Effect of Disk Friction Loss Reduction on Flow Phenomena in Low-specific Speed Centrifugal Pump: An Experimental and Numerical Approach

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat 395007, Gujarat, India

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology, Surat 395001, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Disk friction loss (LDF) plays an important factor in the performance of the low-specific speed (NS) centrifugal pump. Reducing the rear axial clearance (Cs,a,r) is profound method to lower the LDF and improve the efficiency of pump (η). In this research article, a low NS = 19 rpm centrifugal pump was evaluated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental analysis at different 1000, 900 and 800 rpms over a range of flow rates (Q). Two models: Model A with original Cs,a,r of 23 mm and Model B with reduced Cs,a,r of 1 mm were analyzed. To grasp the knowledge about internal flow physics, the pressure contours, velocity contours, velocity vectors and streamlines have been thoroughly studied. CFD results were found in good agreement with the experiments performed on the test setup. The experimental improvements in η at their respective best efficiency points (BEP) were determined to be 3.94%, 3.91%, and 2.81% for 1000, 900, and 800 rpms respectively. While an average 3.43%, 1.79% and 0.76% improvement in head (H) was obtained for 1000, 900, and 800 rpms respectively. Considering the lower disk friction coefficient (Cm) and power loss (PL) due to LDF, the Model B works optimum at higher rpm.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abernethy, R. B., Benedict, R. P., & Dowdell, R. B. (1985). ASME measurement uncertainty. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 107(2), 161–164. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3242450
Adistiya, S., & Wijayanta, A. T. (2019). Effect of clearance gap on hydraulic efficiency of centrifugal pump. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2097. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5098228
Ahmed, H., & Creamer, J. (2024). Why Pumping Infrastructure Matters. https://empoweringpumps.com/schneider-electric-pumping-infrastructure-matters/
Ayad, A. F., Abdalla, H. M., & El-Azm Aly, A. A. (2015). Effect of semi-open impeller side clearance on the centrifugal pump performance using CFD. Aerospace Science and Technology, 47, 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2015.09.033
Badami, M. (1997). Theoretical and experimental analysis of traditional and new periphery Pumps. SAE Technical Papers. https://doi.org/10.4271/971074
Cao, L., Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Xiao, Y., & Liu, R. (2015). Effect of axial clearance on the efficiency of a shrouded centrifugal pump. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 137(7). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029761
Celik, I. B., Ghia, U., Roache, P. J., Freitas, C. J., Coleman, H., & Raad, P. E. (2021). Procedure for estimation and reporting of uncertainty due to discretization in CFD applications. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 130(7), 0780011–0780014. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2960953
Chen, B., Yu, L., Li, X., & Zhu, Z. (2024). Insights into turbulent flow structure and energy dissipation in centrifugal pumps: A study utilizing time-resolved particle image velocimetry and proper orthogonal decomposition. Ocean Engineering, 304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.117903
Choi, W. C., Yoo, I. S., Park, M. R., & Chung, M. K. (2013). Experimental study on the effect of blade angle on regenerative pump performance. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 227(5), 585–592. https://doi.org/10.1177/0957650913487731
Gao, Z., Zhu, W., Lu, L., Deng, J., Zhang, J., & Wuang, F. (2014). Numerical and experimental study of unsteady flow in a large centrifugal pump with stay vanes. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 136(7). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026477
Gülich, J. F. (2003). Disk friction losses of closed turbomachine impellers. Forschung Im Ingenieurwesen/Engineering Research, 68(2), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10010-003-0111-x
Gülich, J. F. (2019). Centrifugal pumps. Fourth Edition. Centrifugal Pumps, Fourth Edition. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14788-4
Horiguchi, H., Wakiya, K., Tsujimoto, Y., Sakagami, M., & Tanaka, S. (2008). Study for the increase of micro regenerative pump head. Nihon Kikai Gakkai Ronbunshu, B Hen/Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Part B, 74(10), 2154–2162. https://doi.org/10.1299/kikaib.74.2154
IEA (2023). World Energy Outlook 2023 Free Dataset. In Https://Www.Iea.Org/Data-and-Statistics/Data. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023
Inaba, Y., Sakai, K., Miyagawa, K., Iino, M., & Sano, T. (2021). Investigation of flow structure in a narrow clearance of a low specific speed centrifugal impeller. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 143(12). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4052240
Iversen, H. W. (1955). Performance of the periphery pump. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 77(1), 19–22. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4014210
