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NASA TN D- 1562

TECHNICAL NOTE A ' 1

0-1562

METHOD FOR DESIGN O F P U M P I M P E L L E R S USING A

H I G H - S P E E D DIGITAL C O M P U T E R

By N o r b e r t 0. S t o c k m a n and John L. K r a m e r

Lewis Research Center

C l e v e l a n d , Ohio

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON January 1963

-. . ' J
 NATIONAL AFRONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMTNISTRAmON

TECHNICAL NOTE D-1562

METROD FOR DESIGN OF PUMP IMPEZLERS USING A

By Norbert 0. Stockman and John L. Kramer

A method of designing pump i m p e l l e r s i s derived from t h e equations of motion

and c o n t i n u i t y f o r incompressible nonviscous r e l a t i v e flow. The flow i s assumed
t o f o l l o w a known stream s u r f a c e ( r e p r e s e n t i n g b l a d e shape) t h a t extends from hub
t o shroud. Equations are a l s o d e r i v e d f o r approximate b l a d e - s u r f a c e v e l o c i t i e s
and pressures. A d e t a i l e d numerical procedure and b l o c k diagram a r e given f o r
u s e on a d i g i t a l computer. A numerical example t h a t i l l u s t r a t e s l i m i t e d u s e of
t h e method i s p r e s e n t e d and f u r t h e r uses a r e i n d i c a t e d .

INTRODUCTION

C e n t r i f u g a l pumps are being considered for space a p p l i c a t i o n s i n chemical

and n u c l e a r - r o c k e t engines u s i n g cryogenic f l u i d s and i n power-conversion systems
using l i q u i d m e t a l s . For t h e s e a p p l i c a t i o n s , t h e pumps should be of minimum s i z e
and weight, should have h i g h e f f i c i e n c y , and should o p e r a t e c a v i t a t i o n - f r e e or
w i t h c o n t r o l l e d c a v i t a t i o n a t high r o t a t i v e speeds. A knowledge and c o n t r o l of
t h e i n t e r n a l f l o w are necessary t o meet t h e s e requirements.

A method based on stream-filament techniques f o r analyzing t h e f l o w i n t h e

i m p e l l e r of a c e n t r i f u g a l a i r compressor was developed at t h e Lewis Research
Center (ref. 1). This method determines v e l o c i t i e s , p r e s s u r e s , and s t r e a m l i n e s
i n t h e m e r i d i o n a l plane ( a plane c o n t a i n i n g t h e i m p e l l e r axis) and o f approximate
v e l o c i t i e s and p r e s s u r e s on t h e blade surfaces. From t h e a n a l y s i s an i m p e l l e r
d e s i g n method ( r e f . 2 ) was d e r i v e d t h a t allowed d i r e c t c o n t r o l of t h e hub veloc-
i t i e s and i n d i r e c t c o n t r o l of t h e v e l o c i t i e s and p r e s s u r e s i n t h e impeller. This
method enabled t h e d e s i g n e r t o avoid v e l o c i t y g r a d i e n t s conducive t o boundary-
l a y e r s e p a r a t i o n and t o avoid eddy formation on t h e b l a d e surfaces.

The method of r e f e r e n c e 2 was used t o redesign t h e shroud shapes of t h r e e

e x i s t i n g i m p e l l e r s f o r a i r compressors f o r which experimental data were avail-
able. D a t a f o r t h e redesigned i m p e l l e r s were obtained, and t h e comparison of
t h e s e two sets of d a t a showed s i g n i f i c a n t gains i n performance o f all t h r e e
i m p e l l e r s ( r e f . 3).

These f a v o r a b l e results w i t h a i r compressors, t o g e t h e r with r e c e n t pump

a p p l i c a t i o n s t h a t r e q u i r e knowledge and c o n t r o l of t h e i n t e r n a l flow, l e d t o t h e
use of this method for the design of centrifugal pumps. To facilitate this use,
it is desirable to determine the specific flow equations and design methods for
the incompressible f l o w in pump impellers, and to detail the procedures for high-
speed digital-computer use. This report presents the development of such a
method.

