Vortex structure research method based on q-criterion in a high-speed centrifugal pump

The performance and stability of a high-speed centrifugal pump are closely related to its internal vortex flow. It´s significant to study the vortex behaviours in a centrifugal pump, such as its coverage, distribution, physical properties, formation mechanism and energy loss, etc. To analyse these problems, the steady numerical simulations of a high-speed centrifugal pump were conducted using the SST κ-ω turbulence model, acquiring the data of pump flow, from which structures of vortex were extracted according to Q-criterion. It indicates that vortexes appear variable in different parts. Based on these visualized vortexes, the distribution map of vortex strength coefficient was figured out. It reveals the different level of vortex influence and divides the ability of energy loss, which is quite helpful in further work of optimization.