Influence of Bingham fluid viscosity on energy performances of a vortex chamber pump

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2021-03, Vol.218, p.119432, Article 119432
• Main Authors: Rogovyi, Andrii, Korohodskyi, Vladimir, Medvediev, Yevhen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abrasive wear; Bingham fluid; CFD; Coal; Coal-water slurry; Fluid dynamics; Jet technology; Pumps; Rheological properties; Slurries; Viscosity; Vortex chamber pump; Vortex chambers; Vortices; Yield stress
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.119432

One of the problems in the development of coal-water technologies is the use of reliable and long-lasting pumps. To date, classic pumps, due to the use of mechanical moving parts and seals, are subject to rapid abrasive wear. The solution to this problem can lie in the creation of new vortex chamber pumps developed by the authors. They are highly reliable, simple in design and have no moving parts. The object of this paper consists in determining the range of vortex chamber pump performance when pumping Bingham fluids of different rheological parameters, as well as to determine the dependence of the pump efficiency on the Bingham viscosity and the yield stress. Study of the pump performance was conducted experimentally and with CFD simulation. It was found that an increase in the liquid viscosity reduces the vacuum value near the axis. For the first time it was found that the tenfold increase in plastic viscosity reduces the pump efficiency by about 20%. This results in the fact that the supercharger cannot pump the coal-water slurry with τ0>12 Pa and μB>1 Pa⋅s. The findings can be extended not only to coal-water slurry, but also to all Bingham fluids. •The working range of the vortex chamber pump is determined.•It was analyzed the pumping of coal-water slurries.•The Bingham viscosity and the yield stress were varied.•CFD simulation enabled to determine the effect of the extremely low viscosity.•The increase in plastic viscosity reduces the vortex chamber pump efficiency.