Modeling flow characteristics of a low specific-speed centrifugal pump with different volute shapes
Name
1201697744-MIT.pdf
Size
2.09 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
082ad8a221e100fca8960029cd1e0370
Author(s)
Wettermark, Susan Daly.
Advisor(s)
Alexander Slocum.
Date Issued
2019
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
A centrifugal pump is typically designed for a specific operating condition. The pump's shape and size are fine-tuned so that it can produce a specified output pressure and flow rate at the maximum possible efficiency. When a pump begins operating off of its design flow rate, its efficiency drops. Pumping systems often involve dynamic demands. They may have a fluctuating flow rate demand throughout the day, or the system may evolve and change size over time. In these cases, pumps with a single operating point are inefficient and insufficient. This thesis assesses the effects of changing a pump's volute casing geometry on the volute's internal flow characteristics. All analysis is performed on a low-specific-speed, radial flow centrifugal pump. 2D flow models from literature and CFD are analyzed and compared to experimental data. With properly-chosen solution methods, a 2D CFD simulation is found to match well with experimental results. Efficiency estimates and life-cycle cost changes due to changing flow characteristics in the variable volute system are presented.
Description
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, June, 2019
Cataloged from the official PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 39).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Terms of Use
MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
Persistent DSpace Link
