Study on Impeller Optimization and Operation Method of Variable Speed Centrifugal Pump with Large Flow and Wide Head Variation

Self Cite

The hump phenomenon is a typical hydraulic instability of centrifugal pump. The hump curve is easily found on H-Q characteristic curves of centrifugal pump at low flow conditions. Hump phenomenon causes large vibration and noise and affects the unit stability of star-up process. The impeller model with specific speed ns=100 was used an initial impeller for the high-power centrifugal pump to be developed, and the meridian flow channel keep unchanged. The impeller geometry, the blade profile, blade exit edge, wrap angle, inlet blade angle were optimized to improve hump characteristics. The 3D pump model with the initial and optimized impeller were simulated to obtain the H-Q characteristic curve. The numerical simulation results show that the inlet secondary reflux is significantly weakened, energy characteristics and hump margin of the optimized impeller are obviously improved compared with the initial impeller. The optimized impeller was also tested on the model test system to verify the hump margin. The test results demonstrate that the optimized design considerably improve the centrifugal pump’s hump margin. The results of simulations and model tests verified that impeller optimization was a suitable and efficient way to enhance the hump characteristics. The result provides design reference for long-term safe and stable operation of low-mid specific speed high-power centrifugal pump.

Research on hump characteristics improvement of low-mid specific speed high-power centrifugal pump

Zheng,

Meng,

Tian

et al. 2024

Self Cite

Study on the internal flow evolution mechanism and pressure pulsation characteristics of the transient process of variable speed regulation of centrifugal pump

Li,

Dong,

Zhou

et al. 2024

In view of the fact that it is not possible to quantitatively analyze any change in the internal flow characteristics of traditional centrifugal pumps during variable speed regulation, numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out in this study to obtain the optimal adjustment range of variable speed regulation. A single-stage IS80-65-160 centrifugal pump is modeled in 3D using Pro/E and ICEM software, followed by CFD simulations. Results are compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. Variable speed adjustments ranging from 0.5-1.0 times the original values are applied to observe changes in internal flow characteristics, such as velocity and turbulent kinetic energy. Pressure and velocity variations in different parts of the pump are studied under varied working conditions. Pressure pulsation frequency domain characteristics are measured at monitoring points in the volute. Findings indicate that as flow rate decreases due to variable speed regulation, velocity decreases linearly, while turbulent kinetic energy decreases quadratically in a uniform distribution. Pressure fluctuations within the volute remain within 0.01 Cp range, but at the tongue, fluctuations can reach up to 0.6 Cp, suggesting an optimal adjustment range within 30% of the rated value.

Analysis of variable speed operating range of centrifugal pump with large flow and wide head variation

Zheng,

Tian,

Zhang

et al. 2024

The advantages of variable speed centrifugal pump include its broad operating range, wide operating efficiency zone, high operational stability, and regulative characteristics of input power. When pump station has characteristics such as large flow rate changes, large pump head changes, the conventional fixed speed centrifugal pump cannot meet requirements of safe and stable operation under characteristic pump conditions. In order to ensure the safe and stable operation of the pump station within the operation range, the variable speed operation strategy of centrifugal pumps is adopted to enhance its wide amplitude adjustment capability and efficient operation. This paper uses an 8MW centrifugal pump with wide head range in China to analyze the factors that influence the operating range of pump unit in detail. The results indicate that the variable speed pump unit’s safe and effective operating range is determined by the cavitation margin, hump margin, speed range, and pump maximum input power. The hydraulic design can improve the hump safety margin and cavitation characteristics of the operating zone, and then expand the operating range of the pump unit. Meanwhile, increasing the static suction head, reducing the hump margin, controlling pump head amplitude, and appropriately increasing the maximum input power limit are the best ways to extend centrifugal pump’s operating range and improve its adjustable capability. The results can provide reference for parameter selection and hydraulic design of large variable centrifugal pump in the future.