Review on fluid forces and their action on centrifugal pump impeller

This review paper examines the complex dynamics of impellers in centrifugal pumps, with a particular focus on the crucial role that Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) plays in comprehending the forces and pressure fluctuations that regulate the performance of the pumps. The study solves the complexity of pump dynamics by conducting an exhaustive examination of a range of forces, such as cavitation effects, impeller-diffuser interactions, labyrinth forces, and axial and radial thrusts. The pressure fluctuations within centrifugal pumps are significantly impacted by structural elements, including impeller design, rotor construction, and casing geometry. The modifications in design of components helped in improvement of hydraulic performance and reduced the pressure fluctuations by empirical evidence for example impeller blade angles and guide vane configurations can reduce pressure variations by up to 20%. Furthermore, previous studies conducted on mechanisms of pressure regulation reveal that the frequency of blade passages significantly influences pressure fluctuations, specifically in the context of multistage pump configurations. Examinations of the degradation of components caused by corrosion, rust, scaling, cavitation, abrasion, and scaling emphasize the necessity for sophisticated analytical and numerical techniques to evaluate erosion rates and wear patterns. It was observed showed that high slurry concentrations and flow velocities increase wear by up to 30%. Many attempts have been put by researchers to minimize the forces in pumps via design adjustments, such as the implementation of offset impellers and bionic structures, reducing the axial and radial forces while augmenting pump efficiency. By incorporating empirical validation and theoretical modeling, a holistic approach is taken to pump analysis and design, which facilitates enhancements in the dependability, efficiency, and lifetime of centrifugal pump systems. Implementations in design adjustments, such as offset impellers and bionic structures were found helpful in reduction of axial and radial forces, and improvement in pump efficiency of up to 25%.