Measurements of enlarged blood pump models using laser Doppler anemometer

In an earlier study (Chua et al., 1998, 1999a), a 5:1 enlarged model of the Kyoto-NTN Magnetically Suspended Centrifugal Blood Pump (Akamatsu et al., 1995) with five different impeller blade profiles was designed and construc ted. Their respective flow characteristics with respect to (1) the three di fferent blade profile designs: forward, radial, and backward, (2) the numbe r of blades used, and (3) the rotating speed were investigated. Among the f ive impeller designs, the results obtained suggested that impellers A and C designs should be adopted if higher head is required. Impellers A and C th erefore were selected for the flow in between their blades to be measured u sing Laser Doppler Anemometer (LDA), so as to have a better understanding o f the flow physics with respect to the design parameters.