Numerical study on the effect of different types of impeller blades in centrifugal heart assist pump

In this study, the effect of different impeller blade types on pump performance for centrifugal heart support pumps used to support treatment in heart failure diseases was investigated numerically. The pump design parameters were based on the operating parameters of an adult human heart (flow rate of 5 l/min and a pressure load of 100 mm-Hg). By considering these parameters, pump design has been made and by means of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software for 3 different impeller blade types (radial, straight and curved) at four different flow rates (3, 4, 5 and 6 l/min) and three different rotational speeds (3500, 3850 and 4250 rpm) pump performance curves were determined. According to the findings, the design point parameters were reached at the curved impeller blade type and 3850 rpm. At this point the hydraulic efficiency of the pump was determined as 34%. The highest pressure difference was obtained at approximately 180 mm-Hg and 2 l/min. In addition, in this study, wall shear stresses were determined in order to investigate the effects of parameters and impeller blade types on blood damage (hemolysis).