The basic flow equations are derived from the equations of motion for a
mean-flow surface that extends from impeller hub to shroud. The required equa-
tion for stream tube volume flow is derived from continuity considerations. An
approximate method of computing blade-surface flow properties is also derived.

In addition, the overall pump-design problem is discussed. Methods of ob-

taining quantities needed in the design calculations are given, and the numerical.
methods of attacking the design equa,tionsand a block diagram for a digital-
computer program are presented. Finally, a numerical example illustrating the
use of the method and suggestions for further use are given.

DESIGN PROBLEM

The general design problem can be considered from two points of view,
namely, the engineering and the mathematical. The engineering approach is:
Given a f l o w rate and a head rise, find a pump that will produce the desired
performance with maximum efficiency. The mathematical approach is: Given the
distribution of some flow property, such as velocity, on the boundaries (hub,
shroud, and blade surfaces) and assumptions regarding the type of flow, find the
impeller geometry that will result in these flow properties.

Fundamentally, the problem is an engineering one; that is, the pump must
produce a certain flow and a certain head rise and possibly meet other restric-
tions, such as a maximum allowable diameter, a specified rotative speed, and so
forth. Commonly, the engineering goal is achieved through the combined use of
a certain amount of mathematical design, the designer's art and experience, and
possibly development.

The ideal approach would be to convert the engineering specifications into

inputs f o r a complete mathematical design, to specify desirable flow properties
along the impeller boundaries, and to compute the geometry of the impeller.

Unfortunately, complete three-dimensional design methods, such as suggested

in reference 4, are long and complex. Even when a high-speed digital computer
is available for the computation, the setting up of the problem for the computer
would be a long and tedious process. An exact two-dimensional method is used in
references 5 and 6 to obtain blade-to-blade properties in a prescribed pump
stream-tube impeller geometry without and with splitter vanes, respectively.
This method gives an adequate picture of the flow in the leading-edge region and
would be useful for cavitation considerations; however, the exact solution is
quite complex and involves considerable calculations. It is important, there-
fore, that rapid easy-to-use methods accurate enough for engineering purposes be
developed. Two such methods of obtaining flow properties on the blade surfaces
are given in references 1 and 7. In references 5 and 6, it was found that these

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 methods gave reasonably a c c u r a t e r e s u l t s throughout most of t h e b l a d e passage.
Although t h e s e methods a r e of l i m i t e d value for s t u d y i n g c a v i t a t i o n c o n d i t i o n s ,
t h e y a r e s u f f i c i e n t f o r eddy d e t e c t i o n and f o r boundary-layer and l o a d i n g s t u d i e s
except i n t h e immediate v i c i n i t y of t h e t r a i l i n g edge and i n a r e g i o n n e a r t h e
l e a d i n g edge t h a t extends f u r t h e r i n t o t h e i m p e l l e r as t h e a n g l e of a t t a c k devi-
a t e s from t h e design value.

The hub-shroud d e s i g n method p r e s e n t e d h e r e i n ( w i t h o p t i o n a l b l a d e - s u r f a c e

computations) i s ayiother such r a p i d and easy-to-use methnd. It e n z b l e s t h c
d e s i g n e r t o proceed from a known s t r e a m l i n e and i t s v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n t o an
a d j a c e n t s t r e a m l i n e and i t s v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n . Thus, given t h e c o n d i t i o n s
along t h e hub, t h e e n t i r e hub-shroud p r o f i l e is h u j l t . 1 q by prcceeding frcm t h e
hub s t r e a m l i n e t o t h e next s t r e a m l i n e , and so on, u n t i l t h e shroud i s reached.
Conversion of t h e pump s p e c i f i c a t i o n s i n t o input f o r t h e design c a l c u l a t i o n s i s
d e s c r i b e d i n t h e DESIGN I"TS s e c t i o n .

