Experimental study of the interaction between an inducer and impeller at very low flow rates
Résumé
This study aims to highlight the interactions between an inducer and an impeller,
two key components of a centrifugal pump. Two configurations are studied: inducer alone and
inducer and impeller. Low flow-rates (3% ϕn, 30% ϕn, 60% ϕn) and low-pressure conditions, for
which cavitation occurs, are investigated. The hydromechanical performance is studied and
compared for both configurations, and cavitation formation is depicted using a high-speed
camera. It has been shown that two types of cavitation occur: tip vortex cavitation and
cavitation induced by inlet prerotation. Both types are dependent on inlet pressure and flow
rate. The former does not significantly impact the head pressure coefficient, whereas the latter
grows as the inlet pressure decreases and eventually causes the pump stall when reaching the
blades. Furthermore, inlet pre-rotation is exacerbated by the presence of the impeller,
deteriorating the overall pump performance. Despite the inducer’s stall, the pump is still
capable of pressurizing the fluid, and the impeller seems to compensate a percentage of the
pressure drop by increasing its own contribution.
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