NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF INLET PRESSURE ON THE CAVITATING CONDITIONS INTO CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS.

Numerical and experimental results were presented in this study, concerning a test impeller of a centrifugal pump. From the experimental point of view, the cavitation was visualized at different Inlet Pressure values. Image processing and statistical treatment of the photographs taken at given impeller position allowed to quantify the attached and cloud cavitation extent. A numerical model of 3D cavitating flows, based on the CFD code Fluent 6.1, has been developed to predict the cavitation behavior in our model which is considering the entire pump, the impeller and also the casing of the pump, with all its complex geometry and flow parameters. Non-cavitating and cavitating conditions were investigated. Calculations were found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements and visualisations. Experimental and numerical results concerning the pump parameters were investigated. The overall conclusion is the obvious knowledge that the NPSH is indeed affecting the cavitation condition in the centrifugal pumps, having direct impact on the magnitude of static pressures in various locations inside the pump, but is not altering too much the velocities distributions of fluid. The results obtained show the ability of the model to simulate the main features of 3D cavitating flows in rotating machinery. The rich palette of results shown below is thoroughly investigating the flow parameters of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]