Author(s): Seyed Saied Bahrainian; Mahdi Mahmoudi Sabouki
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: NPSH; VOF; Suction pumps; Low tide
Abstract: This paper attempts to numerically analyze the NPSH performance of suction pumps in Abadan water pump station during low and high tides of Bahmanshir river. This river due to its connection with Persian Gulf in south-west of Iran has low and high tides. During low tides, suction side pressure of pumps highly decreases and results in occurrence of cavitation phenomenon for most cases studied. To investigate the cavitation phenomenon, it is necessary to study the NPSH performance of the pumps. For this purpose, water elevations of Bahmanshir river during a year have been measured. These measurements are used in a numerical simulation to solve the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and VOF multi-phase model. Simulation results reveal that filter installed on the inlet of suction pipe highly reduces the suction side pressure of the pumps. Furthermore, during the river low tides when the water elevation reaches below 4m, the amount of available NPSH is lower than the required NPSH and results in occurrence of cavitation in pump suction side of the Abadan pump station.
Year: 2015