Multi-condition optimization and experimental verification of impeller for a marine centrifugal pump

In order to improve the performance of marine centrifugal pump, a centrifugal pump whose specific speed is 66.7 was selected for the research. Outlet diameter D2, outlet width b2, blade outlet angle β2, blade wrap φ and blade number z of the impeller were chosen as the variables. The maximum weighted average efficiency and the minimum vibration intensity at the base were calculated as objectives. Based on the Latin Hypercube method, the impeller was numerically optimized. The numerical results show that after optimization, the amplitudes of pressure fluctuation on the main frequency at different monitoring points decrease in varying degrees. The radial force on impeller decreases obviously under off-design flow rates and is more symmetrical during the operation of the pump. The variation of the axial force is relatively small, which has no obvious relationship with the rotating angle of the impeller. The energy performance and vibration experiment was performed for verifying. The test results show that the weighted average efficiency under 0.8Qd, 1.0Qd and 1.2Qd increases by 4.3% after optimization. The maximal vibration intensity at M1-M4 on the pump base reduced from 0.36 mm/s to 0.25 mm/s, decreasing by 30.5%. In addition, the vibration velocities of bracket in pump side and outlet flange also have significant reductions.