Gs. Constantinescu et Vc. Patel, NUMERICAL-MODEL FOR SIMULATION OF PUMP-INTAKE FLOW AND VORTICES, Journal of hydraulic engineering, 124(2), 1998, pp. 123-134
This paper describes the development of a computational fluid dynamics
model to simulate the three-dimensional flow field in a pump intake a
nd to study the formation of free-surface and wall-attached vortices.
The model solves the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and two
turbulence-model equations in generalized curvilinear coordinates usi
ng a fully implicit, fractional-step algorithm based on alternate dire
ction implicit approximate factorization. A two-layer k-epsilon turbul
ence model is employed to resolve the near-wall flow that is critical
to the description of wall-attached vortices. Solutions at a Reynolds
number of 60,000 for flow in a simple rectangular sump are presented t
o demonstrate the use of the numerical model to predict the location a
nd strength of free-surface and wall-attached vortices. As the case st
udy was selected according to commonly used design criteria, relativel
y weak vortices are predicted. The predicted complex vortex structure
is analyzed. The test case suggests that the numerical model may be em
ployed with other geometrical arrangements and flow parameters to stud
y their effect on the intake flow structure and vortices in pump sumps
.