The use of mining pumps to transport solid-liquid two-phase flows results in solid particles causing varying degrees of wear in the flow-passing components of the pump. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed employing SST k-ω turbulence and discrete phase models to predict the wear characteristics of small two-stage mining pumps. The wear rates of the flow-passing components (first- and second-stage impellers and guide vanes) of the pump were simulated considering three solid-particle sizes under three flow conditions (low flow, rated flow, and high flow), with the highest wear rate occurring on the surfaces of the first-stage guide vane in the low-flow condition. Subsequently, a pump wear experiment was performed using an experimental pump with parameters and structure similar to the numerical model at the pump’s rated flow. The experimental results were compared to numerical results obtained using the same numerical method and wear model. The wear characteristics shown in the numerical and experimental results were consistent with each other. Thus, the numerical method used in this study can accurately predict the wear of flow-passing components in a mining pump, and the method was found to be suitable for the prediction of wear characteristics in mining pumps.

This study investigates the wear characteristics and optimization of a centrifugal pump (Q = 25 m³/h, H = 50 m, n = 2900 r/min) applied in sediment-laden waters of Southern Xinjiang irrigation systems. A numerical framework integrating the Realizable $k-\epsilon$ turbulence model, Discrete Phase Model (DPM), and Oka erosion model was established to analyze wear patterns under varying parameters (particle size, density, and mass flow rate). Results indicate that the average erosion rate peaks at 0.92 kg/s mass flow rate. Subsequently, a Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-based optimization was implemented: (1) Plackett–Burman (PB) screening identified the inlet placement angle (A), inlet diameter (C), and outlet width (E) as dominant factors; (2) Full factorial design (FFD) revealed significant interactions (e.g., A × C, C × E); (3) Box–Behnken Design (BBD) generated quadratic regression models for head, efficiency, shaft power, and wear rate (R² > 0.94). Optimization reduced the average erosion rate by 31.35% (from 1.550 × 10⁻⁴ to 1.064 × 10⁻⁴ kg·m⁻²·s⁻¹). Experimental validation confirmed the numerical model’s accuracy in predicting wear localization (e.g., impeller outlet). This work provides a robust methodology for enhancing the wear resistance of centrifugal pumps for agricultural irrigation in water with high fine sediment concentration environments.

Compared with smooth spillways, stepped spillways provide superior energy dissipation. The hydraulic characteristics of stepped spillways are affected by the slope type and inclination angle of the step surface. In this study, inclination angles of 3°, 6°, and 10° were designed for both forward- and backward-inclined step configurations of stepped spillways. The renormalization group (RNG) k–ε turbulence model was used to comparatively analyze the water depth, pressure, and turbulent kinetic energy distributions along with the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate and Froude number of ordinary, forward-, and backward-inclined stepped spillways. The results show that for backward-inclined stepped spillways with inclination angles of 3°–10°, the energy dissipation rate increases with inclination angle and is higher than that of both ordinary and forward-inclined stepped spillways. The water flow of the forward-inclined stepped spillways is more likely to form a fixed scour on the step surface, thereby causing local erosion patterns. The flow pattern over backward-inclined stepped spillways is more complex, which helps reduce damage to the spillway. The variation pattern of the Froude number is related to flow conditions and the energy dissipation rate. Therefore, changes in the Froude number can serve as a reference when analyzing spillway flow states and energy dissipation characteristics.

The deep-sea mining lift pump is one of the pivotal components in deep-sea mineral transportation systems and its internal flow is very complex; consequently, unraveling its unsteady flow behavior pattern holds immense practical value. This study adopts numerical methods to analyze the time-averaged distribution characteristics of the internal flow field in mining lift pumps, as well as the flow field’s pulsation intensity distribution characteristics, the vortex’s spatiotemporal evolution process in both moving and static cascades, and the time- and frequency-domain pulsation characteristics of internal pressure in each flow passage component under four different flow conditions are also investigated. The hydraulic properties of mining lift pumps under these four different conditions are also evaluated, and the outcomes are benchmarked against those of numerical predictions. Our findings reveal that the interplay between impeller blades and guide vanes significantly influences the pump’s flow characteristics, with the pump’s unsteady flow influencing its hydraulic properties. Experimental validation of this system confirms that the pump under study is in line with design specifications in terms of hydraulic properties. The method validation test on the prototype pump shows that the SST k-ω model is capable of successfully forecasting instability in the flow features of deep-sea mining lift pumps. These results will serve as a theoretical reference for regulating the flow state inside deep-sea mining lift pumps.

It is essential to investigate the performance output and flow characteristics within deep-sea mineral extraction pumps using appropriate numerical calculation methods. In this study, by taking a deep-sea mineral extraction pump prototype as the subject, a small-scale mineral extraction pump model was constructed. Computational fluid dynamics methods, incorporating the SST$k-\omega$ turbulence model and the discrete phase model, were utilized to systematically investigate the pressure distribution, velocity field, streamline patterns, and performance characteristics of the mineral extraction pump under three operating conditions—low flow rate, rated flow rate, and high flow rate—while transporting mineral particles of three distinct sizes. The results demonstrated that the larger size of the mineral particles induced greater disturbance to the liquid phase. Under different flow conditions, the correlations between the particle size and both the head drop rate and power drop rate exhibited distinct characteristics. Experiments verified the rationality and precision of the numerical simulation approach. This study provides a methodological reference for analyzing the flow characteristics and performance output of deep-sea mineral extraction pumps.

Centrifugal irrigation pumps in Southern Xinjiang face severe performance degradation due to high fine-sediment loads in canal water. This study combines Eulerian multiphase simulations with experimental validation to investigate the coupled effects of sediment size (0.05~0.8 mm) and concentration (5~20%) on hydraulic performance. Numerical models incorporating Realizable k–ε turbulence closure and discrete phase tracking reveal two critical thresholds: (1) particle sizes ≥ 0.4 mm trigger a phase transition from localized disturbance to global flow disorder, expanding low-pressure zones by 37% at equivalent concentrations; (2) concentrations exceeding 13% accelerate nonlinear pressure decay through collective particle interactions. Velocity field analysis demonstrates size-dependent attenuation mechanisms: fine sediments (≤0.2 mm) cause gradual dissipation via micro-scale drag, while coarse sediments (≥0.6 mm) induce “cliff-like” velocity drops through inertial impact-blockade chains. Experimental wear tests confirm simulation accuracy in predicting erosion hotspots at impeller inlets/outlets. The identified synergistic thresholds provide critical guidelines for anti-wear design in sediment-laden irrigation systems.