Analysis of Fluid Flow in a Radial Centrifugal Pump

Abstract

The paper presents a validation of the results of a numerical model of radial centrifugal pump flow using a PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) experimental method. For this purpose, a 3D model of the pump was created in Inventor, which was then used to design a numerical flow model in Ansys in the CFX module. The performance characteristics of the same pump were measured on an experimental test circuit, and vector maps of the flow in the suction pipe were obtained using the PIV method. The results of the experiment—vector fields of fluid velocity distribution in a suction pipe—were then compared with the outputs of the numerical Ansys model, namely the streamlines and pressure distributions. This comparison demonstrated that the numerical model is most consistent with reality if the input variables are the pressure in front of the pump and the mass flow behind the pump. In this case, the model can determine the pressure at the pump inlet with a deviation of 1% to 10% and create streamlines in the suction pipe corresponding to the results of PIV measurements.