Numerical Simulation of Centrifugal Pump Performance under Impeller Blade and Suction Diameter Variations

Abstract

The objective of this study is to model variations in pump geometry to obtain optimal performance under the effects of cavitation. The resulting geometric variation models were then simulated using ANSYS Fluent software. The first geometric variation model used a standard 5-blade impeller with suction pipe diameter variations of 2, 2 ½, 2 ¾, 3, 3 ¼, 3 ½, and 4 inches. The second geometric variation model for simulation used a standard 3-inch suction pipe with impeller blade variations of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The simulation results indicated that the number of blades without changes in the inlet diameter did not affect the static pressure. Meanwhile, variations in the inlet diameter geometry caused changes in static pressure. With a standard inlet diameter geometry of 3 inches, a 5-blade impeller produced a flow rate of 0.041 m³/s and a head of 186.74 m. With the smallest inlet diameter variation of 2 inches and a fixed number of 5 impeller blades, the flow rate was 0.020 m³/s, and the head was 85.14 m. With the largest inlet diameter variation of 4 inches, the flow rate was 0.069 m³/s, and the head was 428.79 m. Under standard operating conditions with a 3-inch inlet, the impeller blade count resulted in a head of 186.74 m. The lowest head was obtained with a blade count variation of 4, with a value of 173.33 m. The highest head value was obtained with a blade count variation of 191.95 m.