Massively Parallel Simulation of the Characteristics of Cavitation Flow in a Centrifugal Pump Impeller

Abstract

The paper presents numerical simulation of the characteristics of cavitation flow in a centrifugal pump impeller. Analysis was performed by OpenFOAM code. A two-phase cavitation model which includes the local vapor volume fraction and having the spatial and temporal variation of the vapor fraction was introduced. Simulation results show that the cavitation of the centrifugal pump mainly occurs in the impeller region. At the tip of the impeller pressure side, the pressure is higher than the critical pressure resulting in cavitation bubble collapse. The cavitation damage will occur here.