Experimental and numerical studies of a centrifugal pump in cavitating conditions

In the presented study a special test pump with two-dimensional curvature blade geometry was investigated in cavitating and noncavitating conditions using different experimental techniques and a three-dimensional numerical model implemented to study cavitating flows. Experimental and numerical results concerning pump characteristics and performance breakdown were compared at different flow conditions. Appearing types of cavitation and the spatial distribution of vapor structures within the impeller were also analyzed. These results show the ability of the model to simulate the complex three-dimensional development of cavitation in a rotating machinery, and the associated effects on the performance