Effect of Ribs on the Efficiency of Two-phase Centrifugal Pumps at High and Low Rotational Speeds

Fluid transport is a critical process in various industrial operations, particularly in the transportation of petroleum products. This process predominantly relies on centrifugal pumps, which exhibit high efficiency when handling single-phase liquids. However, their performance significantly declines when pumping two-phase fluids, with complete pump failure occurring at elevated gas-liquid ratios. This study investigates the impact of a novel pump geometry incorporating ribs on enhancing pump performance under such conditions. The findings demonstrate that ribbed pumps possess a superior capacity to handle two-phase gas-liquid flows at high gas ratios. This is achieved by generating secondary flows that promote a more homogenous gas-liquid mixture, mitigate the formation of gas pockets responsible for performance degradation, and delay pump shutdown. These improvements contribute to enhanced operational reliability, safety, and efficiency of the novel pump.