Improvement of the axial-jet-pump performance using modified mixing chamber configuration and inlet swirling ow

In the current research, numerical analysis was used to investigate the flow behavior through the axial jet-pump with various mixing chamber configurations (straight pipe and straight pipe-diffuser-straight pipe) in the presence of inlet swirling flow and its influence on the pump performance. The effects of introducing inlet swirling flow in the suction chamber and in the motive flow line, are numerically investigated. The optimum swirl angle in the suction chamber is found to be 45o which yields the maximum pump efficiency of 38.08 % for the second configuration of mixing chamber system. Consequently, the inlet swirl generally decreases the desired mixing chamber length. Additionally, the new mixing chamber configuration enhances the mixing process compared with the traditional mixing chamber. On the other hand, imparting a swirl in the motive line inversely affected the pump performance. Engendering a swirl in suction chamber causes an improvement by 12.76 % in the pump efficiency compared to the same pump configuration without swirl. The optimum tail pipe diffuser angle is found to be 3o.