Efficiency-House Optimization to Widen the Operation Range of Centrifugal Pumps
The inefficiency of pumping machineries has always been a concern for many industries. Most pumping machineries have a problem of obtaining higher efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions. However, a solution has been developed to minimize this problem. An optimization strategy has been designed to widen the high-efficiency range of the double-suction centrifugal pump at design (Qd) and nondesign flow conditions.
Zhejiang Gooking Pump Technology Co., Ltd, a company that has been committed to surface pumps, especially the automatic pressure booster pumps research and development, has introduced an efficient pumping solution. With the help of Efficiency-House Optimization, the company has widened the high-efficiency range of their double-suction centrifugal pump. The pump performance is predicted using three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations which is validated by the experimental test.
Previously, the problem of high efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions occurred due to improper design or usage of the pump. Due to this problem, the pump could not function at optimum performance, resulting in a significant loss of energy and productivity for the user.
To overcome this issue, an orthogonal experimental scheme was designed with the impeller hub and shroud angles as the decision variables. Then, the “efficiency-house” theory was introduced to convert the multiple objectives into a single optimization target. A two-layer feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) and the Kriging model were combined based on a hybrid approximate model and solved with swarm intelligence for global best parameters that would maximize the pump efficiency.
This optimization strategy has widened the high-efficiency range of the double-suction centrifugal pump at overload conditions by 1.63%, 1.95%, and 4.94% for flow conditions 0.8Qd, 1.0Qd, and 1.2Qd, respectively. The hybrid approximation model has a higher fitting accuracy as compared to the single approximation model. A complete optimization platform based on efficiency-house and the hybrid approximation model is built to optimize the model double-suction centrifugal pump, and the results are satisfactory.
This new strategy has significantly lowered the energy consumption of the pump and enhanced its operational efficiency. Due to optimization, the double-suction centrifugal pump can now perform over a wider range of operating conditions, making it an ideal choice for industries looking for efficiency and cost reduction.
The applications of the double-suction centrifugal pump are vast and widely used in industries such as water supply, municipal, petroleum, chemical, and many manufacturing plants. With this new development that enhances the pump's operational efficiency, industries can now minimize their operational costs and leverage faster productivity.
Zhejiang Gooking Pump Technology Co., Ltd has provided a practical solution to problematic pumping machinery through the optimization of double-suction centrifugal pumps. By utilizing the latest technologies and techniques, the company has widened the range of high-efficiency of the pump and reduced energy consumption. Companies can now benefit from the new advancements, thus maximizing productivity and, ultimately, the bottom line.