DESIGN EQUATIONS

Stream Tube Volume Flow

The c o o r d i n a t e s of an unknown s t r e a m l i n e a r e r e l a t e d t o t h o s e of an a d j a c e n t
known s t r e a m l i n e by a form of t h e c o n t i n u i t y equation. I n t h e d e r i v a t i o n of t h i s
equation, it i s assumed t h a t s u r f a c e s of r e v o l u t i o n o b t a i n e d by r o t a t i n g stream-
l i n e s about t h e i m p e l l e r axis a r e stream s u r f a c e s and t h a t all passages between
blades c a r r y t h e same volume flow. Then t h e equation f o r t h e volume flow p e r
u n i t b l a d e passage AQ/M through a c r o s s s e c t i o n of a stream t u b e bounded by
a d j a c e n t s u r f a c e s of r e v o l u t i o n nl and n2 and by a d j a c e n t b l a d e s Bt and
8d, as shown i n f i g u r e 1, i s obtained by

where A i s t h e area of a c r o s s s e c t i o n of stream t u b e everywhere normal t o t h e

meridional or through-flow d i r e c t i o n , Wm i s t h e meridional or through-flow
v e l o c i t y component and i s a f u n c t i o n of n and 8, and r is t h e radial dis-
t a n c e t o t h e c e n t e r of t h e element and i s a f u n c t i o n of n. (All symbols a r e
d e f i n e d i n appendix A. )

I V e l o c i t y Gradient

The v e l o c i t y - g r a d i e n t equation (which i s d e r i v e d i n appendix B) i s used t o

o b t a i n t h e v e l o c i t y on a new s t r e a m l i n e when it i s known on an a d j a c e n t stream-
l i n e . S i m p l i f i c a t i o n of t h e e x a c t three-dimensional e q u a t i o n s of motion t o a
simple v e l o c i t y - g r a d i e n t equation i s accomplished i n t w o major s t e p s . I n t h e
f i r s t s t e p , t h e problem i s reduced t o two dimensions by considering t h e flow on
a known s t r e a m s u r f a c e S ( f i g . 2 ) t h a t extends from hub t o shroud throughout

3
 “1

Figure 1. - Cross s e c t i o n of stream t u b e .

)’--\, \
\\\

\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
i

F i g u r e 2. - Pump i m p e l l e r showing stream s u r f a c e between b l a d e s .

4
t h e i m p e l l e r . Mathematically, t h i s s u r f a c e can b e any stream s u r f a c e between
blades. It i s r e a s o n a b l e t o assume t h a t t h e mean flow f o l l o w s a mea?? blade s u r -
f a c e throuShout t h e guided p o r t i o n of t h e impeller. A t t h e i n l e t , t h e s u r f a c e
d e v i a t e s from t h e mean blade s u r f a c e f o r nonzero angle of a t t a c k a d , a t t h e
o u t l e t , it d i f f e r s because of s l i p . These two f a c t o r s can be t a k e n i n t o account
and are d i s c u s s e d i n t h e s e c t i o n on Blade P r o p e r t i e s .

I n g e n e r a l , f l o w p r o p e r t i e s a r e functions o f 6, r, and z; b u t on t h e sur-

?axe, 6 i s a fiinction of r and z. Therefore, t h e f l o w on t h e s u r f a c e i s a
f u n c t i o n of r and z only; t h a t i s , it i s mathematically two dimensional. As
a r e s u l t , t h e d e s i g n c a l c u l a t i o n s can be s e t up as i f t h e f l o w were i n an r-z
o r merir7inna.l p?a.ne. A meridional plane i s a. plane t h a t c o n t a i n s t h e i m p e l l e r
a x i s , b u t it i s n o t a p h y s i c a l l y meaningful plane i n t h e f l o w f i e l d ( e x c e p t i n
t h e c a s e where t h e r e i s no r e l a t i v e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l v e l o c i t y ) . An advantage of
working i n t h e meridional p l a n e i s t h a t t h e meridional s t r e a m l i n e p i c t u r e i s a
t r u e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e through flow a s s o c i a t e d with t h e s u r f a c e S.

