Effects of the outlet position of splitter blade on the flow characteristics in low-specific-speed centrifugal pump

Abstract

To elucidate the influences of the outlet position of splitter blades on the performance of a low-specific-speed centrifugal pump, two different splitter blade schemes were proposed: one located in the middle of the channel and the other having a deviation angle at the trailing edge of splitter blade toward the suction side of the main blade. Experiments on the model pump with different splitter blade schemes were conducted, and numerical simulations on internal flow characteristics in the impellers were studied by means of the shear stress transport k - ω turbulence model. The results suggest that there is a good agreement between the experimental and numerical results. The splitter blade schemes can effectively optimize the structure of the jet-wake pattern and improve the internal flow states in the impeller channel. In addition, the secondary flow and inlet circulation on the pressure surface of main blade, the flow separation on the suction side of splitter blade, the pressure coefficient distributions on blade surface can achieve an evident amelioration when the trailing edge of splitter blade toward the suction side of the main blade is mounted at an appropriate position.