Effect of Induced Wheel and Impeller Inlet Diameter on the Hydrodynamic Performance of High-speed Centrifugal Pumps

Abstract

The high-speed centrifugal pump plays a crucial role in fields such as aerospace and petrochemical industries, owing to its characteristics of elevated rotational speed and high head. During high-speed operation, the centrifugal pump is prone to cavitation, which alters the fluid flow state within the pump, leading to vibrations, noise, and a sudden decrease in pump head and efficiency. Simultaneously, the collapse of cavitation bubbles generates impact pressure that can damage the pump's internal flow components, significantly reducing its operational lifespan and causing severe consequences. Moreover, under constant-flow conditions, the absolute and relative velocities of the fluid at the impeller inlet are functions of the suction pipe diameter. Therefore, there exists an optimal value for the impeller inlet diameter to enhance the centrifugal pump's resistance to cavitation. Similarly, the different geometric and structural parameters of the inducer also influence the hydraulic performance of the centrifugal pump. The focus of this study is on the external characteristics and internal flow patterns of an optimized high-speed centrifugal pump. In this paper, the entire flow field of the model pump is numerically simulated using ANSYS CFX software. The performance and overall flow field state of the high-speed centrifugal pump under different impeller configurations and inlet diameters are explored. The influence of blade wrap angle and inlet diameter on the high-speed centrifugal pump is revealed, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent optimal design.

Keywords

• high-speed pumps
• cavitation performance
• multi condition operation
• hydraulic performance