Experiments on transient performance of a low specific speed centrifugal pump with open impeller

In order to meet the needs in engineering, an existing low specific speed centrifugal pump may have to be run at a high rotating speed. Unfortunately, experiments on transient performance of such a kind of centrifugal pump in starting and stopping periods at a high speed have been unavoidable so far. In this paper, the transient hydraulic performance of a low specific speed centrifugal pump with an open impeller during starting and stopping periods is measured with an updated test rig. The correlations of rotating speed, flow rate, head, static pressures at the pump inlet and outlet, and shaft power with time are obtained at different discharge valve openings. The results show that the flow rate rises slowly at the beginning of starting period, and suddenly drops at the end of stopping process. There is an obvious impact phenomenon in local static pressure curves at the pump inlet and outlet during starting period. With the augment of discharge valve opening, the required time for flow rate to reach a steady value is gradually prolonged, and the impact phenomenon in local static pressures at the pump inlet is postponed and the impact difference is also decreased step by step. The impact phenomenon in shaft powers is also very prominent, especially at small discharge valve openings. At the beginning of stopping process, the flow rate declining delay phenomenon becomes weak with increasing discharge valve opening, and the time for flow to stop fully is also extended gradually.