Analysis of the Influence of Inlet Guide Vanes on the Performance of Shaft Tubular Pumps

Abstract

To study the influence of inlet guide vanes (IGVs) on the pressure pulsation of a shaft tubular pump, this paper first conducts an experiment to study IGVs. Then, numerical calculations of the shaft tubular pump with and without IGVs are performed to analyze the hydraulic performance and pressure fluctuation characteristics. Finally, the reliability and accuracy of the data are verified by a model test. Numerical simulation results show that with additional IGVs, the pressure pulsation amplitude at the impeller inlet first decreases and then increases under small-flow and design conditions but gradually increases under large-flow conditions. When the IGVs are added to the impeller inlet of the shaft tubular pump, the hydraulic loss in front of the impeller inlet increases, resulting in a significant drop in the head and efficiency of the pump device when the flow rate is less than 1.12 Qd; when the flow rate is greater than 1.12Qd, the head and efficiency of the pump device do not change significantly. IGVs can improve the condition of impeller water inflow and reduce pressure fluctuation on the blade surface.