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Numerical Investigation of Liquid Flow in Two-, Three- and
Four-Stage Centrifugal Pumps
Nicolas La Roche-Carrier, Guyh Dituba Ngoma and Walid Ghie
University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, School of Engineering’s Department, 445, Boulevard de l’Université,
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, J9X 5E4, Canada
Keywords: Centrifugal Pump, Multistage, Impeller, Diffuser, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Modeling and
Simulation.
Abstract: In this study, a liquid flow in two-, three- and four-stage centrifugal pumps was numerical investigated. The
continuity and Navier-Stokes equations with the k- turbulence model and standard wall functions were
used by means of the ANSYS-CFX code. To enhance the design of the multistage pump, the impacts of the
number of impeller blades, diffuser return vanes and the number of stages on the performances of a
multistage centrifugal pump were analyzed. The results obtained demonstrate that the selected parameters
affect the pump head, brake horsepower and efficiency in a strong yet different manner. To validate the
model developed, the results of the numerical simulations were compared with the experimental results
from the pump manufacturer.
1 INTRODUCTION
Multistage centrifugal pumps are widely used in
industrial and mining enterprises (Peng W., 2008).
For a more performing multistage pump, its design
parameters, such as the number of stages, impeller
blades, diffuser vanes and diffuser return vanes,
angle of the impeller blade, height of the impeller
blade and diffuser vane, the width of the impeller
blade and diffuser vane, the impeller and diffuser
diameter, the rotating speed of the impeller and the
casing geometry must be determined accurately.
Many experimental and numerical studies have been
conducted on the liquid flow through a multistage
centrifugal pump (Huang S. et al., 2006; Miyano M.
et al., 2006; Kawashima D. et al., 2008; Gantar M. et
al., 2002), where Huang S. et al., 2006 had
numerically simulated using a CFD code a three-
dimensional turbulent flow through an entire stage
of a multistage centrifugal pump, including flows in
a rotating impeller and stationary diffuser. They had
found that the reverse flows existed near the
impeller outlet, resulting in the flow field being
asymmetric and unstable. There was considerable
interference on the velocity field at the impeller exit
because of the interaction between the impeller
blades and diffuser vanes. Additionally, Miyano M.
et al., 2006 had experimentally investigated the
impacts of the return vane profile on the
performances of the multistage centrifugal pump to
optimize the stationary components in the multistage
centrifugal pump. It was found, among other things,
that the return vane, whose trailing edge was set at
the outer wall radius of the downstream annular
channel and discharged the swirl-less flow, had a
positive impact on pump performances, while
Kawashima D. et al., 2008 had experimentally
investigated the impacts of the diffuser vane on the
performances of the multistage centrifugal pump,
accounting for the interactions among the diffuser
vane, return vane and next stage impeller. In
addition, Jirout T., 2014 had investigated the liquid
flow in an agitated batch with pitched blade multi-
stage impellers. Effects of various geometrical
parameters of pitched blade multi-stage impellers on
pumping ability have been analyzed. It was shown
the impact of the distance between impellers in
multi-stage configurations, on their pumping
capacity and flow in the mixing bath in comparison
with an independently operating pitched blade
impeller with the same geometry. Furthermore, La
Roche-Carrier et al., 2013 had numerically
simulated the liquid flow in a first stage of a
multistage centrifugal pump consisting of an
impeller, diffuser with return vanes, and casing.
92
La Roche-Carrier N., Dituba Ngoma G. and Ghie W..
Numerical Investigation of Liquid Flow in Two-, Three- and Four-Stage Centrifugal Pumps.
DOI: 10.5220/0005096800920099
In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Simulation and Modeling Methodologies, Technologies and Applications (SIMULTECH-2014),
pages 92-99
ISBN: 978-989-758-038-3
Copyright
c
2014 SCITEPRESS (Science and Technology Publications, Lda.)