Numerical analysis of solid particle effects in a gas-liquid-solid multiphase rotodynamic pump using an Eulerian multi-fluid model

The influence mechanisms of solid particles on the internal and external characteristics of the multiphase pump handling a gas–liquid–solid flow remain unclear. The present study uses an Eulerian multi-fluid model to investigate the solid particle effects in such a pump. The results show that the energy loss in the impeller increases by 25.9 kPa and the pump efficiency decreases by 4.5% when the inlet solid void fraction (ISVF, α S,i ) increases from 1% to 10% and the solid particle diameter (SPD, d ) is 0.01 mm. They are 10.0 kPa and 1.8% respectively when SPD decreases from 0.07 to 0.01 mm at α S,i = 4%. Under conditions of α S,i = 1%, 4%, 7%, and 10%, the maximum shear stresses occur at the impeller blade leading edge and guide vane blade trailing edge. Under conditions of d = 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07 mm, the vorticities exhibit significant magnitudes at the impeller inlet, as well as on the blade suction surfaces of the impeller and guide vane. As the SPD increases, the vorticity in the impeller decreases significantly, while that in the guide vane is less affected.