Bionic Riblet Impeller for a Centrifugal Pump: CFD and Experimental Performance Analysis

Abstract

This study adopts a novel bionic approach to evaluate the performance of a centrifugal pump using numerical simulations and validates the findings through experimental analysis. The centrifugal pump, featuring six backward-curved blades, was modeled by incorporating shark-skin-inspired riblet structures into the impeller design. The flow inside the pump was studied using k-epsilon (k-ε) turbulence models. The k-ε model gave results that were closest to the real experimental data. In most studies, only design parameters considered during computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses without consideration of experimental result. Here new bio inspired technique called bionics is applied to impeller of pump. The experiments were carried out using a computer-controlled pump testing setup. The pump's head, hydraulic efficiency, and power were analyzed using both CFD simulations and experimental tests on the duty point as per manufacturer’s catalog, having the revolution of 2,900 rpm, The bionic impeller achieves a best efficiency point (BEP) at a discharge rate of 12 m³/hr., with a head of 32.75 m and an efficiency of 39.21%. The CFD results closely matched the experimental results at the design flow rate and at all other tested flow rates as per duty points. In addition, by integrating nature-inspired design with testing, this study contributes to the development of high-performance, sustainable pumps. The results may help advance efficient industrial fluid transport systems. This research bridges biomimetic innovation with practical engineering, paving the way for future pump advancements.