INVESTIGATION OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PERFORMANCE UNDER 2-PHASE FLOW CONDITIONS

A one-dimensional two-fluid model has been used to study the centrifug al pump head degradation phenomena and to analyze the gas-liquid inter action within the pump impeller under high pressure, steam-water two-p hase flow conditions. The analytical model was used to predict the two -phase pump head data for the small-scale and full-scale nuclear react or pumps and the predictions of the head degradation compared favorabl y with the test data for different suction void fractions. The physica l mechanisms responsible for head degradation were also investigated.