The blade slip factor significantly influences the prediction accuracy of the self-closure one-dimensional flow model for side chambers of centrifugal pumps. Wiesner's and Stodola's slip factors, which are used to formulate the blade outlet pressure and served as the boundary condition for the model, are examined, which is an improvement of the previous study (Gu et al., 2020, “A Pressure Model for Open Rotor–Stator Cavities: An Application to an Adjustable-Speed Centrifugal Pump With Experimental Validation,” ASME J. Fluids Eng., 142(10), p. 101301). Both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experiments for the centrifugal pump are conducted to support the improvement. A good agreement exists between the performance at the best efficiency points (BEPs) of different rotating speeds obtained by simulations and experiments. Through the CFD analysis, the flow in the impeller remarkably deviates from the blade-congruent flow, especially in the quasi-triangular regions downstream of the throats. Meanwhile, the reason for pressure over-predictions of the side chamber one-dimensional flow model that embeds Wiesner's slip factor (FMW) is that Wiesner's expression underestimates the impeller flow deflection and overestimates pressure boundary. By contrast, the side chamber one-dimensional flow model with Stodola's slip factor (FMS) is closer to CFD in terms of relative flow angle and chamber inlet pressure. Compared with the side chamber pressure measurements, the accuracy of FMS is upgraded approximately by 3.5% than FMW. At the BEPs of different rotating speeds, FMS generates lower shroud thrust coefficients but slightly greater volumetric efficiencies than FMW. This work provides a simple approach to better calculate flow characteristics in the side chambers.

In order to study the effect of a high twist rate propeller on the flow field characteristics of pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluids, the numerical simulation method was used to analyze the mixing flow field of pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluids at different concentrations in this paper. By changing the rotational speed and the blade installation height, the vorticity, turbulent energy, mixing power consumption, mixing time and mixing energy of the flow field were analyzed. By analyzing and comparing the research results, it was found that increasing the mixing propeller speed can effectively improve the mixing effect. Single-layer arrangement of mixing propeller is not suitable to be placed close to the bottom of the tank, and the mixing of the upper flow field is weaker. Under the same conditions, when the viscosity of pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluid is increased, the high vorticity and high turbulence energy area is reduced to the mixing propeller area, and the time required for mixing 1.25% CMC solution is 246 times longer than that for mixing 0.62% CMC solution and the required mixing energy also increases sharply. The accuracy of the numerical simulation was verified by experiments. Considering the mixing effect and the mixing power consumption, the single-layer arrangement propeller is more suitable for mixing pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluids with mass fraction of 0.62% CMC or below. This study can provide a reference for the practical application of propeller mixers to mix pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluids.

Ventilated cavitation involves complex multiphase flow, phase change, and turbulence, posing challenges for accurate prediction and control. This paper investigates the performance of three turbulence models—Large Eddy Simulation (LES), Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), and Shear Stress Transport (SST)—in predicting the unsteady characteristics and entropy generation mechanisms in ventilated cavitation around a hydrofoil. A comparative analysis with experiments reveals each model's strengths and limitations in capturing cavitation and turbulence at various scales. The results demonstrate that the LES model excels in resolving small-scale turbulent structures, cavitation formation and shedding, as well as reverse flow and vortex dynamics, making it highly suitable for detailed analysis of complex cavitation phenomena. The DES model shows robustness in predicting large-scale flow features but exhibits delays when handling bubble motion near the hydrofoil's trailing edge. The SST model achieves a balance between computational accuracy and efficiency in predicting flow separation and vortex structures, making it ideal for trend analysis in engineering applications. By analyzing boundary vorticity flux lines, Q-criterion, and Omega methods, the study confirms the LES model's superior capability in capturing intricate vortex structures in high-turbulence regions, while also revealing the dynamic evolution of entropy generation during cavitation. Overall, the LES model proves to be the most effective for precise simulation of ventilated cavitation phenomena, while the DES and SST models are better suited for large-scale flow analysis and practical engineering applications, respectively. This research provides theoretical and technical support for the prediction and control of complex ventilated cavitation flows.

Results on overall pump head and efficiency performance, pressure pulsation and high speed camera visualization of flow patterns behavior are presented for different inlet air-water void fractions at a given rotational speed. With the increase of inlet void fractions and decrease of the flow rates, the size of bubbles increase and tend to agglomerate in specific impeller passage locations along the blade chord. The starting point of pump breakdown is related to a strong inward reverse flow occurring in a specific location near the shroud gap of the impeller and volute tongue region. Using a constant air void fraction value of 2%, pressure pulsation frequency results are analyzed in relation with local flow mixture patterns and flow rate modification.