Performance Enhancement of a Pump Impeller Using Optimal Design Method

This paper presents the performance evaluation of a regenerative pump to increase its efficiency using optimal design method. Two design parameters which define the shape of the pump impeller, are introduced and analyzed. Pump performance is evaluated by numerical simulation and design of experiments(DOE). To analyze three-dimensional flow field in the pump, general analysis code, CFX, is used in the present work. Shear stress turbulence model is employed to estimate the eddy viscosity. Experimental apparatus with an open -loop facility is set up for measuring the pump performance. Pump performance, efficiency and pressure, obtained from numerical simulation are validated by comparison with the results of experiments. Throughout the shape optimization of the pump impeller at the operating flow condition, the pump efficiency is successfully increased by 3 percent compared to the reference pump. It is noted that the pressure increase of the optimum pump is mainly caused by higher momentum force generated inside blade passage due to the optimal blade shape. Comparisons of pump internal flow on the reference and optimum pump are also investigated and discussed in detail.