Effect of the flat tank bottom on performance and cavitation characteristics of a cargo pump

A submerged cargo pump is installed vertically above the bottom of a cargo tank. The intake shape of the pump is an important operation parameter. Therefore, we investigated the performance and cavitation characteristics of the cargo pump with intake according to intake shape. A cargo pump was composed of an intake, inducer, impeller, and diffuser. First, a cargo pump with a straight pipe intake was measured. Next, the cargo pump with an intake applied the tank bottom shape was investigated. The results of performance and efficiency were compared. The flow characteristics in the inducer changed as the flow passed through the intake affected by the tank bottom shape. The pump head and the efficiency slightly decreased, but the inducer head considerably reduced. Since the incidence angle became a negative value and the cavity volume increased at the leading edge of inducer, the NPSHr (Required net positive suction head) increased. As the inlet pressure decreased, cavitation instabilities clearly appeared. Different gaps between the pump intake and the tank bottom were also investigated. The gap had a critical point without the significant performance loss decrease.