Numerical Simulation of Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow Characteristics of Centrifugal Pump Based on the CFD–PBM

Fan Zhang, Lufeng Zhu, Ke Chen, Weicheng Yan, Desmond Appiah and Bo Hu
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Fan Zhang: National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Lufeng Zhu: National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Ke Chen: National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Weicheng Yan: The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Desmond Appiah: National Research Center of Pumps, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Bo Hu: Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Mathematics, 2020, vol. 8, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: This work seeks to apply the computational fluid dynamics–population balance model (CFD–PBM) to investigate the gas distribution and flow mechanism in the gas–liquid two-phase flow of a centrifugal pump. The findings show that the numerical simulation accurately captures the bubble distribution characteristics in the process of coalescence and breakage evolution. In addition, comparing the CFD–PBM with the Double Euler, the hydraulic head of the pump are similar, but the efficiency using the Double Euler is much higher—even close to single-phase. This is in contrast to previous experimental research. Then, the unsteady flow usually led to the formation of bubbles with larger diameters especially where vortices existed. In addition, the rotor–stator interaction was a main reason for bubble formation. Generally, it was observed that the coalescence rate was greater than the breakage rate; thus, the coalescence rate decreased until it equaled the breakage rate. Thereafter, the average diameter of the bubble in each part tended to be stable during the process of bubble evolution. Finally, the average diameter of bubbles seemed to increase from inlet to outlet. The results of this study may not only enhance the gas–liquid two-phase internal flow theory of centrifugal pumps, but also can serve as a benchmark for optimizations of reliable operation of hydraulic pumps under gas–liquid two-phase flow conditions.

Keywords: centrifugal pump; gas–liquid two-phase flow; population balance model; coalescence and breakage; bubble diameter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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