Internal unsteady flow characteristics of centrifugal pump based on entropy generation rate and vibration energy

Abstract

The transient fluid exciting force induced by unsteady flow in the centrifugal pump is the only exciting force that cannot be effectively eliminated. In order to explore the vibration problem caused by unsteady flow in the centrifugal pump, the steady and unsteady numerical calculations of the internal flow in a centrifugal pump with low specific speed were carried out under different flow rate conditions. With volute circumferential pressure pulsation test, the accuracy of numerical calculations was verified. At the same time, the vibration acceleration sensors were arranged in different positions of the pump body to complete the vibration characteristics experiment under different working conditions. Based on the numerical results, the amount and location of the internal flow loss of the centrifugal pump were predicted by the entropy generation rate method. According to the results of the vibration test, the vibration energy distribution of the centrifugal pump under different working conditions was obtained. In combination with the entropy generation rate and vibration energy distribution, the change rules of flow loss and the vibration energy with the flow condition of the pump were analyzed. By using the frequency-domain analysis method, the pressure pulsation, the unsteady radial fluid exciting force fluctuation and the vibration acceleration were compared and analyzed to study the change rules of the pressure pulsation, the unsteady fluid exciting force and the vibration characteristics with the flow rate. The results show that the internal flow loss is mainly concentrated in the impeller runner near the volute tongue under low flow condition and the internal flow loss under large flow rate condition is mainly concentrated in the volute channel near the pump outlet. The vibration induced by the unsteady flow in the centrifugal pump is mainly low-frequency vibration, which is very sensitive to the change of the flow rate. The vibration energy in the middle- and high-frequency ranges is almost not affected by the working condition. The internal flow loss and the low-frequency vibration energy change with the flow condition, showing similar change rules.