Experimental Measurements of Rotordynamic Forces Caused by Front Shroud Pump Leakage

Abstract

Unsteady forces generated by fluid flow through the impeller shroud leakage path of a centrifugal pump were investigated. Different pump shroud geometries were compared, and the effect of leakage path inlet swirl (pump discharge swirl) on the rotordynamic forces was examined for various ratios of fluid flowthrough velocities to impeller tip speed. A short axial length leakage path reduced the measured forces, while curvature appeared to increase the destabilizing forces when inlet swirl was present. It was observed that changing the inlet swirl velocity does not appear to significantly affect the measured forces for a given leakage flow coefficient, but any nonzero inlet swirl is destabilizing when compared to cases with no inlet swirl.