Computational fluid dynamic analysis on flow and cavitation characteristics of R134a in centrifugal pump with straight blades

  • Tianwei Lai
  • , Shanju Yang
  • , Xingqun Zhang
  • , Shuangtao Chen
  • , Yu Hou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The performance of refrigerant circulation centrifugal liquid pump is of great importance for the stability and reliability of free cooling system. Emergence of cavitation is crucial for the liquid pump, especially for that works near liquid saturation. In this paper, flow and cavitation characteristics in centrifugal liquid pump with straight blades are analyzed numerically with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tools CFX based on Rayleigh-Plesset cavitation model, and the effect of rotational speed on the flow field distribution and cavitation is evaluated. Numerical results indicate that cavitation appears firstly in the upstream region around leading edge of blade with rotational speed, and that the adherent cavitation area enlarges near the suction surface of blade with the increase of rotational speed. Meanwhile, flow streamline turbulence is prominent and the secondary flow is obvious in the pump with straight blade.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-51
Number of pages7
JournalHuagong Xuebao/Journal of Chemical Industry and Engineering (China)
Volume65
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2014

Keywords

  • Bubble
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Pump
  • Two-phase flow

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