Thermodynamic performance simulation of a twin-screw multiphase pump

A twin-screw pump is a positive displacement pump widely used in various ap plications such as the petroleum, shipbuilding and foodstuff industries. It can pump some special fluids, such as multiphase fluids and non-Newtonian fluids, which cannot be boosted by other kind of pumps. Profile generation, rotor geometry characteristics and mathematical models to predict the back flow within twin screw multiphase pumps are presented in this paper. On the basis of this analysis, the fundamental equations are provided to simulate the working process of the pump. Also presented is a discussion on the rel ationship between the slippage rate and the differential pressure, suction pressure, gas void fraction and the rotor rotational speed. In order to ver ify the mathematical model, performance data of a prototype multiphase pump are measured and the pressure generation process is recorded by using a si gnal analyser. From the comparison between the simulation result and experi mental data. it is shown that the model can simulate the working process of a twin-screw multiphase pump successfully.