Jin, F., Li, N., Wei, Z., Wu, Y., Tao, R., & Xiao, R. (2022). Sensitivity analysis on the influence factors of clearance axial force of a varying-speed centrifugal pump. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2217(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2217/1/012001
Kim, B., Siddique, M. H., Bellary, S. A. I., aljehani, A. S., Choi, S. W., & Lee, D. E. (2023). Investigation of a centrifugal pump for energy loss due to clearance thickness while pumping different viscosity oils. Results in Engineering, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2023.101038
Li, X., Ouyang, T., Lin, Y., & Zhu, Z. (2023). Interstage difference and deterministic decomposition of internal unsteady flow in a five-stage centrifugal pump as turbine. Physics of Fluids, 35(4). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0150300
Maeda, S., Sano, T., Miyagawa, K., & Sakai, K. (2024). Reduction of disk friction loss by applying a fin to the back of a centrifugal impeller. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 146(7). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065047
Majidi, K. (2005). Numerical study of unsteady flow in a centrifugal pump. Journal of Turbomachinery, 127(2), 363–371. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1776587
Osman, F. K., Zhang, J., Lai, L., & Kwarteng, A. A. (2022). Effects of turbulence models on flow characteristics of a vertical fire pump. Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, 15(6), 1661–1674. https://doi.org/10.47176/jafm.15.06.1303
Pehlivan, H., & Parlak, Z. (2019). Investigation of parameters affecting axial load in an end suction centrifugal pump by numerical analysis. Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, 12(5), 1615–1627. https://doi.org/10.29252/JAFM.12.05.29623
Peng, G., Hong, S., Chang, H., Fan, F., Zhang, Y., & Shi, P. (2022). Numerical and experimental research on the influence of clearance between impeller and cover on the pump performance. Mechanika, 28(1), 67–72. https://doi.org/10.5755/j02.mech.28904
Poullikkas, A. (1995). Surface roughness effects on induced flow and frictional resistance of enclosed rotating disks. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 117(3), 526–528. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2817294
Raheel, M. M., & Engeda, A. (2005). Systematic design approach for radial blade regenerative turbomachines. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 21(5), 884–892. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.1426
Shimosaka, M. (1959). Research on the characteristics of regenerative pump. Research on the Characteristics of Regenerative Pump : 2nd Report, Theoretical Performance. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, 25(157), 951–959. https://doi.org/10.1299/kikai1938.25.951
Shirinov, A., & Oberbeck, S. (2011a). High vacuum side channel pump working against atmosphere. Vacuum, 85(12), 1174–1177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2010.12.018
Shirinov, A., & Oberbeck, S. (2011b). Optimisation of the high vacuum side channel pump. Institution of Mechanical Engineers - 7th International Conference on Compressors and Their Systems 2011, 81–92. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857095350.2.81
Sixsmith, H. (1913). The theory and design of structures. Nature, 92(2288), 4–4. https://doi.org/10.1038/092004c0
Stepanoff, A. J. (1957). Centrifugal and axial flow Pumps. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 264(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-0032(57)90043-1
Wilcox, D. A. (1994). Simulation of transition with a two-equation turbulence model. AIAA Journal, 32, 247–255. http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/3.59994?journalCode=aiaaj
Wilcox, D. C. (1988). Reassessment of the scale-determining equation for advanced turbulence models. AIAA Journal, 26(11), 1299–1310. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.10041
Will, B. C., Benra, F. K., & Dohmen, H. J. (2012). Investigation of the flow in the impeller side clearances of a centrifugal pump with volute casing. Journal of Thermal Science, 21(3), 197–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-012-0536-3
Wilson, D. G. (1982). Turbomachinery - from paddle wheels to turbojets. Mech. Engng., 104(10, Oct. 1982), 28–40.
Zheng, L., Chen, X., Dou, H. S., Zhang, W., Zhu, Z., & Cheng, X. (2020). Effects of clearance flow on the characteristics of centrifugal pump under low flow rate. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 34(1), 189–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-1220-2
Zhou, L., Shi, W., Li, W., & Agarwal, R. (2013). Numerical and experimental study of axial force and hydraulic performance in a deep-well centrifugal pump with different impeller rear shroud radius. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME, 135(10). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024894
Zhu, B., Chen, H. X., Wei, Q., & Zhang, R. (2012). The analysis of unsteady characteristics in the low specific speed centrifugal pump with drainage gaps. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 15(PART 3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/15/3/032049

Files

History

  • Received: 08 October 2024
  • Revised: 27 December 2024
  • Accepted: 06 January 2025
  • Available online: 30 March 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics