Research on the Modified Mathematical Prediction Model of Impeller Cover Side Cavity Liquid Pressure for Centrifugal Pumps

Accurate calculation of pressure distribution in the impeller cover side cavity is the key to predict the axial force of centrifugal pump. The existing calculation models almost does not involve the prediction of cavity pressure when the radial clearances of different sealing rings are matched with the diameter of different balance holes. On the basis of the original prediction model of pump cavity pressure, a mathematical model of pressure distribution of impeller cover side cavity with different radial clearance of sealing ring and the diameter of balance hole was established by introducing potential head correction coefficient and flow proportional coefficient. In order to improve the calculation accuracy of rotation coefficient for rear pump cavity, the balance aperture length ratio and the rotation undetermined coefficient were introduced in the calculation equation of original rotation coefficient. A test bed for pressure and leakage was designed and established, and the pressure of impeller cover side cavity and balance hole leakage was systematically tested when the radial clearance of sealing ring and the diameter of balance hole were different. Experimental results showed that the radial clearance of rear sealing ring and the diameter of balance hole had different effects on the radial pressure gradient of pump cavity. The diameter of balance hole had little effects on the pressure of the front pump cavity. When the clearance of the front and rear sealing rings were the same, the pressure of rear pump cavity was generally higher than that of the front pump cavity. For the equilibrium chamber liquid, increasing the diameter of balance hole could relieve the pressure, and increasing the radial clearance of sealing ring could increase the pressure. Combined with the test data, the potential head correction coefficient, the rotation undetermined coefficient and the flow proportional coefficient of different specific areas were calibrated, with a specific solution equation. In this study, the reliability of the proposed pressure mathematical model for impeller cover side cavity was verified by three cases. The results showed that the theoretical prediction value was more consistent with the actual measured value, proving that the proposed mathematical model had high accuracy and universality.