Open AccessCharacteristic Curve Prediction of a Commercial Centrifugal Pump Operating as a Turbine Through Numerical Simulations
Author(s) -
Diego Penagos Vásquez,
Jonathan Graciano-Uribe,
Sebastián Vélez García,
Jorge Sierra del Río
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of advanced research in fluid mechanics and thermal sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2289-7879
DOI - 10.37934/arfmts.83.1.153169
Subject(s) - centrifugal pump , turbine , operating point , electricity generation , mode (computer interface) , work (physics) , flow (mathematics) , electricity , hydroelectricity , francis turbine , computer science , point (geometry) , steady state (chemistry) , mechanical engineering , mechanics , power (physics) , engineering , mathematics , physics , electrical engineering , geometry , quantum mechanics , impeller , operating system , chemistry
In this work, we seek to predict the characteristic curve of a commercial centrifugal radial flow pump operating as a turbine, applying a novel methodology based on the state of the art. Initially, the characteristic curve in pump mode is validated through numerical simulations. The results obtained are approximate to the points awarded by the manufacturer, with an error of less than 7% at the best efficiency point. Subsequently, the characteristic curve is generated in turbine mode, obtaining an error of less than 10% respect to mathematical model. Then, velocity and pressure contours are evaluated to validate the fluid dynamic behavior. Finally, the site operating conditions for electricity generation are obtained. With this, it is proposing a methodology for the selection of these turbomachines, applying an economic technology for zones that do not have access to the electrical energy, since it was not found a method that is being applied for its correct election in the hydroelectric generation at low scale.