Modeling flow characteristics of a low specific-speed centrifugal pump with different volute shapes

A centrifugal pump is typically designed for a specific operating condition. The pump's shape and size are fine-tuned so that it can produce a specified output pressure and flow rate at the maximum possible efficiency. When a pump begins operating off of its design flow rate, its efficiency drops. Pumping systems often involve dynamic demands. They may have a fluctuating flow rate demand throughout the day, or the system may evolve and change size over time. In these cases, pumps with a single operating point are inefficient and insufficient. This thesis assesses the effects of changing a pump's volute casing geometry on the volute's internal flow characteristics. All analysis is performed on a low-specific-speed, radial flow centrifugal pump. 2D flow models from literature and CFD are analyzed and compared to experimental data. With properly-chosen solution methods, a 2D CFD simulation is found to match well with experimental results. Efficiency estimates and life-cycle cost changes due to changing flow characteristics in the variable volute system are presented.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Wettermark, Susan Daly.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexander Slocum.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/128340

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/128340