Numerical investigation of clocking effect on irreversible energy loss in volute for centrifugal pump with vaned diffuser based on entropy generation method

Abstract

In order to study temporal and spatial variation of energy loss and reveal influence rule of clocking effect on energy loss and flow field in centrifugal pump with vaned diffuser, numerical simulations were carried out. Numerical simulations were validated by experiments. Local equilibrium of turbulence generation and dissipation was verified to state feasibility of energy loss methods. Hydraulic loss in each component was assessed, which shows that variation of hydraulic loss in volute is more significant due to clocking effect than that in other components. Vortical structure in volute varies greater under different guide vane positions than it in other components. The results show that positive and negative flow angle appears interlaced in tongue region with high velocity gradient, especially when diffuser is mounted at θ_d1. Since a clearance presents between tongue and vane trailing edge at θ_d1, a small vortex forms. Which promotes the blocking effect of the large-scale vortex at volute outlet pipe. Therefore, high velocity gradient appears at small vortex region and volute outlet pipe region. The shear strain rate at the tongue and volute outlet pipe is more significant than that at other diffuser mounted positions. Energy loss at these regions increases. This situation can be improved by a more suitable diffuser mounted position θ_d4, where the clearance and small vortex vanishes, the shear strain rate, velocity gradient, and energy loss decrease.