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Computational study on the performance improvement of axial-flow pump by inlet guide vanes at part loads

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Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of adjustable inlet guide vanes on the hydraulic performance of axial-flow pump and impeller, the axial-flow pump with different inlet guide vane adjustable angles was simulated based on the RNG k-ε turbulent model and Reynolds time-averaged equations. The multivariate non-linear regression prediction model was established about the effect of adjustable inlet guide vane on the hydraulic performance of axial-flow pump based on the numerical simulation. The performance curves of axial-flow pump with different inlet guide vane adjustable angles were obtained by calculation, showing that the performance curve shifts towards larger flow volume in case the guide vanes are turned from positive to negative angle. With the increase of inlet guide vane positive angle, the optimum operating of pump is closer to smaller operating condition, but the hydraulic efficiency of pump is lower. The larger the flow is, the larger the decreasing amplitude of pump efficiency is. With the decreases of inlet guide vane negative angle, the higher hydraulic efficiency of pump increases first then decreases. The inlet guide vane angle affects the axial velocity distribution of the blade trailing edge.

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Abbreviations

α 0 :

Inflow angle

α b0 :

Inlet angle

i :

Attack angle

α b1 :

Outlet angle

α 1 :

Outflow angle

θ :

Blade setting angle

N :

Rotating speed

H :

Total head

Pw:

Power

ρ :

Fluid density

δ :

Deviation angle

v 0 :

Inlet absolute axial velocity of IGV

v 1 :

Outlet absolute axial velocity

V 2 :

Outlet absolute axial velocity of impeller

v u :

Circumferential component of absolute axial velocity

Γ :

Velocity circulation

β :

Relative velocity angle

α :

Absolute velocity angle

Q :

Discharge

D :

Diameter

g :

Acceleration of gravity

η :

Efficiency

P :

Static pressure

K Q :

Flow coefficient

K H :

Head coefficient

v 1′:

Absolute velocity of impeller

w 1 ′ :

Relative velocity of impeller

L*:

Dimensionless distance

z*:

Location factor

z :

Total chord length of hydrofoil

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Acknowledgments

This research work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51609210), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BK20150457), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2016M591932), the open research subject of Key Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education (szjj2016-078) and Science and Technology Plan Project of Yangzhou City (Grant No. YZU201901) and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China

    Fan Yang, Wen-zhu Hu, Chao Li, Chao Liu & Yan Jin

  2. Key Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610039, China

    Fan Yang

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  1. Fan Yang
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  2. Wen-zhu Hu
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  3. Chao Li
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  4. Chao Liu
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  5. Yan Jin
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Correspondence to Fan Yang.

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Recommended by Guest Editor Seung Jin Song

Fan Yang is currently an Associate Professor of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, China. He received his Ph.D. in Hydraulic Engineering from Yangzhou University. His research interests include pumps and pumping device design and analysis.

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Yang, F., Hu, Wz., Li, C. et al. Computational study on the performance improvement of axial-flow pump by inlet guide vanes at part loads. J Mech Sci Technol 34, 4905–4915 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-2103-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-2103-2

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