Effects of the impeller–volute tongue interaction on the internal flow in a low-specific-speed centrifugal pump with splitter blades

To investigate the effects of the main blades and splitter blades interacting with the volute tongue on the internal flow in a low-specific-speed centrifugal pump, the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation, coupled with SST k-ω turbulence model, is employed to simulate the transient turbulent flow in the whole flow passage. The numerical simulation results have been verified with the experimental measurements by comparing the head and efficiency. The pressure fluctuation caused by impeller–volute tongue interaction, including time–history and frequency characteristics, is calculated and analyzed at five monitoring points adjoining the impeller outlet and tongue, as well as the torque of a single main blade and a single splitter blade. After that, both the energy loss and vorticity distributions on the middle section are discussed when the impeller rotates to four circumferential positions relative to the cutwater. The results show that the maximum pressures at the monitoring points occur before the blades reach the closest circumferential position with respect to the cutwater, and the peak pressure near the trailing edge of splitter blades is larger than main blades. There is only one torque peak of a single blade in one revolution when the angle between the monitoring blade and tongue is about 15°. Additionally, the torque peak arises before the torque valley, but the pressure valley at monitoring points in the impeller comes earlier than the pressure peak. Both the energy loss and vorticity are enlarged around the volute tongue evidently after the blades pass by the cutwater, and the splitter blades produce more unsteadiness and energy dissipation than main blades.