Author(s): X R Cheng; H Liu; Y X Tu; Y Q Wei; S Y Zhang

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Inducer sweepback; Cavitation performance; Centrifugal pump; LNG pump; NPSHr

Abstract: In order to study the effects of sweepback of inducer on cavitation performance of pump, based on the experimental results, the Reynolds N-S equation, RNG k-ε turbulent model and Schnerr & Sauer cavitation model, a three-dimensional numerical calculation is employed to study the flow characteristics of one certain LNG pump. Laws of the variation of cavitation performance, head and efficiency with the change of sweepback are studied. The numerical analysis of the eight inducer projects with sweepback angle from 120° to 290° is carried out. The results show that the cavitation bubbles appear at the suction surface near the inlet side at first. With the decrease of NPSHa, the bubbles spread to the outlet side of the inducer and the pressure surface, finally they fill the entire channel. When the inducer sweepback angle increases from 120° to 270°, NPSHr of the pump reduces gradually. That means the anti-cavitation performance of the pump has been improved. However, NPSHr of the pump raises gradually when the inducer sweepback angle increases from 270° to 290°. The efficiency and head of pump tend to be stable within the larger range near the optimal sweepback.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/163/1/012107

Year: 2017