2nd International Conference on Current Research Trends in Engineering and Technology

© 2018 IJSRSET | Volume 4 | Issue 5 | Print ISSN: 2395-1990 | Online ISSN: 2394-4099
Themed Section: Engineering and Technology

A Review on Improvement of Efficiency of Centrifugal

Pump by Altering Design Parameters
Parmar Karan1, Vasava Himanshu2, Parmar Amit3
1-3
U.G. Student, Mechanical Engineering, Sigma Institute of Engineering, Bakrol, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, all kind of Dynamics machineries are being researched for more efficient work and
optimum working. Centrifugal pumps are one of them. Centrifugal pumps are used for various
applications like drainage and drinking water system, chemical Industries- Catalyst transfer, acid
transfer and neutralizing, waste water/Chemicals- Industrial effluents, purifying water, cooing
purpose in process industries- paper pulp, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals and in refrigerating
systems etc. Centrifugal pumps can be single-stage or may be multistage pumps depends upon the
requirement and number of impellers used in the pump. In case of Single stage pump consist one
impeller while in multistage pumps the impellers are mounted in the series in . These pumps are very
popular because of recent development of high speed electric motors, steam turbines etc. Hence, for
more optimal performance the wide range of parameters are there to be work. This article deals with
the improvement of efficiency of centrifugal pump through modification in Design parameters. The
paper discusses the available material of performance improvement through various parameters and
mainly focuses on the researches related to impeller as well as casing.

Keywords: Centrifugal Pump, C.F. Pump, CFD analysis, internal flow analysis, Impeller Design

I. INTRODUCTION perform mechanical work by moving fluid.

Centrifugal pumps are used to transport fluids by
A Centrifugal pump is mechanically operated the conversion of rotational kinetic energy to the
machinery which is used to transfer the water to hydrodynamic energy of the fluid flow. The
certain height under pressure. It is simple in rotational energy generally comes from an engine
design. A pump is a device that moves fluids or electric motor. The two main parts of the
(liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by pump are the impeller and the diffuser. Impeller,
mechanical action. Centrifugal pumps operation which is the only moving part, is attached to a
is by some mechanism and consumes energy to shaft and driven by a motor. The fluid enters the

ME011 | Published : 10- April -2018 | March-April - 2017 (4) 5: 606-611 ]

606
 pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis
and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing
radially outward into a diffuser or volute
chamber (casing), from where it exits as
centrifugal action.
As water leaves the eye of the impeller a low-
pressure area is created, causing more water to
flow into the eye. Atmospheric pressure and
centrifugal force cause this to happen. Velocity is
developed as the water flows through the
impeller spinning at high speed. The water
velocity is collected by the diffuser and converted
Figure 1 – Centrifugal Pump
to pressure by specially designed passageways
that direct the flow to the discharge of the pump,
These Centrifugal pumps can be analyzed by
or to the next impeller should the pump have a
software code like CFD (Computational Fluid
multi-stage configuration.
Dynamics).This CFD tool or code helps for
optimizing performance of pump. These pumps
The pressure (head) that a pump will develop is
are working under complex internal flows, which
in direct relationship to the impeller diameter,
are predicted with the CFD code. The optimized
the number of impellers, the size of impeller eye,
pumps are used for various applications like
and shaft speed. Capacity is determined by the
drainage and drinking water system, chemical
exit width of the impeller. The head and capacity
Industries- Catalyst transfer, acid transfer and
are the main factors, which affect the horsepower
neutralizing, waste water/Chemicals- Industrial
size of the motor to be used. The more the
effluents, purifying water, in process industries-
quantity of water to be pumped, the more energy
paper pulp, chemicals etc.
is required.

II. COMPUTATIONAL FLUID

DYNAMICS

Computational Fluid Dynamics is useful for

predicting pump performance at various
rotational speeds. With the help of numerical
simulation mechanical behavior can be analyzed.
The prediction of behavior in a given physical
situation consists of the values of the relevant
variables governing the [Link] provides a

ME011 | Published : 10- April -2018 | March-April - 2017 (4) 5: 606-611 ]

607
 cost-effective and accurate alternative to scale equations is adopted for the design of each
model frames, stationary and rotating reference impeller. The predicted performance curves
frames. The contour and vector plot of pressure result through the calculation of the internal flow
and velocity distributions in flow passage are field. Head-discharge curve play important role
displayed. The simulation results for flow rate into different outlet angles.
and head are compared with analytical formulae.
It is concluded that flow pattern of centrifugal
pump can be described well with moving
reference frame and along with the turbulence
model.

