Numerical Simulation of Cavitation Flow in a Centrifugal Pump

Based on two phase homogeneous mixture model, numerical simulation of the cavitating flow was performed on a centrifugal pump. Cavity shapes and performance of the pump in variable cavitation numbers were obtained. Numerical results show that the numerical method can be used to predict the cavitation performance of centrifugal pump; the incipient cavitation number is predicted, and the cavity shape is similar with the experiment; cavitation usually appears in the suction surface of the blade and locates in the inlet side, and becomes longer to the outlet direction with lower cavitation number; when the cavitation number is relatively higher, cavitating region locates in the inlet area of the blade and is relatively stable, while develops and separates when cavitation number becomes lower; when the cavitation number equals to the incipient cavitation number, performance of the centrifugal pump has no change almost, only when cavitation number reduces to some extent, the head decreases abruptly and also the efficiency, which means the pump operates in a bad condition and this condition should be avoided in the practical operation.