MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP SYSTEM

Abstract

This study presents the idea of modeling and numerical simulation of the centrifugal pump. A steady-state method utilizing a k-ε turbulence (RNG) model with scalable wall function has been applied to evaluate turbulent process using a multi-Reference technique (MRF). A 3d model pump is designed using SolidWorks 2020 and simulation is performed using ANSYS 2021 FEA software package. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to study the internal flow characteristics of the pump and improve its design. The atmospheric pressure and 16 KPa is considered as the working conditions of the pump. The results obtained have been analyzed for different mass flow rates of the design conditions such as 40%, 50% ,80%, 100%, and 120% of 𝑄𝑑 respectively. It has been found that the static pressure distribution is asymmetrical from the impeller inlet to the outlet of the volute casing. The maximum static pressure distribution of the pump is to be found at 40% of design flow conditions. An effect of outlet blade height and Blade thickness is also considered in this report to analyse the unsteady pressure distribution of the pump. A different parameter such as 7mm, 10mm, 12mm, and 16mm has been chosen for the outlet blade height and 2mm, 3mm,4mm, and 5 mm for the thickness of the blade. The different specifications such as Pump head, Brake horsepower, and Overall efficiency results have been plotted. Cavitation is analyzed using the Rayleigh-Plesset model for 40% ,100%, and 120% of the design flow conditions. Results indicate that at higher flow rates (120% of 𝑄𝑑), small and thin cavities are uniformly distributed and highly asymmetric cavitation disappears.