The Tip Clearance Cavitation Mechanism of a High-Speed Centrifugal Pump with a Splitter-Bladed Inducer

For a high-speed centrifugal pump, cavitation occurs easily. To equip high-performance splitter-bladed inducer upstream of the pump is an effective method to suppress cavitation. In this paper, external characteristics experiment with carried out, and corresponding numerical calculations are completed. The research shows that results calculation credible. Numerical under eight different tip clearance conditions out. First, it found (TC) has certain impact on head pump. When TC in small range, leakage small, not so obvious, which can give higher performance. Second, influence static pressure distribution cascade passage inducer. increasement will aggravate at suction surface long blades near inlet. exceeds cause outlet At last, cavitation’s severity position closely related TC. affects magnitude vorticity inducer’s passage. paper flow mechanism revealed, its provide theoretical basis technical support for design inducers.