Hydraulic Performance Comparison for Axial Flow Impeller and Mixed Flow Impeller with Same Specific Speed

Abstract

An axial flow impeller and a mixed flow impeller with same specific speed were experimentally investigated, and the suction performance was studied with the help of CFD simulations. The results show that the axial impeller is roughly better than the mixed flow one. Especially under the design condition and a low flow rate condition range near the designed one, the axial flow impeller is more stable and therefore more suitable to be used in a water jet propulsion, while under these conditions the mixed flow impeller displays significant discrepancies. On the other hand, though its efficiency at the best efficiency point is lower than that of the axial flow one, the mixed flow impeller has a larger range of high efficiency conditions and is more convenient to be controlled to satisfy the irrigation and drainage systems that ought to be adjusted to varied flow rate conditions under a fixed head. In addition, the numerical investigation at the rated point shows that the axial impeller has a much better suction performance than the mixed flow impeller, which contradicts with the experience knowledge and therefore details need to be further studied.