Automatic optimization of centrifugal pump based on adaptive single-objective algorithm and computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

It is important to reduce carbon emissions caused by the energy consumption of pumps. This study used a centrifugal pump with a specific speed of 89.6 as the research object to improve pump efficiency. The adaptive single-objective method was adopted as the automatic optimization tool with computational fluid dynamics, which includes optimal space-filling experimental design, Kriging response surface, and mixed-integer sequential quadratic programming. Eight geometric parameters from the meridian section and the plan of the impeller and diffuser were chosen as the design variables. The maximum efficiency under the design flow conditions was set as the optimization target. The Spearman correlation coefficient analysis results show that the sensitivity of each variable to efficiency and head. Compared with the original scheme, the optimal scheme showed a 2.75% increase in efficiency and a 1.17 m increase in head under the design flowrate. The internal flow field after optimization was also improved. An external characteristic experiment of the original and optimized pumps was performed to validate the numerical results. This automatic optimization method presents great potential to improve the hydraulic performance of centrifugal pumps at a lower cost.