Study on performance and structure optimization of self-priming pump based on response surface method

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to improve the performance of a self-priming pump by optimizing blade geometry parameters, with the head and efficiency as the targeted objectives. Based on the Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were conducted to investigate the pressure distribution characteristics inside the pump chamber and the variations in pump performance parameters. By analyzing the internal pressure field of the pump, it is concluded that adjusting the blade curvature radius and the outlet angle can change the area and uniformity of the low-pressure zones within the fluid to improve the pump performance. The results show that the fitted regression equations indicate that the blade curvature radius and the blade outlet angle have a significant impact on pump performance, while the blade inlet angle has a relatively minor effect. When the outlet angle ${\beta }_2$=${60}^{\circ }$, the change of the inlet angle ${\beta }_1$ and the curvature radius R has basically no impact on the efficiency. The self-priming pump achieves its optimum performance when ${\beta }_1$=${50.8}^{\circ }$, ${\beta }_2$=${52}^{\circ }$ and R = 84.9 mm. Compared to the original model, the optimized model’s head increases by 7.12%, H = 34.12 m; and the efficiency improves by 3.40%, $\mathit{\eta }$ = 63.8.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-priming pump
• blade geometry parameter
• interior flow field
• response surface method
• numerical calculation

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Jiayu Cheng

Jiayu Cheng is a graduate student in the School of Energy and Environment of Southeast University, with her main research direction being carbon neutrality.

Naiji Zhang

Naiji Zhang is an employee of Jiangsu Development and Reform Commission.

Shen Su

Shen Su is an employee of Jiangsu Province Environment Federation.

Liang Cai

Liang Cai is a professor in the School of Energy and Environment of Southeast University, executive director of the Institute of Science and Technology for Carbon Neutrality of Southeast University, an invited director of the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences, and an executive director of the Jiangsu Refrigeration Society. He is mainly engaged in research and teaching in carbon-neutral strategic development planning, integrated energy management, heat and mass transfer in porous media, and building energy conservation.