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Study of Pressure Fluctuations and Induced Vibration at Blade-Passing Frequencies of a Double Volute Pump

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

Strong impeller–volute interaction is a major source of high-pressure pulsations and vibration in high-powered pumps. The present study aims at establishing the foundation for correlating the pressure field with the vibration of the pump and identifying effective solutions to reduce flow-induced vibration in double volute pumps. Experiments were carried out on a model boiler feed pump stage to investigate the distribution of the pressure fluctuations inside the pump and pump vibration under different operating conditions. Critical zones of high-pressure fluctuations have been identified near the volute tongues, indicating strong impeller–volute interaction due to improper radial gap design. Vibrations closely follow the behavior of the pressure fluctuations under different operating conditions. High speeds combined with off-design flow rates result in higher pressure fluctuations inside the pump, which in turn excite vibrations of pump components. Measurements at discharge and suction pipes cannot represent the true behavior or the magnitudes of pressure fluctuations inside the pump, and hence cannot be correlated to pump vibration with fidelity. The clearance between impeller and volute tongues needs to be optimized by experimentation to minimize flow-induced pump vibration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Atia E. Khalifa, Amro M. Al-Qutub & Rached Ben-Mansour

Authors
  1. Atia E. Khalifa
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  2. Amro M. Al-Qutub
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  3. Rached Ben-Mansour
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Correspondence to Atia E. Khalifa.

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Khalifa, A.E., Al-Qutub, A.M. & Ben-Mansour, R. Study of Pressure Fluctuations and Induced Vibration at Blade-Passing Frequencies of a Double Volute Pump. Arab J Sci Eng 36, 1333–1345 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-011-0119-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-011-0119-8

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