Effects of Flow Rate and Viscosity on Slip Factor of Centrifugal Pump Handling Viscous Oils

Abstract

Slip factor is an important parameter in the hydraulic design of centrifugal pump impeller for handling viscous oils. How to extract the factor from CFD computational results and how flow rate and liquid viscosity to affect it remain unclear. In the present paper, the flip factor was estimated by means of two approaches: one is from the velocity triangles at the impeller outlet and the other is due to the impeller theoretical head of 3D turbulent viscous fluid. The velocity of water and viscous oils in the impeller and volute computed by CFD was validated with LDV measurements at the best efficiency point. The effect of exit blade angle on slip factor was clarified. It was shown that the two approaches result into two different slip factors. The factors are significantly dependent of flow rate; however, the liquid viscosity seems to take less effect on them. Volute is responsible for reduction in tangential velocity of liquid at the outlet of impeller at low flow rates. The slip factor of impeller with large exit blade angle is not sensitive to flow rate.