The optimal vortex pump impeller - An experimental study on clogging behaviour

Abstract

This paper analyses the clogging behavior of vortex pumps by comparing the characteristics of two impeller designs. The impellers have dissimilar heads and efficiencies; the water was either clear or it contained non-woven textiles. An acrylic casing allowed observing the operation behaviour of the vortex pump while, at the same time, monitoring the data. Principle differences in the clogging behavior of the two impellers could be observed: One impeller outperformed the other in clear water transportation and indeed pumped more of the textiles. However it also lost more of its efficiency and accumulated more textiles declining it as the harder clogging. These results speak against the common approach of designing vortex pumps impellers under clean water operation condition, assuming that the same conditions apply for solid-containing fluids.