Simulation and experimental research on salt-out two-phase flow field in a vortex pump

In order to study liquid-solid two-phase flow field with salt-out in impeller machines, a vortex model pump is designed. Two-fluid model is adopted to simulate the two-phase flow field with salt-out of sodium chloride under the optimum operating condition of the pump. Phase Doppler particle anemometer is used to measure 3D velocity field of the two-phase flow in volute and impeller of the pump. Experimental results are compared with the calculated to validate the applicability of calculation model. And error analysis is also given. Characteristics of the two-phase flow with salt-out in the model pump are revealed initially by discussing on distributions of circumferential, axial and radial velocities and relative fluctuated velocities obtained by experiments. Most of salt-out particles distribute in volute uniformly in the whole flow passage. The granules flow to pressure side in impeller. Particle concentration is the lowest near rear plate of suction side at the inlet of impeller. Distributing of circumferential velocity of liquid and solid phases in impeller is obviously different from that in volute. Velocity slide between two phases is small.