Open AccessEffect of Leading Edge Profile on Cavitation Performance of Mixed Flow Impeller
Author(s) -
Takeshi Sano,
Masamichi Iino,
Shin Maeda
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1909/1/012018
Subject(s) - cavitation , impeller , leading edge , mechanics , camber (aerodynamics) , materials science , suction , enhanced data rates for gsm evolution , flow (mathematics) , volumetric flow rate , structural engineering , mechanical engineering , engineering , composite material , physics , telecommunications
Cavitation inception on a pump impeller blade is affected by the blade profile around the leading edge. Even if the difference of the blade profile is limited around the local leading edge area, such as, different elliptical ratios of the leading edge, pressure limitation of cavitation inception differs drastically. This leads to the difference of cavitation erosion speed, and it is important to understand the mechanism and quantitative effect of leading edge shape on cavitation inception, to avoid troubles related to cavitation erosion. In this study, CFD and experimental investigation were carried out to clarify the effect of leading edge shape on cavitation inception. The tested pump was a mixed flow pump, which is widely used as a circulating water pump for power plants. Various leading edge shape were calculated and tested with keeping the blade camber line. Only elliptical ratio of the leading edge on the suction side was changed. As for CFD, isolated impeller, single phase analysis was carried out for 90, 100 and 110% design flow rates, blade surface area on which pressure is less than the vapour pressure was evaluated for each cases. In the experiment, 5 bladed mixed flow pump model was used, and the cavitation length was measured. Both experimental and calculated results were compared and considered. As a result, it was clarified that the optimized value of elliptical ratio is around 2 to 6, which changes depending on the flow rate. Additionally, when the elliptical ratio is 4, was almost half of the one with elliptical ratio 1. Cavity length and cavitation intensity has positive correlation, and estimated erosion speed when the elliptical ratio is4 is almost an eighth of baseline.