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GP-ME-1HLIT7CMechanicalReady

OpenFOAM centrifugal-pump simulation

A completed OpenFOAM v2606 study of a simplified two-dimensional radial pump stage across mesh, flow-rate, and rotational-speed cases.

OpenFOAM centrifugal-pump simulation project visual
GP-ME-1HLIT7C · Mechanical
  • OpenFOAM v2606
  • Python 3
  • Matplotlib

Software compatibility

OpenFOAM v2606 only

Cases are prepared for the OpenCFD OpenFOAM v2606 distribution. No ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL, STAR-CCM+, or OpenFOAM Foundation v14 files are included.

Project definition

Problem statement

Pump-stage head, torque, and internal losses depend on flow rate, rotational speed, blade and vane representation, mesh, turbulence treatment, and the method used to average pressure and torque.

Project objectives

  • Adapt a licensed OpenFOAM rotating-flow tutorial for v2606.
  • Run three strict mesh levels and report the remaining mesh dependence.
  • Compare flow rates of 0.0005, 0.0010, and 0.0015 cubic metres per second.
  • Compare rotational speeds of 716.2, 1,000.0, and 1,241.4 rpm.
  • Calculate head, pressure rise, torque, shaft power, hydraulic power, efficiency proxy, and flow mismatch.

Project structure

Project components

01

Case generator

Creates a controlled radial-stage case from declared mesh, flow-rate, speed, and iteration settings.

02

Polar mesh

Builds the annular fluid domain with four straight rotor blades and four straight stationary diffuser vanes.

03

MRF stage

Uses a steady rotating frame with water and the kOmegaSST turbulence model.

04

Function objects

Records inlet and outlet pressure, flow rates, and rotor torque during every run.

05

Verification

Checks seven meshes, mass balance, final-sample stability, parameter trends, figures, and repository consistency.

Methodology

Project workflow

  1. 01
    Generate

    Python and m4 create one native OpenFOAM case from the declared study point.

  2. 02
    Mesh

    The structured polar mesh is built and checked with all geometry and topology options.

  3. 03
    Solve

    simpleFoam solves the steady MRF flow while pressure, flow, and torque are recorded.

  4. 04
    Extract

    The final 50 samples are averaged into JSON, CSV, PNG, and SVG evidence.

  5. 05
    Compare

    Mesh, flow-rate, and speed responses are interpreted with the model boundaries stated.

Demonstration scenario

The radial stage runs on three meshes, at three flow rates, and at three rotational speeds. The student explains head, torque, power, efficiency proxy, mass balance, operating trends, and why the mesh response does not establish grid independence.

Engineering

Tools and method

Tools
The project uses OpenFOAM v2606, Python 3, Matplotlib for subject analysis, simulation, and results.
Case format
Native OpenCFD OpenFOAM v2606 dictionaries, fields, structured mesh, MRF settings, and solver logs.
Flow model
Single-phase incompressible water flow with steady simpleFoam, kOmegaSST, and a multiple-reference-frame approximation.
Mesh
A reproducible two-dimensional polar mesh represents the annulus, four radial blades, four stationary vanes, inlet, and outlet.
Analysis
Python preserves raw samples and regenerates summaries, study tables, tests, and 17 figures.

Testing

Evaluation

Evaluation measures

  • All seven meshes pass strict checkMesh checks
  • Medium case head 1.3979 m and pressure rise 13.709 kPa
  • Medium case torque 0.2691 Nm, shaft power 28.18 W, and efficiency proxy 48.67 percent
  • Head falls from 1.4635 m to 1.3727 m as flow rises from 0.0005 to 0.0015 cubic metres per second
  • Head rises from 0.6911 m to 2.2112 m as speed rises from 716.2 to 1,241.4 rpm
  • Flow mismatch remains below 1 percent in all seven cases
  • Seven automated tests passing

Project boundaries

  • Only OpenCFD OpenFOAM v2606 cases are delivered.
  • The geometry is a simplified two-dimensional annular radial stage, not a complete industrial centrifugal pump.
  • Straight blades and vanes replace curved three-dimensional passages, the impeller eye, shrouds, volute, seals, and leakage paths.
  • The steady MRF model excludes blade-passing transients, cavitation, multiphase flow, vibration, and structural loading.
  • The reported efficiency is a hydraulic-to-shaft power proxy for this simplified model.
  • The three meshes show material head and torque changes and do not establish grid independence.
  • The project is academic CFD and not pump selection, manufacture, rating, or certification evidence.

Included

  1. 01Seven completed radial pump-stage CFD cases
  2. 02Structured meshes with 768, 3,072, and 6,912 cells
  3. 03Flow rates from 0.0005 to 0.0015 cubic metres per second
  4. 04Rotational speeds from 716.2 to 1,241.4 rpm
  5. 05Head, pressure-rise, torque, power, efficiency-proxy, flow-balance, mesh, and residual evidence
  6. 0617 labelled figures in PNG and SVG with raw JSON and CSV results
  7. 07Three actual pump literature images with source and licence records
  8. 08Complete project files, models, calculations, and analysis material in a private GitHub repository
  9. 0980-page project documentation in PDF and editable Word formats
  10. 109-page setup and usage guide

Project record

No information is collected on this page.

Permanent project ID
GP-ME-1HLIT7C
Catalogued
22 Aug 2026
Completed
23 Aug 2026
Verified
23 Aug 2026
Demonstration
Included in repository

Handover

After purchase

  1. 01
    Payment is confirmed

    The project is marked unavailable and cannot be purchased again.

  2. 02
    Repository access is granted

    The buyer's submitted GitHub account receives access to the private repository.

  3. 03
    The purchase record is delivered

    The certification sheet is prepared from the reviewed buyer details and sent privately by email.