Design and Research for a Gas–water Separator for Pump Cavitation Testing

Dong, S. Y.; Mou, J. G.; Xiong, B.; Liu, X. L.; Yang, Y. X.; Fan, S. N.; Liu, Z. K.

doi:10.47176/jafm.19.1.3606

Design and Research for a Gas–water Separator for Pump Cavitation Testing

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

¹ College of Metrology Measurement and Instrument, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China

² Eifel Pump (Fuzhou) Corpn, Ltd, Fuzhou 350101, China

³ College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China

10.47176/jafm.19.1.3606

Abstract

In open-type cavitation tests, pump inlet air bubbles affect the accuracy of cavitation margin measurements. To improve the accuracy of these measurements, a novel gas–water separation device for pump cavitation testing was designed in this study based on the principle of multiphase flow separation. This device could effectively remove unintended air bubbles. Through numerical simulations and experimental studies, we characterized the internal flow field features and quantified how the inner cylinder length-to-diameter ratio governed the separation efficiency and pressure drop, finding an optimal length-to-diameter ratio of 2.5 for maximum gas removal. The shape of the inner cylinder and the outlet structure was optimized, and the large curvature (LC) structure minimized a pressure loss of 314.6 Pa while maximizing the separation efficiency to 89.66%. The degrees of influence exerted by the internal cylinder diameter at the bottom, the internal cylinder inclination, and the internal cylinder height on the separation performance of the LC structure were investigated through orthogonal tests. The bottom diameter of the internal cylinder was found to have the most significant influence. These results offer practical guidance for enhancing cavitation-test accuracy and informing the optimal design of gas–water separators.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Multiphase and Particle-Laden Flows

References

Qiaorui, S., Asad, A., Minquan, L., Jianping, Y., Yuanyuan, G., Shouqi, Y., & Gerard, B. (2023). Assessment of cavitation noise in a centrifugal pump using acoustic finite element method and spherical cavity radiation theory. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19942060.2023.2173302

Ji, P., Qifan, D., Wenjie, W., Ju, S., & Wenjie, P. (2023). Investigation on energy dissipation mechanism in a double-suction centrifugal pump based on Rortex and enstrophy. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19942060.2023.2261532

Jiegang, M., Zicheng, Z., Yunqing, G., SHIZhengzan, & Shuihua, Z. (2020). Effect of Circular Non-Smooth Surface Blades onCavitation Characteristics of Centrifugal Pump. JOURNAL OF SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY, 54(06), 577-583. https://doi.org/10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2019.070 (in Chinese)

Guixuan, L., Peijian, Z., Gang, X., Jiegang, M., Yang, W., & Chengui, Z. (2023). Research on Cavitation State Recognition in Vortex Pump Based on Residual Neural Networks. CHINESE JOURNAL OF HYDRODYNAMICS, 38(06), 852-857. https://doi.org/10.16076/j.cnki.cjhd.2023.06.005 (in Chinese)

Bo, G., Zhengchuan, Z., Junlian, Y., Rui, X., Ning, L., & Dezhong, W. (2024). Experimental study on the cavitation flow and the induced vibration characteristics of a mixed-flow water-jet pump. JOURNAL OF VIBRATION AND SHOCK, 43(02), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.13465/j.cnki.jvs.2024.02.005 (in Chinese)

Li, G., Ding, X., Wu, Y., Wang, S., Li, D., Yu, W., Wang, X., Zhu, Y., & Guo, Y. (2022). Liquid-vapor two-phase flow in centrifugal pump: Cavitation, mass transfer, and impeller structure optimization. Vacuum, 201, 111102. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2022.111102

Gu, Y., Yu, L., Mou, J., Shi, Z., Yan, M., & Wu, D. (2022). Influence of circular non-smooth structure on cavitation damage characteristics of centrifugal pump. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 44(4), 155.

Lu, J., Luo, Z., Chen, Q., Liu, X., & Zhu, B. (2022). Study on pressure pulsation induced by cavitation at the tongue of the volute in a centrifugal pump. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 47(12), 16033-16048.

Tan, Y., Wu, G., Qiu, Y., Fan, H., & Wan, J. (2023). Fault diagnosis of a mixed-flow pump under cavitation condition based on deep learning techniques. Frontiers in Energy Research, 10, 1109214.

Sakran, H. K., Abdul Aziz, M. S., Abdullah, M., & Khor, C. (2022). Effects of blade number on the centrifugal pump performance: a review. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 47(7), 7945-7961.

Ma, X., Luo, Y., Shi, J., & Xiong, H. (2022). Acoustic Emission Based Fault Detection of Substation Power Transformer. Applied Sciences, 12(5), 2759.

