The Study of Cavitation Phenomenon in Multistage Centrifugal API BB2 Pump and Reduction of Its Damages

Cavitation Phenomenon in Centrifugal pumps is the main cause of failures in pump components, such as impeller and volute. To evaluate this phenomenon, firs of all the flow field in a BB2 API multistage centrifugal pump with and without cavitation situation is studied. Additionally, to improve impeller inlet condition and reduction of cavitation possibility, Stepannof and Dixon theory is used. This study mainly focuses on the concept of cavitation’s in pump, pump performance curve, system pump curve, and net positive suction head (NPSH). The ultimate goal of this project is to determine the best operating pump range. It is interesting to examine the system pump curve prediction to identify the inception cavitation zone. Therefore, a theoretical system pump curve was generated using Microsoft Excel 2010, in addition, Catia V5 R21 and ANSYS CFX 14. Were applied to create computational fluid dynamic model From simulation results, a decrease of NPSHa values produces the onset of cavitation. The major findings of this thesis present the theoretical and numerical results concerning the pump characteristics and performance breakdown at different flow conditions. Therefore the best operating pump range is identified a flow rate of 330 m3/hr to avoid the occurrence of cavitation in pump.