Numerical Identification of Key Design Parameters Enhancing the Centrifugal Pump Performance : Impeller, Impeller-Volute, and Impeller-Diffuser

This paper presents the numerical investigation of the effects that the pertinent design parameters, including the blade height, the blade number, the outlet blade angle, the blade width, and the impeller diameter, have on the steady state liquid flow in a three-dimensional centrifugal pump. Three cases were considered for this study: impeller, combined impeller and volute, and combined impeller and diffuser. The continuity and Navier-Stokes equations with the k-ε turbulence model and the standard wall functions were used by means of ANSYS-CFX code. The results achieved reveal that the selected key design parameters have an impact on the centrifugal pump performance describing the pump head, the brake horsepower, and the overall efficiency. To valid the developed approach, the results of numerical simulation were compared with the experimental results considering the case of combined impeller and diffuser.