CFD applies numerical methods (called

discretization) to develop approximations of the
governing equations of fluid mechanics in the
fluid region of interest.

III. Improvement of Impeller Figure 2 – Design & analysis of pump impeller

Design a Centrifugal Pump using CFD
The influence of the outlet blade angle on the
Centrifugal pumps are widely used for water
performance is verified with the CFD. The
supply plants, steam power plants, sewage, oil
performance curve becomes smoother and flatter
refineries, chemical plants, hydraulic power
with the increase with the increase outlet blade
service, food processing factories and mines,
angle.
because of their suitability in practically any
service. Therefore it is necessary to find out the
At nominal capacity, when the outlet blade angle
design parameter, working conditions and
was increased from 20° to 50°, the head was
maximum efficiency with lowest power
increased by more than 6% but the hydraulic
consumption. Study indicates that Computational
efficiency was reduced by 4.5%. However, at
fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is being
high flow rates, the increase of the outlet blade
increasingly applied in the design of centrifugal
angle caused a significant improvement of the
pumps. Various parameters affect the pump
hydraulic efficiency. Thus by number of
performance and energy consumption. The
approaches and with trial and error method
impeller material, blade angle and the blade
multiple result may be obtained.
number are the most critical. Therefore it is
necessary for development in the impeller so we
IV. LITERATURE SURVEY
can improve the performance of pump. The One-
dimensional approach along with empirical

ME011 | Published : 10- April -2018 | March-April - 2017 (4) 5: 606-611 ]

608
 In centrifugal pump, the main design parameters The Validation of present predictions is carried
to be concentrated of volute part include base out by comparing with experimental data and
diameter, volute width, vane setting angle of the with published numerical results. The results of
volute tongue, area of throat. This is manipulated velocity and concentration distribution are
accordance of design in order to achieve better verified against rigorous mesh independence.
performance. As based on the 2D model the 3D Results in the case pump casing are validated
model is obtained by CAD software further this with FEM based numerical results from which
model is carried out in operated in CFD Codes for the conformance of optimal results are attested.
simulation purposes. (Krishnan V. -2011)

The investigated the internal flow patterns of a The main objective design of centrifugal pump
volute type discharge passage, in a mixed flow becomes to increase the efficiency and at the
pumping system based on the Computational same time decrease of Net Positive Suction Head
Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Analysis shows that the (NPSH). To work out for such case centrifugal
internal flow pattern of volute-type discharge pumps are numerically investigated using
passage is very complex; there is vortex and flow Numeca software. Genetically optimized Group
separation in typical cross-section. Which are Method of Data Handling (GMDH) type neural
difficult to be predicted for such variant type of networks are used to obtain polynomial models
flow with the varying parameter in such time. for the effects of geometrical parameters of the
(Honggeng Zhu al, 2012) pump on both efficiency and NPSH.
([Link]-2011).Such an approach of meta-
The key components like impeller or casing of modeling of those CFD result allows for iterative
the centrifugal pump can be redesigned by using optimization techniques to design optimally.
the inverse design with singularity method. A Thus, simple polynomial models used in a Pareto
cubic Bezier curve was established to express based multi-objective optimization approach to
mathematically density function of bound vortex find the best possible combinations of efficiency
intensity along the blade camber line so as to get and Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH).
the smooth as well as loading carefully controlled
blade. The pressure difference and loading Sometimes, research is concerned with rise of
coefficient across blade in the original impeller is head which is affected by change in the outlet
higher compared to the redesigned impeller. So, blade angle. The systematic research on influence
by using this approach CFD results confirmed of the various design aspects of centrifugal pump
that the impeller hydraulic efficiency was in its performance in the whole range of the flow
improved by 5% (Wen-Guang LI-2011). rates requires numerical predictions and
experiment.

