Effect of Flow Rate on Turbulence Dissipation Rate Distribution in a Multiphase Pump

TLDR: In this article, the authors focused on the turbulence dissipation rate distribution characteristics in the directions of inlet to outlet, hub to rim, and in the circumferential direction of the rotating impeller blades.

Abstract: The turbulence dissipation will cause the increment of energy loss in the multiphase pump and deteriorate the pump performance. In order to research the turbulence dissipation rate distribution characteristics in the pressurized unit of the multiphase pump, the spiral axial flow type multiphase pump is researched numerically in the present study. This research is focused on the turbulence dissipation rate distribution characteristics in the directions of inlet to outlet, hub to rim, and in the circumferential direction of the rotating impeller blades. Numerical simulation based on the RANS (Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations) and the k-ω SST (Shear Stress Transport) turbulence model has been carried out. The numerical method is verified by comparing the numerical results with the experimental data. Results show that the regions of the large turbulence dissipation rate are mainly at the inlet and outlet of the rotating impeller and static impeller, while it is almost zero from the inlet to the middle of outlet in the suction surface and pressure surface of the first-stage rotating impeller blades. The turbulence dissipation rate is increased gradually from the hub to the rim of the inlet section of the first-stage rotating impeller, while it is decreased firstly and then increased on the middle and outlet sections. The turbulence dissipation rate distributes unevenly in the circumferential direction on the outlet section. The maximum value of the turbulence dissipation rate occurs at 0.9 times of the rated flow rate, while the minimum value at 1.5 times of the rated flow rate. Four turning points in the turbulence dissipation rate distribution that are the same as the number of impeller blades occur at 0.5 times the blade height at 0.9 times the rated flow rate condition. The turbulence dissipation rate distribution characteristics in the pressurized unit of the multiphase pump have been studied carefully in this paper, and the research results have an important significance for improving the performance of the multiphase pump theoretically.