The Cavitation-Induced Pressure Fluctuations in a Mixed-Flow Pump under Impeller Inflow Distortion

To reduce cavitation-induced pressure fluctuations in a mixed-flow pump under impeller inflow distortion, the dynamic pressure signal at different monitoring points of a mixed-flow pump with a dustpan-shaped inlet conduit under normal and critical cavitation conditions was collected using high-precision digital pressure sensors. Firstly, the nonuniformity of the impeller inflow caused by inlet conduit shape was characterized by the time-frequency-domain spectra and statistical characteristics of pressure fluctuation at four monitoring points (P4-P7) circumferentially distributed at the outlet of the inlet conduit. Then, the cavity distribution on the blade surface was captured by a stroboscope. Lastly, the characteristics of cavitation-induced pressure fluctuation were obtained by analyzing the time-frequency-domain spectra and statistical characteristic values of dynamic pressure signals at the impeller inlet (P1), guide vanes inlet (P2), and guide vanes outlet (P3). The results show that the flow distribution of impeller inflow is asymmetric. The p(av) values at P4 and P6 were the smallest and largest, respectively. Compared with normal conditions, the impeller inlet pressure is lower under critical cavitation conditions, which leads to low p(av), pp-p and a main frequency amplitude at P1. In addition, the cavity covered the whole suction side under H = 13.6 m and 15.5 m, which led the pp-p and dominant frequency amplitude of pressure fluctuation at P2 and P3 under critical cavitation to be higher than that under normal conditions.