The influence of damaged impeller on internal flow inside a self-priming pump

Self-priming pumps are widely used in various occasions. Blades may fracture due to abrasive wear from transported particles or cavitation, leading to blade defects. The impact of such blade defects on self-priming pumps has not been reported to date. In this study, three new impellers with different degrees of blade defects are designed based on the original impeller and are numerically simulated. The results reveal that the hydraulic performance exhibits a declining trend as the degree of blade defect increases. Blade defects intensify pressure pulsations and worsen the distribution of radial forces. Moreover, defective blade significantly reduces the axial force of the pump under low-flow conditions.