I n t h e second s t e p , t h e two-dimensional equations are f u r t h e r s i m p l i f i e d by

c o n s i d e r i n g f l o w c o n d i t i o n s along meridional s-breamlines and g r a d i e n t s a l o n g
normals t o t h e s e s t r e a m l i n e s ( f i g . 3). This c o n s i d e r a t i o n r e s u l t s i n t h e
v e l o c i t y - g r a d i e n t equation

dw - a W
-

dn
I - b

I
Axial d i s t a n c e , z

( a ) Meridional streamline. ( b ) V e l o c i t y components. ( c ) Normal t o m e r i d i o n a l stream-

line.

F i g u r e 3. - Meridional plane.

where

a = - coszp
- s i n z p cos a - B cos sin p sin a
r r (3)

5
and

b = 2co s i n p COS a. + B cos p (2+ ZCU s i n W dn

+ -W- dn

I n equation (2), W i s t h e f l u i d v e l o c i t y r e l a t i v e t o t h e r o t a t i n g i m p e l l e r and

n i s distance along a normal t o t h e meridional streamline. All q u a n t i t i e s i n
a and b a r e given as design i n p u t s (e. g., cu) or a r e computed from t h e geometry
,
(e. g. , u) or from flow p r o p e r t i e s (e. g. dWQ/dn) of a known (i.e., i n i t i a l l y
prescribed or previously c a l c u l a t e d ) meridional streamline. These q u a n t i t i e s are
discussed as they appear i n t h e d e r i v a t i o n i n aFpendix B. B r i e f l y , from t h e
meridional streamline geometry shown i n f i g u r e 3(a),

dr
t a n a. = -
dz

dm= -4

and from blade-shape s p e c i f i c a t i o n , &/a, and ae/az,

B - r - a8
sina- r -ae
cosa
a, a,

Physically, p i s t h e angle measured from t h e meridional p r o j e c t i o n t o t h e

streamline of t h e flow s u r f a c e ( f i g . 4). The angle i s p o s i t i v e when measured i n

~ on stream

Figure 4. - P r o j e c t i o n of stream s u r f a c e onto meridional plane.

6
t h e d i r e c t i o n of r o t a t i o n . The remaining q u a n t i t i e s i n b a r e o b t a i n e d as
f o l l o w s : We e q u a l s W s i n p.j a, t h e r o t a t i v e speed of t h e i m p e l l e r , i s pre-
dRi Mi
scribed; - =- where i s obtained from a p r e s c r i b e d d i s t r i b u t i o n of Hi
dn dn
dh ah &¶i
a t t h e i n l e t and An i s o b t a i n e d from c o n t i n u i t y j and -
dn =
as f o r -
dn '

With t h e two e q u a t i o n s , v e l o c i t y (eq. ( 2 ) ) and c o n t i n u i t y (eq. (1)): t h e

hub-shroud p r o f i l e can be c o n s t r u c t e d from a given m e r i d i o n a l s t r e a m l i n e and i t s
v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n and a given blade shape. The v e l o c i t y on t h e stream
s u r f a c e throughout t h e i m p e l l e r i s of necessit.? nht.nAned z s p a r t ef t h e d z ~ 2 . g ~
calculation.

Head

The s t a t i c head h along a s t r e a m l i n e can b e o b t a i n e d from equation (B22):

where Hi i s t h e i n l e t t o t a l head t h a t is given f o r each s t r e a m l i n e .

The t o t a l head along a s t r e a m l i n e can be computed from equation ( B 2 8 ) ;

This completes t h e incompressible nonviscous flow c a l c u l a t i o n s on t h e stream

s u r f a c e S.

Blade-to-Blade C a l c u l a t i o n s

Approximate b l a d e - s u r f a c e v e l o c i t i e s and s t a t i c heads can be o b t a i n e d from

e q u a t i o n s ((3)to (cy). These equations a r e d e r i v e d i n appendix C with t h e
assumption 6f a l i n e a r v a r i a t i o n of s t a t i c head from b l a d e t o blade. They pro-
v i d e r e s u l t s of s a t i s f a c t o r y accuracy except i n t h e l e a d i n g - and t r a i l i n g - e d g e
r e g i o n s of t h e b l a d e s . If more e x a c t r e s u l t s a r e r e q u i r e d , t h e blade-to-blade
a n a l y s i s method of r e f e r e n c e s 5 o r 6 can b e used.

