Optimizing and Self-Cleaning the Prefabricated Pumping Station Based on Two-phase Fluid Modelling

Abstract

【Objective】 Prefabricated pump is commonly used in hydraulic projects and the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the geometrical structure of its bottom on operating performance and sediment deposition in the pump. 【Method】 The study was based on multiphase flow, in which the solid-liquid interaction within the pump was numerically simulated using the software CFX. Different optimization schemes were designed to realize self-cleaning of the prefabricated pump. Based on the simulated flow field at the bottom of the pump, we compared the performance of four geometric structures: flat bottom, platform bottom, conical bottom and elliptical bottom. 【Result】 Sediment did deposit in the pump with the flat or oval bottom, but replacing the bottom to cone and bench shape can substantially reduce the sediment deposition. We also found alternative ways to reduce the sediment deposition in the pump. Under the designed flow rate, the fluid velocity uniformity at the inlet for flat, platform conical and elliptical bottom was 86.5%, 90.7%, 94.3% and 88.3% respectively. 【Conclusion】 Optimizing the inlet geometry of the prefabricated pump can smoothen flow velocity and reduce siltation. In addition to maintaining high operation efficiency of the pump, it also reduced silt deposition and self-cleaning the pump. Our results have important implications for the design of prefabricated pumping stations in hydraulic projects.

Keywords

• prefabricated pumping station
• bottom form
• sedimentation
• flow field characteristics
• cfd