Computational study on the performance improvement of axial-flow pump by inlet guide vanes at part loads

In order to investigate the influence of adjustable inlet guide vanes on the hydraulic performance of axial-flow pump and impeller, the axial-flow pump with different inlet guide vane adjustable angles was simulated based on the RNG k-ε turbulent model and Reynolds time-averaged equations. The multivariate non-linear regression prediction model was established about the effect of adjustable inlet guide vane on the hydraulic performance of axial-flow pump based on the numerical simulation. The performance curves of axial-flow pump with different inlet guide vane adjustable angles were obtained by calculation, showing that the performance curve shifts towards larger flow volume in case the guide vanes are turned from positive to negative angle. With the increase of inlet guide vane positive angle, the optimum operating of pump is closer to smaller operating condition, but the hydraulic efficiency of pump is lower. The larger the flow is, the larger the decreasing amplitude of pump efficiency is. With the decreases of inlet guide vane negative angle, the higher hydraulic efficiency of pump increases first then decreases. The inlet guide vane angle affects the axial velocity distribution of the blade trailing edge.