Numerical Investigation of Double-Volute Balancing in Centrifugal Pumps

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the impact of radial hydraulic forces on centrifugal pump bearings and assesses the effectiveness of the double-volute balancing technique in mitigating these forces. Numerical simulations were conducted on centrifugal pumps with both single- and double-volute configurations while ensuring extended computational domains in the inlet and outlet sections for improved flow characteristics. Experimental validation was performed to validate the numerical findings and provide additional evidence of the efficiency of the technique used in the simulations. The simulations demonstrated a notable decrease in the radial hydraulic forces with the implementation of the double-volute configuration. The pressure differentials between the single- and double-volutes played a critical role in counteracting the unbalanced forces generated by the impeller. Consequently, adopting a double-volute centrifugal pump design resulted in a substantial reduction in impeller-induced forces and the forces exerted on the bearings, resulting in an approximate 50% decrease in radial forces.