DESIGN l 2 E " S
The e q u a t i o n s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e previous s e c t i o n e n a b l e computation of t h e
i n t e r n a l - f l o w c o n d i t i o n s and t h e shroud shape o f a pump i m p e l l e r provided t h a t
t h e f o l l o w i n g q u a n t i t i e s a r e known, t h a t i s , given or p r e s c r i b e d : volume flow

7
 rate, Q; head rise, A€€;i n l e t - t o t a l - h e a d d i s t r i b u t i o n , Hi; i n l e t - p r e w h i r l d i s -
t r i b u - t i o n , A; r o t a t i v e speed, cu; m e r i d i o n a l contour of some s t r e a m l i n e such as
, t h e hub, r = r ( z ) ; v e l o c i t y along t h i s s t r e a m l i n e , W = W(r,z); t h e mean b l a d e
s u r f a c e i n terms of t h e c u r v a t u r e components, &I/& and &/a,; t h e blade thick-
ness, tn or t e j t h e number of b l a d e s , M; and any d e v i a t i o n of t h e flow s u r f a c e
from t h e blade s u r f a c e such as s l i p o r a n g l e of a t t a c k .

me flow r a t e Q and t h e head r i s e DH w i l l u s u a l l y be given as pump

specifications. The r o t a t i v e speed cu i s sometimes given. I n general, w, Q,
&I, H1, and A are n o t d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o hub shape, v e l o c i t y along t h e hub,
b l a d e shape, and number of b l a d e s , s o t h e d e s i g n e r has c o n s i d e r a b l e freedom i n
p r e s c r i b i n g t h e s e q u a n t i t i e s . A t t h e i n l e t and a t t h e o u t l e t of t h e pump, how-
ever, certain r e l a t i o n s among t h e s e q u a n t i t i e s and Q and AI€ must b e satis-
fied.

Outlet Conditions
,
A t the o u t l e t , two equations must be s a t i s f i e d . The f i r s t i s E u l e r ’ s t u r -
b i n e equation:

I n equation (5), 7 i s t h e h y d r a u l i c e f f i c i e n c y d e f i n e d by

mactual
7 =
Mideal

The hydraulic e f f i c i e n c y may be e s t i m a t e d from a c o n s i d e r a t i o n of l o s s e s o r

i t may be assigned from experience. The r o t a t i v e speed w may b e chosen t o b e
c o n s i s t e n t w i t h o t h e r f r e e choices i n equation ( 5 ) o r i t may b e predetermined by
I o t h e r considerations; f o r example, t h e w of a d i r e c t - d r i v e t u r b i n e t h a t will
d r i v e t h e pump.

I f s l i p i s t o b e t a k e n i n t o account, equation (5) becomes

where f , i s t h e s l i p f a c t o r and i s d e f i n e d and d i s c u s s e d i n t h e s e c t i o n on

Blade P r o p e r t i e s .

The second equation i s t h e equation f o r volume flow rate:

8
or Tor a r a d i a l o u t l e t when a = 90' and rs = r h

Q = ( W cos p)av Z f i r ( - Mte> av

(zs - Zh)

The v a l u e s of any q u a n t i t i e s (W, 6, e t c . ) needed i n t h e design must b e pre-

s c r i b e d a t t h e o u t l e t t o be c o n s i s t e n t with equations ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) and w i t h any
o t h e r c o n s t r a . i n t s imposed, f o r example, t h e e x i s t i n g geometry o f t h e system i n
~ . : h i ~ thh e p i ~ q~.e-Jl he ijse& I n eqijations ( 5 ) and (5) t h e sid$ccyipt ay r e f e r s
t o average v a l u e s between hub and shroud. I n p r a c t i c e , however, t h e s e e q u a t i o n s
a r e used t o o b t a i n inpu-t values on t h e prescribed s t r e a m l i n e . The r e s u l t of t h i s
prncedlx-e i s t h z t t h e p m p Eay Frndixe 2 scxe::h=;t $:ffercnt head r:sc or flow
r a t e from t h a t s p e c i f i e d . If t h i s i s a s i g n i f i c a n t d e v i a t i o n , -the p r e s c r i b e d
s t r e a m l i n e and i t s r e l a t e d i n p u t can b e adjusted a f t e r a trial design. This
adjustment can b e r e p e a t e d as o f t e n as required.

