CFD Analysis of Impeller Trailing Edge Modifications to Improve the Hydraulic Head of a Centrifugal Pump

Rodríguez A.; Tafur O.J.; Rodríguez C.V.; Guarniz Avalos G.O. · International Journal of Heat and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18280/ijht.440401

Resumen

The hydraulic behaviour of a centrifugal pump is strongly conditioned by the geometry of its impeller, particularly by the shape of the blade trailing edge. This study examines how alternative trailing-edge configurations affect the hydraulic head delivered by the Grundfos NB 80-250/270 pump. The original geometry was modeled in Autodesk Inventor, and mesh independence and validation tests were carried out in ANSYS Fluent using the SST k-ω turbulence model. The numerical predictions showed an average deviation of 2.586% from experimental data, demonstrating good agreement between the numerical and experimental results. After validation, three modified trailing-edge profiles: sinusoidal, rectangular, and trapezoidal, were analysed. The results indicate that, under low-flow conditions (≤20 m³/h), all modified geometries produce a higher hydraulic head than the original design, with the sinusoidal profile yielding the greatest increase (5.86% at 10 m³/h). At moderate flow rates, the trapezoidal configuration improves performance by 2.17% at 40 m³/h. However, at higher flow rates (>60 m³/h), the unmodified impeller retains the best hydraulic response. These findings show that smooth geometric adjustments at the blade exit can enhance energy transfer when the pump operates at low flow, suggesting opportunities for targeted optimization of impeller profiles based on specific operating requirements.

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú