Calculating Cutoff Speeds of a Multistage Pump Rotor Taking into Account Lomakin Effect in the Front Seal of the Impeller

Studies of dynamic frequencies are an important stage in designing multistage vane pumps. This research aimed to confirm the rigidity and vibrational reliability of the pump rotor. Based on the recommendations of J.F. Gülich, the nominal rotational speed of the rotor shaft should differ from the cutoff speed by no less than 25 %. The Lomakin effect supposes taking into consideration the hydrodynamic forces acting in the gap seals and having a damping effect on the pump rotor. This research solved the problem of developing and verifying a numerical method of calculating hydrodynamic forces, which arise in seals of vane pumps at critical speeds. The studies were conducted on a ‘dry’ model of the rotor using ANSYS Mechanical software package. During computational modeling of bearings and seals, the COMBIT214 ele¬ment was used where the stiffness coefficient values were set. These values were determined by calculating the flow parameters in the gap seal using ANSYS CFX. The proposed method was verified using the experimental data obtained. The seal rigidity was calculated for different operating modes of the pump. It was shown that the hydrodynamic forces which arose in the gap seals had a significant influence on the rotor’s critical speed. Accounting for these forces increased the main own frequency of the rotor by approximately 44 %. This fact had a significant qualitative and quantitative impact on the vibrational characteristics of the pump. This study showed that the value of the hydrodynamic force was influenced by several factors: shaft deflection, differential pressure and geometry of the gap seal. The proposed method is recommended for use for multistage centrifugal pumps.