Optimization design of helical flow constant pressure pump impeller by orthogonal experiment and CFD

Abstract The structure and shape of a pump impeller significantly impact its hydraulic performance. To explore the effects of impeller design on pump efficiency, the study focuses on a helical flow constant pressure pump (referred to hereafter as the constant pressure pump). The aim is to optimize the impeller to enhance the hydraulic performance of the constant pressure pump starting from an existing model. Three-dimensional steady flow within the constant pressure pump was simulated using Fluent software. Key parameters of the impeller, including vane outlet width, impeller outlet diameter, number of vanes, and vane outlet angle, were optimized through a combination of orthogonal experiments and numerical computations. The external characteristic tests conducted on the original pump model aligned well with computational predictions across various operating conditions, validating the reliability and accuracy of the numerical approach for performance prediction. Orthogonal experiments were employed to analyze the influence of these four main impeller parameters on the pump’s performance. This led to the identification of an optimized design: a vane outlet width ( b 2 ) of 3.0 mm, an impeller outlet diameter ( D 2 ) of 220 mm, 12 vanes ( Z ), and a vane outlet angle ( β 2 ) of 16 degrees. When compared to simulations of the original design, this optimized configuration demonstrated notable improvements in both lift and overall pump efficiency, thereby confirming the precision and validity of the optimization process. In conclusion, the integration of orthogonal experimentation with numerical computation has proven to be a powerful strategy for enhancing and refining impeller designs, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient constant pressure pumps.