I n l e t Conditions

There are f o u r p o s s i b l e s i t u a t i o n s that may c o n f r o n t t h e d e s i g n e r at t h e

pump i n l e t : (1)The upstream f l o w conditions a r e given, for example, when an
i n d u c e r precedes t h e pump; ( 2 ) t h e upstream geometry i s given, for example, a
predetermined i n l e t pipe; ( 3 ) t h e geometry immediately upstream of t h e pump i s
t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e pump designer; and ( 4 ) t h e r e are no r e s t r i c t i o n s on t h e
i n l e t c o n d i t i o n s , f o r example, it i s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of someone e l s e t o make
t h e i n l e t s e c t i o n f i t t h e pump.

For i t e m ( Z ) , t h e upstream s e c t i o n can be analyzed (from e s s e n t i a l l y t h e

same equations as t h o s e used f o r t h e pimp design) and t h e flow c o n d i t i o n s are
t h e n known. This s i t u a t i o n i s now t h e same as i t e m (1). F o r i t e m ( 3 ) , t h e i n -
l e t s e c t i o n can be designed by t h e method of t h i s r e p o r t ( w i t h c e r t a i n changes
because t h e r e are no b l a d e s ) t h e n t h e f l o w i s known as i n t h e s i t u a t i o n i n
i t e m (1). Thus, f o r i n l e t c o n d i t i o n s required as design i n p u t , t h e r e are two
d i f f e r e n t s i t u a t i o n s , namely, items (1)and ( 4 ) . I n b o t h cases, t h e r e l a - t i o n s
of c o n t i n u i t y

AQ = (2fir - Mte)Ayi W cos p (7)

where

r2 - rl
An = cos a1

except i n t h e c a s e of a r a d i a l i n l e t a I 90a where

9
and conservation of a n g u l a r momentum

must b e s a t i s f i e d a t each s t r e a m l i n e f o r i t e m (1) and a t some mean s t r e a m l i n e f o r

item (4).

Note t h a t equation ( 7 ) i s w r i t t e n f o r a s t a t i o n j u s t i n s i d e t h e i m p e l l e r i n -
l e t r a t h e r t h a n j u s t upstream of t h e i n l e t and, t h e r e f o r e , i n c l u d e s b l a d e block-
age. Also, n o t e t h a t i n equation ( 6 ) it i s assumed t h a t no work has y e t been
done on the f l u i d a t t h i s s t a t i o n . Not a l l q u a n t i t i e s involved i n e q u a t i o n s ( 7 )
and (8) a r e a c t u a l design i n p u t a t every streamline. Only t h e p r e s c r i b e d stream-
l i n e ( u s u a l l y t h e hub) has a W and r as input. Values of A a!id Hi (which
does no-t appear i n t h e equations) are r e q u i r e d i n p u t a t every s t r e a m l i n e even
when upstream c o n d i t i o n s are n o t prescribed. Values of p, te, and M a c r o s s
t h e i n l e t are i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e b l a d e i n p u t . Angle p i s t h e a n g l e of t h e
f l o w s u r f a c e not t h e b l a d e s u r f a c e , so t h a t when t h e s e a n g l e s are n o t e q u a l
(when t h e angle o f a t t a c k i s n o t zero) t h e b l a d e shape a t t h e i n l e t must be
s p e c i y i e d i n such a way as t o produce t h e r e q u i r e d v a l u e of p.

