Transient Behavior of a Radial Vaneless Diffuser

The paper refers to the behavior of a radial flow pump vaneless diffuser during a starting period. Results obtained with a 1D numerical model are compared with some new experimental data which have been obtained using 2D/3C High repetition rate PIV within the diffuser coupled with unsteady pressure measurements. These tests have been performed on a test rig with a radial impeller matched with a vaneless diffuser. They have been made in air, on a test rig well adapted for studies on interactions between impeller and diffuser, as well as for the use of optical methods and especially Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) as there is no volute downstream of the diffuser. The present study refers to new experiments combining pressure measurements and 2D/3C High Speed PIV at partial flow rates within a vaneless diffuser with a large outlet radius. Four Bru¨el & Kjaer condenser microphones are used for the unsteady pressure measurements. They were flush mounted on the shroud side of the diffuser wall and on the suction pipe of the pump. The sampling frequency was 2048 Hz. For PIV measurements, the laser sheet was generated by a Darwin PIV ND:YLF Laser at three heights within the diffuser. PIV snapshots have been recorded by two identical CMOS cameras. A home made software has been used for the images treatment. The results consist in fields of 80 × 120 mm² and 81 × 125 velocity vectors with a temporal resolution of 250 velocity maps per second. For each flow rate and each laser sheet height in the diffuser, two acquisitions of about 1500 velocity maps have been realised. The experimental data are compared with the ones provided by a 1D transient model of the flow within the diffuser.