Energies, Vol. 19, Pages 758: Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Blade Outlet Angle Effects on Flow Characteristics and Energy Losses in a Vortex Pump

Energies, Vol. 19, Pages 758: Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Blade Outlet Angle Effects on Flow Characteristics and Energy Losses in a Vortex Pump

Energies doi: 10.3390/en19030758

Authors:
Lingyan He
Xiaofu Fan
Jianfa Li
Changliang Ye
Xuesong Li
Ziyang Niu
Chongshan Li

The blade outlet angle is a critical design parameter of vortex pump impellers, exerting a significant influence on the pump’s hydraulic performance and internal flow characteristics. In this study, numerical simulations combined with experimental validation were conducted to investigate a vortex pump, with three impellers featuring blade outlet angles of 50°, 60°, and 65° analyzed based on the SST k–ω turbulence model. To quantify irreversible energy losses, entropy production theory was adopted, while the Liutex method was utilized to characterize rigid-body vorticity. The results demonstrate that increasing the blade outlet angle leads to a reduction in head under both small-flow-rate and design-flow-rate conditions, impairs flow uniformity, strengthens vortex structures, and elevates total entropy production—with turbulent dissipation being the dominant contributor to energy losses. Additionally, larger outlet angles enhance the sensitivity of internal flow structures to off-design operating conditions. These findings offer valuable guidance for the optimization of impeller design and the development of energy-efficient vortex pumps.