Abstract
The Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the shear stress transport k-w turbulence model are employed to simulate the centrifugal pump with or without clearance flows. The simulation results have been compared with the experimental data and good agreement has been achieved. Results show that clearance flow causes a decrease in the characteristics of the centrifugal pump, particularly in pressure fluctuation. The largest deviation of the amplitude of pressure fluctuation between the centrifugal pump with and without clearance flow is 65.34 %. The numerical results also show that the clearance flow causes collision impact with the mainstream flow and forms a multiple vortex structure at the impeller entrance. Clearance flow greatly affects the pressure distribution in the impeller passage, which is opposite to the volute tongue, especially at the suction side of the blade surface. The wave distribution decreases along the direction of the hub to the shroud, which indicating that the influence of clearance flow weakens along this direction.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
J. F. Gulich, Centrifugal Pumps, Berlin: Springer (2008).
Y. L. Wu, S. C. Li, S. H. Liu, H.-S. Dou and Z. D. Qian, Vibration of Hydraulic Machinery, Berlin: Springer (2013).
X. M. Guo, L. H. Zhu, Z. C. Zhu, B. L. Cui and Y. Li, Numerical and experimental investigations on the cavitation characteristics of a high-speed centrifugal pump with a splitter-blade inducer, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 29 (1) (2015) 259–267.
X. J. Li, P. L. Gao, Z. C. Zhu and Y. Li, Effect of the blade loading distribution on hydrodynamic performance of a centrifugal pump with cylindrical blades, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 32 (3) (2018) 1161–1170.
Y. Li, G. W. Feng, X. J. Li, Q. R. Si and Z. C. Zhu, An experimental study on the cavitation vibration characteristics of a centrifugal pump at normal flow rate, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 32 (10) (2018) 4711–4720.
W. X. Ye, R. F. Huang, Z. W. Jiang, X. J. Li, Z. C. Zhu and X. W. Luo, Instability analysis under part-load conditions in centrifugal pump, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 33 (1) (2019) 269–278.
R. Spence and J. Amaral-Teixeira, A CFD parametric study of geometrical variations on the pressure pulsations and performance characteristics of a centrifugal pump, Computers & Fluids, 38 (6) (2009) 1243–1257.
L. L. Zheng, H.-S. Dou, X. P. Chen, Z. C. Zhu and B. L. Cui, Pressure fluctuation generated by the interaction of blade and tongue, Journal of Thermal Science, 27 (1) (2018) 8–16.
J. J. Feng, F.-K. Benra and H. J. Dohmen, Investigation of periodically unsteady flow in a radial pump by CFD simulations and LDV measurements, Journal of Turbomachinery, 133 (1) (2011) 011004.
W. Z. Zhang, Z. Y. Yu and B. S. Zhu, Influence of tip clearance on pressure fluctuation in low specific speed mixed-flow pump passage, Energies, 10 (2) (2017) 148.
J. S. Zhang and L. Tan, Energy performance and pressure fluctuation of a multiphase pump with different gas volume fractions, Energies, 11 (5) (2018) 1216.
Z. F. Yao, F. J. Wang, L. X. Qu, R. F. Xiao, C. L. He and M. Wang, Experimental investigation of time-frequency characteristics of pressure fluctuations in a double-suction centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 133 (10) (2011) 101303.
B. Gao, N. Zhang, Z. Li, D. Ni and M. G. Yang, Influence of the blade trailing edge profile on the performance and unsteady pressure pulsations in a low specific speed centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 138 (5) (2016) 051106.
B. Gao, P. M. Guo, N. Zhang, Z. Li and M. G. Yang, Unsteady pressure pulsation measurements and analysis of a low specific speed centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 139 (7) (2017) 071101.
R. Spence and J. Amaral-Teixeira, Investigation into pressure pulsations in a centrifugal pump using numerical methods supported by industrial test, Computers & Fluids, 37 (6) (2008) 690–704.
N. Zhang, M. G. Yang, B. Gao, L. Zhong and N. Dan, Experimental investigation on unsteady pressure pulsation in a centrifugal pump with special slope volute, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 137 (6) (2015) 061103.
L. L. Zheng, H.-S. Dou, X. P. Chen, Z. C Zhu and B. L. Cui, Numerical investigation of flow instability in centrifugal pump based on energy gradient method, ASME Turbo Expo 2016: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Seoul (2016) V02DT44A032.
X. P. Chen, Z. C. Zhu, H.-S. Dou and L. Yi, Large eddy simulation of energy gradient field in a centrifugal pump impeller, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 233 (11) (2019) 4047–4057.
T. Sano, Y. Yoshida, Y. Tsujimoto, Y. Nakamura and T. Ma-tsushima, Numerical study of rotating stall in a pump vaned diffuser, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 124 (2) (2002) 363–370.
O. Pacot, C. Kato, Y. Guo, Y. Yamade and F. Avellan, Large eddy simulation of the rotating stall in a pump-turbine operated in pumping mode at a part-load condition, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 138 (11) (2016) 111102.
A. Lucius and G. Brenner, Numerical simulation and evaluation of velocity fluctuations during rotating stall of a centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 133 (8) (2011) 081102.
M. Sinha, A. Pinarbasi and J. Katz, The flow structure during onset and developed states of rotating stall within a vaned dif-fuser of a centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 123 (3) (2001) 490–499.
K. Brun and R. Kurz, Analysis of secondary flows in centrifugal impellers, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, 2005 (1) (2005) 45–52.
Z. Zhang, Rotating stall mechanism and stability control in the pump flows, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 225 (6) (2011) 779–788.
J. Gonzalez, J. Fernandez, E. Blanco and C. Santolaria, Numerical simulation of the dynamic effects due to impeller-volute interaction in a centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 124 (2) (2002) 348–355.
