Abstract

The three-dimensional unsteady flow field in centrifugal pump under different flows was numerically simulated based on the commercial fluent software, using standard k-ε turbulence model, SIMPLE algorithm and sliding mesh technique. The characteristics of the time domain and frequency domain of the pressure pulsations, as well as fluctuation strength were analyzed. The varying locus of transient radial force vector of the centrifugal pump with time and the varying pattern of transient radial force with time were investigated. The results show that the frequencies of the pressure pulsations are mainly the blade passing frequency at the monitoring points, and the most intense pulsation appears at the volute tongue under the same frequency; the variation cycle of the transient radial force is the same with the passing cycle of the blades, and the direction of the radial force deflects anticlockwise as flow rate increases. At the designed flow rate, the distribution region of the radial force vector is the closest to the origin point and the area of the region is the smallest, with the gentlest fluctuation.

Key words: Centrifugal pump, transient radial force, pressure pulsation, numerical simulation.