Experimental and numerical simulation analysis of the performance of spiral inlet air lift pump

To enhance the lifting performance of the air lift pump, this paper introduces a spiral air intake method. Using Fluent software and the VOF model along with the standard k-ε turbulence model, we analyzed the variations in liquid flow rate, lifting efficiency, and gas phase volume fraction of a spiral air-lift pump under different immersion ratios, air intake volumes, and air intake angles. The research findings indicate that: the increase in the immersion ratio enhances the volumetric flow rate and efficiency of the airlift pump. As the intake air volume increases, the volumetric flow rate and efficiency of the lifting liquid initially increase but then tend to decrease. The influence of the intake angle on the performance enhancement of the air-lift pump is similar to that of the intake volume, with the optimal angle being 10°. The analysis of gas phase volume fraction reveals that the aforementioned phenomenon is attributed to the alteration of flow patterns within the tube caused by changes in parameters. Notably, the air lift pump achieves optimal performance when the flow pattern within the tube assumes a slug flow configuration. The research findings facilitate the optimization of the air lift pump’s structure and operating parameters, ultimately enhancing its overall performance.