Single and double vane pump test bench

Contact: Dr.-Ing. Maximilian Paßmann, Artem Tukalov

At a second centrifugal pump test rig of the HSM, the operating behavior of single and double vane pumps is investigated. These special types of pumps are used for solids-laden fluids and are characterized by a particularly low potential for clogging due to the use of an impeller with only one or two vanes. The disadvantages of these impeller designs are reduced efficiency and high fluctuations in hydrodynamic forces.

At the test rig, test pumps can be examined in two installation configurations: dry installation with flow directed over a pipe and wet installation with free flow directly from the water basin. To characterize the operating behavior, both steady-state and time-resolved measurements are performed on the test pump.

Within the scope of steady-state measurements, adhering to DIN9906, the head, flow rate, and electrical power of the pump are measured. In addition, unsteady pressure curves are determined at the inlet, outlet, and at twelve additional measurement points in the outlet spiral. Furthermore, measurement of the unsteady flow rate profile is possible with a specially developed measurement system. To establish a correlation between measured pressures, flow rate, and vane position, the respective vane position is recorded simultaneously via an inductive vane position detection. Additionally, the impeller deflection is measured via inductive distance sensors, and pump vibration excitation is measured via acceleration sensors.

Experiment focus:

• Generation of steady-state characteristic curves (H/Q & P/Q)
• Measurement of unsteady pressure profiles
• Measurement of unsteady flow rate profiles
• Measurement of impeller deflection
• Measurement of pump vibration