Xiaoqi, J., Shuaikang, Z., & Zuchao, Z. (2023). Experimental Prediction of Filtrate Pump’s Critical Cavitation Point Based on Vibration Energy. Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Mechanical Engineering, 48(2), 615-627. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40997-023-00691-5

Rudolf, B., Bernd, S., & Matevž, D. (2010). Unsteady Cavitation at the Tongue of the Volute of a Centrifugal Pump. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 132(6). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001570

Yongbing, H., , Z. S., Jinyu, Q., Zhenkun, Z., Lian, S., Lei, L., & , M. L. (2020). Research on Cavitation Test Method of Pump. MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, 49(09), 76-77.

Jorge, L., Redza, R., Nicolas, R., H, N. R., Eduardo, P., & Cem, S. (2024). Investigation of gas-bubbles separation from a liquid–gas mixture stream around a vertical 180° bend applied to gravity-driven separation using computing vision and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 152, 111103-. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EXPTHERMFLUSCI.2023.111103

Zheng, C., Yang, W., Wang, G., Fan, G., Yan, C., Zeng, X., & Liu, A. (2019). Experimental study on a new type of separator for gas liquid separation. Frontiers in Energy Research, 7, 102. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2019.00102

Jincheng, W., Dong, H., Shirui, L., Sheng, W., Weifeng, H., Mingrui, Z., & Sijie, C. (2023). Numerical Simulation of Vapor-liquid Separation Based on Cyclone Separator. Machine Building & Automation, 52(03), 101-105. https://doi.org/10.19344/j.cnki.issn1671-5276.2023.03.025 (in Chinese)

Hreiz, R., Gentric, C., & Midoux, N. (2011). Numerical investigation of swirling flow in cylindrical cyclones. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 89(12), 2521-2539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2011.05.001

Yan-ria, X., Xing-fu, S., Ya-zhou, W., You-riao, G., & Shu-min, L. (2012). Simulation Analysis of Hydrocyclone with Different Vortex Finders. Journal of East China University of Science and Technology (Natural Science Edition), 38(03), 271-276. https://doi.org/10.14135/j.cnki.1006-3080.2012.03.020

Mao, Y., Chertovskih, R., & Cai, L. (2024). Numerical Study of the Gas–Solid Separation Performance of Axial Flow Cyclone Separators. Inventions, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9020034

He, F., Zhao, D., Wang, J., Huang, Y., & Liu, Q. (2022). Numerical Simulation Investigation of Vortex Finder Depth Effects on Flow Field and Performance of Desanding Mini-Hydrocyclones. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10111600

Pandey, S., Saha, I., Prakash, O., Mukherjee, T., Iqbal, J., Roy, A. K.,…Brar, L. S. (2022). CFD Investigations of Cyclone Separators with Different Cone Heights and Shapes. Applied Sciences, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104904

Zhi, Q., Ling, Z., Ling, B., A., E.-E. M., & Ramesh, A. (2024). Empirical and numerical advancements in gas-liquid separation technology: A review. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 233, 212577-. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GEOEN.2023.212577

Zhen, Z., Mengshan, S., & Xiang, L. (2022). Experimental study on the separation performance of a novel gas–liquid separator. Advanced Powder Technology, 33(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APT.2022.103795

Rui, Y., Ming-hu, J., Xi-cheng, C., & Qi, X. (2019). The Structure Design and Flowfield Analysis of GasLiquid Separation Cyclone. Chemical Engineering & Machinery, 46(01), 74-78. (in Chinese)

Mengyang, W., Qiaolei, S., Ding, F., Yue, M., & Jiangang, W. (2023). Design and Analysis of Gas-Liquid Separator for Skid-mounted Wellhead Gas Recovery System. CHINA PETROLEUM MACHINERY, 51(10), 113-119. https://doi.org/10.16082/j.cnki.issn.1001-4578.2023.10.015 (in Chinese)

Feiran, X., Jia, W., Jinming, C., Mengnan, S., Baoyu, W., & Yaohua, W. (2020). Structure Design and Simulation Analysis of Gas-water Separation Device for Diesel Engine. Internal Combustion Engines(05), 39-42. (in Chinese)

Chunyu, M., Lei, X., Feng, L., Minghu, J., & Xinya, L. (2023). Significance Analysis of Structural Parameters of th Compact Gas-Liquid Hydrocyclone. CHINA PETROLEUM MACHINERY, 51(05), 86-93. https://doi.org/10.16082/j.cnki.issn.1001-4578.2023.05.012 (in Chinese)