Pressure oscillations and radial forces for centrifugal pumps with single- or double-suction impellers

This study proposes a centrifugal pump that features a single-suction pipe with a double-suction impeller to enhance dynamic characteristics. Performance tests were conducted at 10000 r/min to investigate the effects of single- or double-suction impellers on pressure oscillation and radial force. Results indicate good agreement between numerical and experimental data. Transient-state numerical simulations were performed for centrifugal pumps equipped with both single- and double-suction impellers. The results demonstrate that pumps with double-suction impellers reduces pressure oscillation and significantly alleviates radial force, with a 24 % reduction in peak-to-peak value compared with pumps with single-suction impellers. Internal flow analysis reveals that a double-suction impeller promotes a relatively uniform flow at the impeller exit and mitigates the interaction effects between the impeller and the volute casing. Therefore, a centrifugal pump with a double-suction impeller is promising for special applications that demand stable and safe fluid transportation.