Numerical study of the performance loss of a centrifugal pump carrying emulsion

Abstract

The performance and hydrodynamic behavior of cen- trifugal pumps when handling two-phase liquid-liquid flow and emulsion remain relatively unexplored, al- though they are of fundamental importance in optimiz- ing the operating conditions of these pumps. Hence, this study aims at investigating the performance degra- dation of a centrifugal pump under emulsion flow by combined means of analytical and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models. The analytical approach is based on internal energy loss equations while the CFD approach models the emulsion as a continuous and ho- mogeneous single-phase fluid exhibiting shear thinning behavior. The results give a good insight into the per- formance degradation of such a system, especially at the best efficiency point (BEP).