ME011 | Published : 10- April -2018 | March-April - 2017 (4) 5: 606-611 ]

609
 The shrouded impellers with outlet blade angle With the aid of computational fluid dynamics,
20 deg, 30 deg as 40 deg and 50deg respectively the complex internal flow in horizontal split case
were designed and performance is predicted. As pump can be well predicted thus facilitating the
the outlet blade angle increases the performance design of pump. The diameter of impeller, as well
curve becomes smoother and flatter for the whole as modification in Volute design with the help of
range of flow rates. When pump operates at CFD design gives better efficiency ([Link]-
nominal capacity, the gain in the head is more 2011).
than 6% but decrease of hydraulic efficiency by 5
The influence of the outlet blade angle on the
%. Moreover, at high flow rates, the increase of
performance is verified with the CFD simulation.
outlet blade angle causes a significant
As the outlet blade angle increases the
improvement of hydraulic efficiency. The
performance curve becomes smoother and flatter
minimum radial forces or pressure for that case
for the whole range of the flow rates. When
were calculated near the best efficiency point
pump operates at nominal capacity, the gain in
(BEP) as expected. The same trend is observed for
the head is more than 5% to 6% when the outlet
the other two impellers with outlet blade angle
blade angle increases from 20 deg to 50 deg.
β2=30 and 50 deg. It is remarkable the shift of the
However, the above increment of the head is
minimum radial force to higher flow rates
recompensed with 4% decrease of the hydraulic
([Link]-2008).
efficiency. Moreover, at high flow rates, the
increase of the outlet blade angle causes a
The flow analysis of 2 or more pumps can be
significant improvement of the hydraulic
carried out comparatively with the CFD codes
efficiency.
like FLUENT which solve the equations or
calculations for analysis of turbo machinery V. SCOPE OF THE WORK
flows. These methods are multiple references
Frame (MRF), Mixing Plane (MP) and Sliding The proposed work is designing of impeller,
Mesh(SM) method etc. The steady flow equations testing of centrifugal pump which will result into
can be solved in MRF and MP methods while, the improved efficiency.
unsteady flow equations can be solved in SM
method. But, comparatively The Sliding Mesh
Method gives good results rather than the MRF VI. CONCLUSIONS
and MP methods. Because, these two methods
The Hydraulic design of the impeller can be
gives the physical approximations and results are
optimized by means of trial and error methods or
found to be far away from the best efficiency
by means changing the input design of impeller
point (Erik dick-2001).
as like Vane angles tangency length as well. From
the CFD results mechanical behavior of impeller

ME011 | Published : 10- April -2018 | March-April - 2017 (4) 5: 606-611 ]

610
 parts with various parameters like velocity “CFD Predictions of Dense Slurry Flow in
contours .This Contours can be predicted and the Centrifugal Pump Casings”.
optimum design will be manufactured and is to [7]. Wen-Guang LI (April 2011), “Inverse
be used for in various applications. Design of Impeller Blade of Centrifugal
Pump with a Singularity Method”, Jordan
VII. REFERENCES
Journal of Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering, Volume 5, Number 2,
[1]. [Link], “A textbook on Fluid
[8]. Honggeng zhu (2012), rentian zhang,
Mechanics and Hydraulic machines”
guoqiang luo, bin zhang, “investigation of
[2]. [Link], k. Sankaranarayanasamy, t.
hydraulic characteristics of a volute-type
Sundararajang. Vaidyanathan, k. Udhaya
discharge passage based on CFD”,
kumar, “pressure drop and cavitations
[9]. Golcu, Mustafa, and Yasar Pancar, 2005,
investigations on static helical-grooved
"Investigation of performance
square, Triangular and curved cavity
characteristics in a pump impeller with
liquid labyrinth seals, nuclear
low blade discharge angle." World Pumps
engineering and design 241” (2011) 843–
2005.
853
[10]. Aly, S. and S. Al-Zubaidy (1992).
[3]. [Link], [Link], [Link],
“Performance prediction method for
[Link], “Design and
centrifugal pumps.”
Development of Split Case Pump Using
[11]. “Revisited Designing of Intermediate
Computational Fluid Dynamics”, Institute
Stage Guide Vane of Centrifugal Pump”
of Technology, Nirma University,
XIIIth International Scientific and
Ahmedabad.
Engineering Conference “HERVICON-
[4]. Erik dick, Jan vierendeels, Sven serbruyns
2011”
and John VandeVoorde, “Performance
Prediction of Centrifugal Pumps with
CFD-Tools”, Task Quarterly 5, Volume-
4(2001)
[5]. EC. Bacharoudis, A.E. Filios, M.D.
Mentzos and D.P. Margaris, “Parametric
Study of a Centrifugal Pump Impeller by
Varying the Outlet Blade Angle”, the
Open Mechanical Engineering Journal,
2008
[6]. Krishnan V. Pagalthivarthi, Pankaj K.
Gupta, Vipin Tyagi, M. R. Ravi (2011),

ME011 | Published : 10- April -2018 | March-April - 2017 (4) 5: 606-611 ]

611