SST turbulence model is used to numerically study the whole flow passage of centrifugal pump. Comparative analysis of the cavitation characteristic curves under design conditions, the effects of bionic blades on water vapour volume fraction distribution, static pressure distribution, turbulent kinetic energy, vorticity field, streamline were investigated, the variation laws of cavitation morphology under different cavitation numbers is clarified. The research provides theoretical support for improving the cavitation performance and operation stability of centrifugal pump.