Integrated Structural and CFD Analysis for Performance Optimization of Gear Pumps

Gear pumps are extensively utilized across various industries, including fluid power transmission systems, automotive applications, agricultural machinery, and aerospace, owing to their durability and efficient performance. External gear pumps, in particular, are valued for their robust design, ease of manufacturing, and relatively low production cost. Ongoing research aims to enhance the performance and reliability of these pumps. The primary objective of this study is to establish a comprehensive analysis procedure to evaluate the flow characteristics and pressure performance of an external gear pump. Analytical calculations were conducted based on a flow rate of 25 liters per minute (LPM) and an operating pressure of 150 bar. Using these parameters, a detailed 3D model of the gear pump was created in Creo Parametric CAD software. This model was then employed in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze fluid behavior within the pump. The CFD results were compared with the analytical calculations to assess the accuracy of the proposed methodology. Additionally, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) can be performed to investigate the structural integrity of critical components, such as the shaft, gear teeth, and casing, thereby providing further validation of the analytical results.