CFD ANALYSIS OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP USING SOLIDWORKS

AIM: CFD analysis of centrifugal pump and plotting the results

OBJECTIVE:

1) Model the Centrifugal Pump.

2) Do Flow simulation for different range values of velocity.

3) Obtain results of velocity contours and plot pressure ration VS mass flow rate graph.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

> Centrifugal pumps are used to transport fluids by the conversion of rotational kinetic energy to the hydrodynamic energy of the fluid flow. The rotational energy typically comes from an engine or electric motor. They are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing TURBOMACHINERY. The fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber (casing), from which it exits.

Common uses include water, sewage, agriculture, petroleum and petrochemical pumping. Centrifugal pumps are often chosen for their high flow rate capabilities, abrasive solution compatibility, mixing potential, as well as their relatively simple engineering. A centrifugal fan is commonly used to implement a vaccume cleaner. The reverse function of the centrifugal pump is a water turbine converting potential energy of water pressure into mechanical rotational energy.

STEPS INVOLVED:

1) Designing the model using given dimensions.

2) Run a Flow simulation using following input parameters:

i) Rotating region selection for moving part with 1000 rad/s speed.

ii) Boundary condition for inlet = environment pressure.

iii) Boundary condition for inlet = outlet velocity of 10 m/s.

iv) Limiting Iteration size as 100. & mesh with grid of 3.

v) Inserted surface goals for Inlet Pressure, Outlet Pressure & mass flow rate @ exit.

vi) Discrete the velocity value in a range of 10 to 30m/s for 5 spans for 5 different design studies.

vii) Obtain the results and calculate pressure ratios for each study. & plot it with mass flow rate values to get performance curve.

3) Run the parametric study.

RESULTS:

1) Design Study 1 (v = 10 m/s):

2) Design Study 2 (v = 15 m/s):

3) Design Study 3 (v = 20 m/s):

4) Design Study 4 (v = 25 m/s):

5) Design Study 5 (v = 30 m/s):

FLOW TRAJECTORY FOR MAX PRESSURE:

PUMP PERFORMANCE CURVE:

DATA:

Goal (Value)	Design Point 1	Design Point 2	Design Point 3	Design Point 4	Design Point 5
Velocity normal to face (Outlet Velocity 1) [m/s]	10	15	20	25	30
OUTLET MAX PRESSURE [Pa]	6342880.821	7180241.345	5776327.401	5759300.08	2397609.653
INLET AVG PRESSURE [Pa]	446429.1409	357240.6948	416420.1269	444502.6208	292099.8483
PRESSURE RATIO	14.2	20	13.87	12.95	8.2
MASS FLOW RATE [kg/s]	0.496055399	0.744337145	0.992150731	1.240368168	1.488714105

PLOT:

CONCLUSION:

> From the results it can be concluded that the pressure value upto the second study (v = 15 m/s) increases and after that the curve falls down means the pressure ratio drops at higher speeds & higher mass flow rate values.