FLOW PATTERNS IN A PUMP SUMP INTAKE

Abstract

This study attempts to model the flow characteristic in a multiple pump sump physical model by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT 6.2. The experimental procedures include the data collection using a velocity meter, flow meter and swirl meter (Rotometer / Vortimeter). Three types of measurements were conducted which are velocity, flow, and swirl angle for five cases which had been evaluated at three different water depth (0.7 m) and at three different flow rate (17.05 L/s) in each pump; a total of 36 measurement points per case. A visual test that involves the dye tracing technique was also carried out to characterize the flow. Further, in this study, a comprehensive CFD model of pump bays was developed. The comparison of experimental method and CFD model is discussed in details. The FLUENT outputs illustrate the basic features of magnitudes of velocity vectors (m/s). A good agreement is determined between simulation and experimental results. The average velocity magnitude difference between experimental and CFD simulated result is under tolerance limit. Thus from the study, it can be concluded that the CFD can be used to simulate flow characteristics in pump sump as an alternative to physical modeling of pump sump.