Optimización energética de bombas centrífugas a través de un análisis paramétrico en CFD y modelos de pérdida de energía

Abstract

Introduction− The energy optimization of centrifugal pumps includes several ways of study, among them, the application of parametric analysis on a commercial centrifugal pump, generating dimensional changes that can be studied through CFD and that allow obtaining a geometric configuration with better levels of efficiency. Additionally, the incorporation of energy loss models in the parametric analyses allows a more detailed understanding of the causes of efficiency reduction on different operating conditions.

Objective− This study seeks to optimize a centrifugal pump using parametric analysis in CFD and energy loss models, to improve energy efficiency.

Methodology− An energy analysis was performed combining parametric studies and energy loss models, applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) through OpenFOAM software. The models consisted of 4 geometric configurations: number of blades, output diameter, output angle, and impeller output thickness. The energy models for the study of energy losses were based on turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and the behavior of hydraulic efficiency.

Results− Finally, it was obtained that the parameter that had the greatest influence on efficiency and turbulence was the increase on thickness, decreasing the most influential energy losses on pump performance, achieving increases in efficiency of 4.71% and reduction of the TKE by 4.24 m²/s² concerning the original pump.

Conclusions− The interface between the impeller and the volute generates turbulence due to the velocity gradient present in the particles since they go from high velocities to a low-velocity medium. The configurations that increased the flow area between the blades had higher levels of efficiency, allowing to displace a greater amount of fluid, allowing a more adequate velocity behavior, reducing losses due to the friction of the fluid with the walls of the volute.