Modeling of flow characteristics in a pump sump physical model using computational fluid dynamics
Loading...
Date
2007
Authors
Mohd Arif Zainol, Mohd Remy Rozainy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study attempts to model the flow characteristic in a pump sump physical model by
using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code FLUENTTM 6.2. The experimental
procedures include the data collection using a velocity meter, flow meter and swirl
meter (Rotometer / Vortimeter). Three types of measurements were conducted which
are velocity, flow, and swirl angle for nine cases which had been evaluated at three
different water depths (0.3m, 0.24m and 0.18m) and at three different flow rates (15L/s,
10L/s and 4L/s); a total of 162 measurement points per case. A visual test that involves
the dye tracing technique was also carried out to characterize the flow. Further, in this
study, a comprehensive CFD model of pump bays was developed. The comparison of
experimental method and CFD model is discussed in details. The FLUENTTM outputs
illustrate the basic features of magnitudes of velocity vectors (m/s), contour of velocity
vector (m/s) and static pressure contour (pascal). A good agreement is determined
between simulation and experimental results. The locations of the vortices in the
experimental results closely match the CFD simulation results obtained. The average
velocity magnitude difference between experimental and CFD simulated result is
recorded at 4.2% to 11.6%. Moreover, the regression coefficient (R2) values of velocity
magnitude ranging from 0.98 to 0.99 were obtained from the scattered plot relationship
between experimental and simulated data. Thus from the study, it can be concluded
that the CFD can be used to simulate flow characteristics in pump sump as an
alternative to physical modeling of pump sump.
Description
Master
Keywords
Science Physic , pump sump physical model , computational fluid dynamics