R. W. Westra, L. Broersma, K. van Andel and N. P. Kruyt, PIV measurements and CFD computations of secondary flow in a centrifugal pump impeller, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 132 (6) (2010) 061104.
L. Cao, Y. X. Xiao, Z. W. Wang, Y. Y. Luo and X. R. Zhao, Pressure fluctuation characteristics in the sidewall gaps of a centrifugal dredging pump, Engineering Computations, 34 (4) (2017) 1054–1069.
D. S. Zhang, W. D. Shi, B. P. M. B. Van Esch, L. Shi and M. Dubuisson, Numerical and experimental investigation of tip leakage vortex trajectory and dynamics in an axial flow pump, Computers & Fluids, 112 (2) (2015) 61–71.
D. S. Zhang, W. D. Shi, D. Z. Pan and M. Dubuisson, Numerical and experimental investigation of tip leakage vortex cavitation patterns and mechanisms in an axial flow pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 137 (12) (2015) 121103.
B. C. Will, F. K. Benra and H. J. Dohmen, Investigation of the flow in the impeller side clearances of a centrifugal pump with volute casing, Journal of Thermal Science, 21 (3) (2012) 197–208.
X. Q. Jia, B. L. Cui, Y. L. Zhang and Z. C. Zhu, Study on internal flow and external performance of a semi-open impeller centrifugal pump with different tip clearances, International Journal of Turbo & Jet-Engines, 32 (1) (2015) 1–12.
J. J. Feng, X. Q. Luo, P. C. Guo and G. K. Wu, Influence of tip clearance on pressure fluctuations in an axial flow pump, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 30 (4) (2016) 1603–1610.
X. L. Fu, D. Y. Li, H. J. Wang, G. H. Zhang, Z. G. Li and X. Z. Wei, Influence of the clearance flow on the load rejection process in a pump-turbine, Renewable Energy, 127 (2018) 310–321.
Y. B. Liu and L. Tan, Spatial-temporal evolution of tip leakage vortex in a mixed-flow pump with tip clearance, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 141 (8) (2019) 081302.
L. Cao, Y. Y. Zhang, Z. W. Wang, Y. X. Xiao and R. X. Liu, Effect of axial clearance on the efficiency of a shrouded centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 137 (7) (2015) 071101.
H. L. Liu, J. Ding, H. W. Dai and M. G. Tan, Investigation into transient flow in a centrifugal pump with wear ring clearance variation, Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 6 (2014) 693097.
W. G. Zhao, M. Y. He, C. X. Qi and Y. B. Li, Research on the effect of wear-ring clearances to the axial and radial force of a centrifugal pump, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 52 (2013) 072015.
W. G. Li, An experimental study on the effect of oil viscosity and wear-ring clearance on the performance of an industrial centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 134 (1) (2012) 014501.
M. DaqiqShirazi, R. Torabi, A. Riasi and S. A. Nourbakhsh, The effect of wear ring clearance on flow field in the impeller sidewall gap and efficiency of a low specific speed centrifugal pump, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 232 (17) (2018) 3062–3073.
J. R. Yan, Z. T. Zuo, W. B. Guo, H. C. Hou, X. Zhou and H. S. Chen, Influences of wear-ring clearance leakage on performance of a small-scale pump-turbine, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy (2019).
K. Majidi, Numerical study of unsteady flow in a centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 127 (2) (2005) 363–371.
L. Zhou, W. D. Shi, W. Li and R. Agarwal, Numerical and experimental study of axial force and hydraulic performance in a deep-well centrifugal pump with different impeller rear shroud radius, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 135 (10) (2013) 104501.
Y. X. Fu, J. P. Yuan, S. Q. Yuan, G. Pace, L. d’Agostino, P. Huang and X. J. Li, Numerical and experimental analysis of flow phenomena in a centrifugal pump operating under low flow rates, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 137 (1) (2015) 011102.
Z. X. Gao, W. R Zhu, L. Lu, J. Deng, J. G. Zhang and F. J. Wuang, Numerical and experimental study of unsteady flow in a large centrifugal pump with stay vanes, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 136 (7) (2014) 071101.
S. S Yang, H. L. Liu, F. Y. Kong, B. Xia and L. W. Tan, Effects of the radial gap between impeller tips and volute tongue influencing the performance and pressure pulsations of pump as turbine, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 136 (5) (2014) 054501.
B. Gao, N. Zhang, Z. Li, D. Ni and M. G. Yang, Influence of the blade trailing edge profile on the performance and unsteady pressure pulsations in a low specific speed centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 138 (5) (2016) 051106.
B. Gao, P. M. Guo, N. Zhang, Z. Li and M. G. Yang, Unsteady pressure pulsation measurements and analysis of a low specific speed centrifugal pump, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 139 (7) (2017) 071101.
Q. R. Si, J. P. Yuan, S. Q. Yuan, W. J. Wang, L. Zhu and G. Bois, Numerical investigation of pressure fluctuation in centrifugal pump volute based on SAS model and experimental validation, Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 6 (2014) 972081.
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the Joint Project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Zhejiang Province (U1709209), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51976198, 51579224, 51876103) and the Public Projects of Zhejiang Province (LGG19E060006).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Recommended by Editor Yang Na
Lulu Zheng is currently a lecturer at Henan Institute of Technology, China. He received his Ph.D. degree from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in 2018. His main areas of interest are turbo-machinery, clearance flow and computational fluid dynamics.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zheng, L., Chen, X., Dou, HS. et al. Effects of clearance flow on the characteristics of centrifugal pump under low flow rate. J Mech Sci Technol 34, 189–200 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-1220-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-1220-2