Research on energy conversion characteristics in impeller of Helical-Axial Multiphase Pump during crude transportation

Abstract

In order to explore the influence of different crude viscosities on the energy conversion characteristics of an impeller of a Helical-Axial Multiphase Pump, a numerical simulation based on the standard k–ε equation and Euler multiphase flow model under different viscosities was carried out. At the same time, the internal flow structure of the Helical-Axial Multiphase Pump was analyzed by experiments when water was transported. The changes in pressure, GVF (gas volume fraction), flow field, and pressurization of the impeller are obtained with different viscosities and inlet gas volume fractions. The results show that the liquid viscosity is greater, the inlet pressure of the impeller is increasing, the velocity vector is greater near the rim and hub side, and the turbulent kinetic energy is increasing near the hub side and rim side, resulting in a greater flow loss. The pressurization capacity of the impeller is weakened, making its head lower. At the same time, the fluctuation of GVF from inlet to outlet is smaller, and the low GVF area is mainly concentrated in high pressure area. The viscosity has a greater impact on static pressure energy of the first half of the impeller and a smaller impact on the second half of the impeller, and the power of the impeller is mainly concentrated in the first half of the impeller.