Study on Radial Forces of Centrifugal Pumps With Various Collectors Available to Purchase

Numerical simulation is presented to study the steady and unsteady radial forces in a centrifugal pump with various collectors. The radial forces are obtained by integrating the pressure distribution around the impeller circumference. The calculated radial forces both time-dependent and independent at different flow rates caused by the collectors are compared. The results show that some conclusions do not consistent with the conventional experience as the collectors with double volute and vaned volute significantly decrease the radial forces and the radial force close a circle during the period of one blade passage passing. The combination of impeller and double volute is a trade-off design choice as it has significantly decreased the radial forces than that of single volute and its configuration is more compact than that of vaned collector.