Study of internal flows in a mixed-flow pump impeller at various tip clearances using 3D viscous flow computations

Abstract

The complex three-dimensional flow fields in a mixed-flow pump impeller are investigated by applying the incompressible version of the Dawes' 3D Navier-Stokes code. The applicability of the code is confirmed by comparison of computations with a variety of experimentally measured jet-wake flow patterns and overall performances at four different tip clearances including the shrouded case. Based on the computations, the interaction mechanism of secondary flows and the formation of jet-wake flow are discussed. In the case of large tip clearances, the reverse flow caused by tip leakage flow is considered to be the reason for the thickening of the casing boundary layer followed by the deterioration of the whole flow field.