Numerical analysis of gas-liquid mixed transport process in a multiphase rotodynamic pump

Abstract

One of the main challenges in developing multiphase rotodynamic pump is how to avoid gas-liquid separation in high IGVF (inlet gas volume fraction) condition. In this study, the two-fluid model was used to analyse the unsteady gas-liquid two-phase transport process with three-dimensional structure mesh. The turbulence was modelled by SST model and the drag force and added mass force were accounted for in the interfacial momentum transfer terms. The simulation was carried out in five working conditions with different flow rate but same IGVF. The results show that the region of impeller inlet can active the formation of air mass due to the abrupt change of flow passage and the rotation effect of the impeller; in the transport process, the field of gas volume fraction will fluctuate and lead to the fluctuation of the pressure field and the pump head. Also, by comparing the head performance with the experiment, the reliability of the current numerical model and methods in most working conditions is validated.