Numerical modelling of pump intakes: compliance with standard performance criteria

Longo, D. and Dimakopoulos, A. and Willoughby, I. (2022) Numerical modelling of pump intakes: compliance with standard performance criteria. In: 39th IAHR World Congress, 19-24 June 2022, Grenada, Spain.

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Abstract

In this work, we attempt to address some of the key questions regarding the applicability of CFD modelling for assessing the hydraulic performance of pumping installations and demonstration of compliance of the design against the criteria described in the ANSI/9.8-HI standards. We do this by re-visiting past experiments of pumping stations performed in HR Wallingford’s laboratory and repeating these tests using CFD simulations with OpenFOAM. Existing workflows and analysis methods are used and new ones are proposed to assess the velocity profiles and swirl angles at the pump intakes and to characterise the relative strength of surface and subsurface vortices. Results show that the CFD model results can reproduce experimental data relating to the variation of velocity at the pump suctions within an average difference of ~2% and a maximum difference of ~4%, with the CFD model output showing a tendency to slightly overestimate the velocity profile variation. CFD output of swirl angles shows a good agreement with experimental trends as an overall indicator of facility performance, whilst variations were evident at individual pumps. The methodology proposed to assess CFD model results with respect to classification of surface and subsurface vortex strength presents a good correlation with laboratory observations. In overall terms, a good correlation between physical and CFD modelling results is achieved for assessing hydraulic performance of pump intakes against swirling flow, in the context of performance criteria described in the ANSI/HI-9.8 standards. The uncertainties of the methodology are also captured and further discussed.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Uncontrolled Keywords: CFD modelling; Pump intakes; Swirling flows; Vortices; ANSI standards
Subjects: Maritime > General
Divisions: Maritime
Depositing User: Helen Stevenson
Date Deposited: 10 Jun 2022 12:30
Last Modified: 16 Aug 2022 10:57
URI: http://eprints.hrwallingford.com/id/eprint/1514

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