Numerical investigation and validation of multiphase flow in annular jet pump—a mixture model approach

Abstract

Slurry transport through pipelines is a common experience of multiphase flows in the mining industry, and there are many suitable CFD-based multiphase models for analysis. The Annular Jet Pump (AJP) is engineered to handle the complex flow dynamics associated with slurry transport, where the interactions between solid particles and the carrier fluid play a crucial role in determining the pumṕs performance. In this study, a multiphase mixture model is employed to simulate the behaviour of the slurry within the AJP, providing insights into the effects of dispersed particle size, dispersed phase concentration, nozzle convergence angle, and primary fluid́s flow rate on pump suction and pressure distribution. The CFD simulations are conducted to predict the performance characteristics, which are then validated against literature data (which is simulated and experimental). Variations in flow variables and turbulence variables are observed at the centreline of the AJP. The results demonstrate that the proposed Annular Jet Pumṕs design achieves efficient slurry transport and highlights the effectiveness of the multiphase mixture model in accurately predicting the pump's performance under varying operational conditions. The trend in power input variation, the output's mass flow rate, and Specific Energy Consumption are observed for a range of primary fluid́s volumetric flow rates. This integrated approach offers a comprehensive understanding of the fluid-particle interactions within the pump, contributing to efficient slurry transport systems in industrial applications.