Numerical simulation and experiment analyses for the gas-liquid two-phase vortex pump

Based on the gas-liquid two-phase mixture transportation test, the k-ɛ-A _p turbulence model was applied to simulate the two-phase turbulent flow in a vortex pump. By comparing the simulation and experiment results, inner flow features were revealed. The bubbles in the channel distribute mainly at the pressure side of the blades, and the aggregation degree of the bubbles is enhanced with an increase in inlet gas volume fraction. Experimental results indicate that the influence of the gas phase on vortex pump performance is small when the gas volume fraction is less than 10%. When the gas volume fraction continuously increases to 15%, the characteristic curves abruptly drop due to the gas blocking phenomenon.