Transient characteristics during start-up of dual pumps in the prefabricated pumping station

This work presents a numerical analysis of transient flow fields in the prefabricated pumping station with two identical pumps to clarify the flow evolution process during the start-up using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. The disturbance between neighboring components and external characteristics of the pump were analyzed and compared. The results demonstrate that the increase of pump head can be divided into two stages: lagging behind the increase of impeller speed and rapid increase of pump head. There is apparent interference between the two pumps, which not only affects the internal flow field distribution of the prefabricated pump station but also severely impacts the pump's performance. The transient impact during the pump start-up threatens the safety of the components of the prefabricated pump station, and the interaction between the pumps causes the pump to deviate from the design working condition. The investigation of results of the complex flow in the prefabricated pumping station during start-up is of great reference to improving the design of the prefabricated pumping station.