Numerical prediction of hydrodynamic performance of centrifugal pump under attached cavitating flows

The hydrodynamic performance of a centrifugal pump under a cavitating flow condition was predicted using the improved cavitation model and a viscous Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solver. Numerical simulation of the flow field across an ogive headform/cylinder body was performed to confirm the accuracy and reliability of the presented methodology. The relation between the hydrodynamic performance and cavitation number of the centrifugal pump was investigated at two different flow coefficients. The influence of the cavitation number on the attached cavity shape of an impeller was predicted. The numerical results show that a critical cavitation number exists for a given flow rate. The rapid drop in head coefficient at the critical cavitation number was captured at two different flow coefficients. A lower cavitation number leads to a larger cavity shape and a more rapid drop in head coefficient of a centrifugal pump. The results also show the feasibility of the present cavitation model and algorithms for numerical prediction of a centrifugal pump under cavitation flow condition.