Study on the integrated self-priming process of a vehicle-mounted self-priming pump

In order to explore the self-priming characteristics of the self-priming pump at the mobile pump truck, this paper established a complete three-dimensional circulatory piping system including the self-priming pump, tank, valves, inlet pipe and outlet pipe. The UDF(User Defined Functions) was used to realize the acceleration-constant speed operation process of the impeller, thus reflecting the actual changing state of the rotational speed. Based on the VOF(Volume Of Fluid) multiphase flow model and the Realizable <i>k-ε</i> turbulence model, a coupled numerical calculation of unsteady incompressible viscous flow was conducted for its self-priming process. The results show that the self-priming process of the pump can be roughly divided into four stages: the rapid suction stage, the shock exhaust stage, the rapid exhaust period and the pump residual gas discharge stage. The proportion of each stage in the total self-priming time showed an increasing trend. During the rapid suction stage, the water level in the vertical section of the inlet pipe showed a slow and then fast-rising pattern. During the shock exhaust stage, the average gas-phase volume fraction in the volute is lower than that of the impeller, and the gas content at the volute outlet is lower than that of the impeller inlet. The region at the inlet and outer edge of the impeller consistently experience significant energy losses.