Extended two-fluid model applied to analysis of bubbly flow in multiphase rotodynamic pump impeller

This paper presents an extended two-fluid model based on the Navier-Stokes equations and the standard κ - ε turbulence model, to simulate the threedimensional air-water bubbly flow in turbo machinery. In the governing equations, the drag force and added mass force are added and the additional source terms arising from fluctuations of gas volume fraction are considered. The discrete equations are solved using a developed twophase semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations, consistent (SIMPLEC) algorithm in body-fitted coordinates with a staggered grid system. Simulation is then carried out for the pure liquid flow and air-water two-phase flow with the inlet gas volume fraction being 15% in a multiphase rotodynamic pump impeller and the pump head performance is predicted. Comparison with experimental results shows the reliability and commonality of the numerical model. © 2009 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH.