PR-471-16206-R02 Suction Piping Effect on Pump Performance CFD

CFD simulations of pump suction piping coupled to a double suction volute pump were performed with oil at a viscosity of ~90 cSt. Two variants of the suction piping were modeled in order to investigate their effect on the pump performance. Measurement data obtained during PRCI project CPR-15A were used to validate the CFD setup. The CFD results were mostly in line with the measurements, in particular performance and pressure tap values in the suction piping. The pump rotor forces predicted by CFD however showed significant differences to the measured values. The CFD setup presented in this report provides a basis framework for further CFD investigations.

This work will benefit the liquids pipeline station designers and operators and also CFD analysts by providing CFD comparisons to benchmark measurements.