A Review of Pressure Fluctuations in Centrifugal Pumps without or with Clearance Flow

As crucial equipment in the industrial field, the stable operation of centrifugal pumps has drawn noteworthy attention. Relevant studies in the open literature have shown that intense pressure fluctuations have a major effect on the reliability and lifetime of centrifugal pumps. In the present paper, the pressure fluctuations in the centrifugal pumps are discussed in detail from different perspectives. The details of the studies are as follows. Firstly, the pressure fluctuation characteristics in centrifugal pumps are studied without considering clearance flow. Secondly, the pressure fluctuation property is investigated in detail for the pumps, with consideration for clearance flow. The pressure fluctuation characteristics in the wear ring, the pump-chamber clearance region, and the main stream region are studied, and the effect of clearance flow on the external performance of the pumps is analyzed. Thirdly, measures to reduce the pressure fluctuations and forces are summarized to improve the operational reliability of centrifugal pumps. Finally, conclusions and future research perspectives in the field of centrifugal pumps are presented. This review presents the research highlights and progress in the field of pressure fluctuations, which is beneficial to the stable operation of centrifugal pumps in engineering.