Centrifugal pumps are very common in many fluid handling industrial applications, such as petrochemicals, oil and gas, etc. Although the design practices for centrifugal pumps are well established, efforts are directed towards optimising such systems for better operational efficiencies. In order to optimally design centrifugal pumps, it is beneficial to first understand the complex flow phenomena within different sections of the pump for a variety of operating conditions. This is normally achieved through the use of modern techniques, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), where the flow within centrifugal pumps can be numerically modelled and important flow features can be analysed for better understanding of interactions amongst different process variables. CFD offers different turbulence modelling techniques with an aim to predict realistic flow approximations. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) offers a more accurate solution to this, in which the larger eddies are resolved while smaller eddies are modelled; hence predictions using LES are more realistic. Further, in turbulence modelling within centrifugal pumps, it is also important to model the complete interaction amongst different variables rather than a simplistic single blade passage flow analysis. In the present work, the complex blade–tongue interactions and their consequent effects on the pressure fluctuations within the volute have been evaluated. It is seen that the secondary flow features in the near-tongue regions due to blade interactions with the tongue affect the flow characteristics within the volute considerably.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Buy single article
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.
Palmer E, Mishra R and Fieldhouse J 2009 An optimisation study of a multiple-row pin-vented brake disc to promote brake cooling using computational fluid dynamics. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part D 223(7): 865–875
Mishra R, Singh S N and Seshedri V 1998 Study of wear characteristics and solid distribution in constant area and erosion-resistant long-radius pipe bends for the flow of multisized particulate slurries. Wear 217(2): 297–306
Tesfa B, Gu F, Mishra R and Ball A 2014 Emission characteristics of a CI engine running with a range of biodiesel feedstocks. Energies 7(1): 334–350
Hussein M A M and Hasan W K 2013 The effect of rotational speed variation on the velocity vectors in the single blade passage centrifugal pump: part 2. IOSR J. Mech. Civil Eng. 9(2): 43–52
Liu H, Wu X and Tan M 2013 Numerical investigation of the inner flow in a centrifugal pump at the shut-off condition. J. Theor. Appl. Mech. 51(3): 649–660
Li D Y, Han L, Wang H J, Gong R Z, Wei X Z and Qin D Q 2016 Pressure fluctuation prediction in pump mode using large eddy simulation and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes in a pump-turbine. Adv. Mech. Eng. 8(6): 1–12
Li D Y, Han L, Wang H J, Gong R Z, Wei X Z and Qin D Q 2016 Flow characteristics prediction in pump mode of a pump turbine using large eddy simulation. IMechE Part E: J. Process Mech. Eng. 0(0): 1–17
Ni D, Yang M, Gao B, Zhang N and Li Z 2016 Flow unsteadiness and pressure pulsations in a nuclear reactor coolant pump. J. Mech. Eng. 62(4): 231–242
Zhang N, Yang M, Gao B, Li Z and Ni D 2016 Investigation of rotor–stator interaction and flow unsteadiness in a low specific speed centrifugal pump. J. Mech. Eng. 62(2016): 21–31
Magagnato F and Zhang J 2015 Simulation of a centrifugal pump by using the harmonic balance method. Int. J. Rotating Mach. doi:10.1155/2015/729140
Yao Z F, Yang Z J and Wang F J 2016 Evaluation of near-wall solution approaches for large-eddy simulations of flow in a centrifugal pump impeller. Eng. Appl. Comput. Fluid Mech. 10(1): 454–467
Wang W J, Cui Y R, Wang Y, Li G D, Liang Q H and Yin G 2013 Analysis on the blade inlet pressure fluctuation of the centrifugal pump based on LES. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Pumps and Fans with Compressors and Wind Turbines, 19–22 September 2013, Beijing, China
Liu H, Dai H, Ding J, Tan M, Wang Y and Huang H 2016 Numerical and experimental studies of hydraulic noise induced by surface dipole sources in a centrifugal pump. J. Hydrodyn. 28(1): 43–51
Pump’s dimensions obtained from http://www.pedrollopumps.com/f32200hpage.html
Munson B R, Young D F and Okiishi T H 2002 Fundamentals of fluid mechanics, 4th ed. Wiley, USA
Ansys 13.0.0 User Guide accessible at http://www1.ansys.com/customer/content/documentation/130/wb2_help.pdf
Smagorinsky J 1963 General circulation experiments with the primitive equations. Mon. Weather Rev. 91(3): 99–164
Patankar S V 1980 Numerical heat transfer and fluid flow. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-89116-522-4
Kolar V 2007 Vortex identification: new requirements and limitations. Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 28(4): 638–652
Haller G 2005 An objective definition of a vortex. J. Fluid Mech. 525: 1–26
Rice M J 2011 High resolution simulation of laminar and transitional flows in a mixing vessel. Ph.D. Thesis, Virginia Tech., USA
About this article
Cite this article
Asim, T., Mishra, R. Large-Eddy-Simulation-based analysis of complex flow structures within the volute of a vaneless centrifugal pump. Sādhanā 42, 505–516 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-017-0623-y