Computation of Three-Dimensional Viscous Flow in High Reynolds Number Pump Guide Vane

Abstract

A three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver which utilizes a pressure based method is used to compute the incompressible flow field through the inlet guide vane (IGV) of a high Reynolds number pump. The solver has precise control of numerical dissipation through the second and fourth order artificial dissipation terms added to the momentum equations. A low-Reynolds-number form of two-equation turbulence model is used to account for the turbulence effects. Predicted blade surface static pressure distributions are in good agreement with the measurement. The tangential and radial components of the IGV wake velocity, as well as the IGV secondary flow, are predicted well. However, the predicted maximum defect in wake is larger than the measured data. Possible causes for this discrepancy are discussed. The defect in velocity in wakes at midspan is found to decay faster than the perturbation in velocity due to the secondary flow and wake in the tip region.