Investigation on the effect of blade profile optimization on power density and cavitation performance of an axial-flow pump
摘要
This study addresses the critical challenge of cavitation, which limits the power-density improvement of axial-flow pumps. Through optimization of key geometric parameters of the impeller and guide vanes based on an established unsteady cavitation model (VLES_Water_Non), a high-power-density pump model, designated HPD_3, was developed. The cavitation characteristics of HPD_3 were compared with those of an axial-flow pump of the same specific speed (ns = 1 000). Results show that the HPD_3 pump delivers significantly higher output power (both flow rate and head), while simultaneously reducing the required net positive suction head (NPSHr) by 23.1% and 32.4% at comparable flow rates (442.9 L/s and 491.4 L/s, respectively). This demonstrates a concurrent enhancement in both power capacity and anticavitation performance. The work provides theoretical and experimental foundations for the design of high power density pumps, with significant application potential in energy conversion and space constrained systems.