The Spatio‐Temporal Characteristics of Flow Field Inside a Self‐Priming Pump During the Self‐Priming Process

ABSTRACT In this article, a closed‐loop piping system that includes the self‐priming pump is established and calculated. Two operating processes reflecting real situations are accurately calculated by means of UDF. The vortex identification method, entropy production theory, and energy gradient method are employed to deeply analyze and reveal the energy loss characteristics and flow stability. The results show that in the oscillating exhaust stage, the energy loss is greatest during the oscillating exhaust stage of the self‐priming process. The reflux hole, the tongue, and the outlet section of the volute have larger energy loss. Within the impeller region, the entropy production is mainly concentrated at the impeller inlet and outlet; the entropy production distribution area and value are larger in the clearance of the wear‐ring. In addition, the instability region in the impeller and the left side of the volute is significantly larger than the rest of the locations and increases considerably with the self‐priming process.