Direct and inverse iterative design method for centrifugal pump impellers

Abstract

A combined direct and inverse iterative design method was developed for the hydraulic design of centrifugal pump impellers. This method is based on the fluid continuity and motion equations and solves for the meridional velocity taking into account the effects of the blade shape on the flow. The blade shape is drawn by point-by-point integration with blade thickening and smoothing using conformal mapping. Two examples designed using the direct and inverse iterative design method are compared to results using the traditional design method with significantly different meridional velocity distributions and three-dimensional blade shapes. Numerical simulations and tests show that the highest pump efficiency is 2.2% higher with this design method than with the traditional design method. The numerical results agree well with the experiments with a smoother flow pattern than with the traditional design, especially in the volute.