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Reduction of Entrained Vortices in Submersible Pump Suction Lines Using Numerical Simulations

Author

Listed:
  • Virgel M. Arocena

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines)

  • Binoe E. Abuan

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines)

  • Joseph Gerard T. Reyes

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines)

  • Paul L. Rodgers

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines)

  • Louis Angelo M. Danao

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines)

Abstract

Pump intake structure design is one area where physical models still remain as the only acceptable method that can provide reliable engineering results. Ensuring the amount of turbulence, entrained air vortices, and swirl are kept within acceptable limits requires site-specific, expensive, and time-consuming physical model studies. This study aims to investigate the viability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as an alternative tool for pump intake design thus reducing the need for extensive physical experiments. In this study, a transient multiphase simulation of a 530 mm wide rectangular intake sump housing a 116 m 3 /h pump is presented. The flow conditions, vortex formation and inlet swirl are compared to an existing 1:10 reduced scaled physical model test. For the baseline test, the predicted surface and submerged vortices agreed well with those observed in the physical model. Both the physical model test and the numerical model showed that the initial geometry of the pump sump is unacceptable as per ANSI/HI 9.8 criteria. Strong type 2 to type 3 submerged vortices were observed at the floor of the pump and behind the pump. Consequently, numerical simulations of proposed sump design modification are further investigated. Two CFD models with different fillet-splitter designs are evaluated and compared based on the vortex formation and swirl. In the study, it was seen that a trident-shaped splitter design was able to prevent flow separation and vortex suppression as compared to a cross-baffle design based on ANSI/HI 9.8. CFD results for the cross-baffle design showed that backwall and floor vortices were still present and additional turbulence was observed due to the cross-flow caused by the geometry. Conversely, CFD results for the trident-shaped fillet-splitter design showed stable flow and minimized the floor and wall vortices previously observed in the first two models.

Suggested Citation

  • Virgel M. Arocena & Binoe E. Abuan & Joseph Gerard T. Reyes & Paul L. Rodgers & Louis Angelo M. Danao, 2020. "Reduction of Entrained Vortices in Submersible Pump Suction Lines Using Numerical Simulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:22:p:6136-:d:449523
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahn, Soo-Hwang & Xiao, Yexiang & Wang, Zhengwei & Zhou, Xuezhi & Luo, Yongyao, 2017. "Numerical prediction on the effect of free surface vortex on intake flow characteristics for tidal power station," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 617-628.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sangyoon Kim & Changgu Kim & Byungha Kim & Hyunjun Jang & Incheol Kim & Young-Ho Lee, 2022. "A Study Comparing the Subsurface Vortex Characteristics in Pump Sumps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Virgel M. Arocena & Binoe E. Abuan & Joseph Gerard T. Reyes & Paul L. Rodgers & Louis Angelo M. Danao, 2021. "Numerical Investigation of the Performance of a Submersible Pump: Prediction of Recirculation, Vortex Formation, and Swirl Resulting from Off-Design Operating Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.

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