The Effect of Blade Angle Distribution on the Flow Field of a Centrifugal Impeller in Liquid-Gas Flow

Abstract

Operating centrifugal pumps under two-phase flow conditions presents challenges such as phase separation, cavitation, and flow instabilities, compromising reliability and performance. A specialized design is crucial to mitigate these issues. This study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) to understand two-phase flow behavior and assess the impact of different blade geometries on pump performance under such conditions. For this purpose, the inhomogeneous multiphase model was employed, wherein the momentum and continuity flow equations were individually solved for each phase across three different impellers with varying blade angle distributions. The computational results indicated higher gas concentrations on the pressure side of the blade, with gas pocket size correlating with flow rate and inlet gas concentration. The blade angle distribution’s effect was more pronounced with increased gas concentrations, while a tendency of gas bubbles to coalesce towards the impeller shroud was also observed. The presence of gas promoted flow recirculation and separation, substantially reducing impeller performance. Blade angle distribution critically influenced the flow field, affecting flow separation, stability, efficiency, and overall performance, highlighting the importance of optimized blade design for enhanced centrifugal pump performance in liquid–gas two-phase flow conditions.