Study of rotor-stator interaction phenomenon in a double-suction centrifugal pump with impeller vane trailing edge as a design parameter

Various geometrical parameters, such as cut-water clearance, volute tongue location, tongue radius, vane trailing edge profile, and flow parameters like speed and operating point, affect the rotor-stator interaction in a centrifugal pump. In the present investigation, vane trailing edge is selected as a design parameter for profile modifications to study and reduce the rotor-stator interaction intensity and hence the pressure pulsations. A double-suction centrifugal pump with tangential discharge volute (M1) and specific speed (n(s)) 19 has been selected for the numerical experiments. Transient analysis using detached eddy simulation is used for predicting flow parameter behavior at impeller periphery (primary source) and volute tongue locations (secondary source). The impeller periphery probes in the rotor-stator interaction zone are used to identify the intensity of the jet-wake flow phenomenon and its interaction with the volute tongue. Similar strategy has been applied by modifying the trailing-edge profile of the original geometry with vane underfiling (M2) and the M2 vane geometry with novel trailing-edge profile (M3). The pressure pulsation behavior along the impeller periphery (primary source) shows the strong reduction of pressure amplitude near volute tongue by 42% in M3 compared to M1 aligning with the reduction of jet-wake flow intensity. The pressure fluctuation (rms) near volute tongue (secondary source) shows an average reduction of 11% in modified trailing edge (M3) relative to M1. The intensified rotor-stator interaction due to vortex shedding in M2 causes relatively higher pressure fluctuations (rms) near volute tongue compared to M1 and M3. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of various geometrical and flow parameters on the rotor-stator interaction in a centrifugal pump. The focus is on reducing pressure pulsations by modifying the vane trailing edge profile. Numerical experiments are conducted using detached eddy simulation, and the results show that the intensity of the jet-wake flow phenomenon and its interaction with the volute tongue can be reduced by adjusting the trailing-edge profile. The findings have implications for optimizing the design of centrifugal pumps.