Integrated valve plate in aviation fuel gear pump: simulation and testing of energy conversion and interaction deformation

The valve plate serves as a critical component in aviation fuel gear pumps (AFGP), often operating under high mechanical loads and elevated temperatures, which can lead to substantial end-face deformation and internal leakage. This study presents an innovative integrated design incorporating a radial flow balancing groove and a low-pressure guiding ring, addressing two fundamental challenges: the thermal compensation deformation mechanism of the balancing groove accounting for oil film thickness variation, and the role of the integrated structure in modulating vortex dynamics and energy conversion to minimize end-face leakage and enhance volumetric efficiency. Full-field flow analysis demonstrates that, under conditions of 100 °C and 10,000 rpm, the balancing groove effectively suppresses an 11.2% abnormal enthalpy rise and mitigates vortex generation induced by increased shear gradient terms in the vorticity transport equation. Additionally, radial pressure balancing reduces secondary flow mixing at the inlet and suppresses recirculation zone formation at the outlet. The deformation distribution of the guiding ring exhibits a non-strictly geometrically symmetrical feature. High-temperature experimental comparisons confirm that the integrated structure reduces pressure pulsation by 34% and volumetric leakage by 12.4% at 10,000 rpm. Under negative pressure and high temperature conditions, this structure can effectively narrow the leakage boundary and improve the quality of the oil delivery. These findings not only elucidate energy conversion processes in multi-field coupling environments but also provide an effective design strategy for mitigating flow attenuation in AFGP systems under extreme operational conditions.