Wnen equations ( 7 ) and (8) are used t o rela'ce average c o n d i t i o n s , as i n

i t e m (4),AQ becomes Q, an becomes ( r s - r h ) / c o s a,, o r zs - Zh, and o t h e r
q u a n t i t i e s a r e averages from hub t o shroud. Values f o r t h e p r e s c r i b e d s t r e a m l i n e
are estimated from t h e hub-to-shroud average values. A f t e r a design i s made, t h e
i n l e t should be reexamined at each s t r e a m l i n e t o be s u r e t h a t c o n d i t i o n s are sat-
i s f a c t o r y . I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e blade a n g l e at each s t r e a m l i n e should be such as
t o produce t h e expected a n g l e o f a t t a c k ( u s u a l l y zero). I f t h e expected a n g l e of
a t t a c k i s not a t t a i n e d , some i n l e t c o n d i t i o n o r t h e b l a d e shape a t t h e i n l e t must
be changed.

I n cases where t h e upstream flow i s known b e f o r e t h e pump i s dssigned, t h e

s t r e a m l i n e s r e s u l t i n g from t h e design c a l c u l a t i o n must match t h e upstream stream-
l i n e s a t the i n l e t . If t h e s e two sets oT s t r e a m l i n e s do n o t match, some i n p u t
c o n d i t i o n must b e changed, and a new design c a l c u l a t i o n c a r r i e d out. Elis proc-
ess i s repeated u n t i l a s a t i s f a c t o r y match i s achieved.

Hub Shape and V e l o c i t y D i s t r i b u t i o n

After t h e i n l e t and o u t l e t c o n d i t i o n s are determined, t h e m e r i d i o n a l contour

and v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n of some streamirine must be chosen throughout t h e pump.
This could b e t h e hub, t h e shroud, o r any o t h e r s t r e a m l i n e i n between. It i s
probably b e s t t o s t a r t with t h e hub, s i n c e s t r e a m l i n e spacing i s most s e n s i t i v e
t o v e l o c i t y changes near t h e hub and u n d e s i r a b l e r e s u l t i n g shapes i n succeeding
s t r e a m l i n e s can be more r e a d i l y eliminated. Usually t h e hub r a d i u s r and
v e l o c i t y W a r e given as f u n c t i o n s of z. Both r and W may be p r e s c r i b e d
d i r e c t l y , or, f o r b e t t e r c o n t r o l of c a v i t a t i o n , t h e s t a t i c head h may be pre-
s c r i b e d t o g e t h e r with e i t h e r W o r r. These t h r e e q u a n t i t i e s are r e l a t e d i n
equation (B22).

10
 I f s t a t i c head and v e l o c i t y a r e prescribed, t h e hub shape i s o b t a i n e d from

1
r = -
Lu
42g(h - Hi) + Wz + 2cuh

I f s t a t i c head and hub shape are chosen, t h e v e l o c i t y i s foiind from

W = q2g(Hi - h) + w2r2 - 2wh

The v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n on t h e hub, according t o air-compressor experi-

ence, should be a c c e l e r a t i n g , i f p o s s i b l e . A t l e a s t unnecessary n e g a t i v e veloc-
L t y gmdierlis siivuid b e avoided. Tne s t a t i c - h e a d d i s t r i b u t i o n should be such
t h a t c a v i t a t i o n i s avoided or c o n t r o l l e d . No u s e f u l c r i t e r i o n i s known f o r hub
shape except perhaps ease of f a b r i c a t i o n .

I f it i s more d e s i r a b l e t o have d i r e c t c o n t r o l over c o n d i t i o n s on t h e

shroud, t h i s can be done, and t h e design method can be made t o proceed from t h e
shroud t o t h e hub by changing t h e s i g n of An i n t h e equations.

Blade P r o p e r t i e s

When t h e mean f l o w s u r f a c e i s assumed t o f o l l o w t h e mean b l a d e s u r f a c e , t h e

b l a d e shape i s u s u a l l y p r e s c r i b e d i n two parts: a mean b l a d e s u r f a c e and a
thickness distribution. I n g e n e r a l , t h e mean b l a d e s u r f a c e i s o f t h e form
8 = 8(r,z). For very high speed wheels, i t i s o f t e n l i m i t e d t o r a d i a l elements
and i s of t h e form 8 = 8 ( z ) . The b l a d e s u r f a c e should be p r e s c r i b e d i n such a
manner t h a t t h e a n g l e p can be computed conveniently a t any p o i n t . One method
would be t o p r e s c r i b e ae/& and a@z, the b l a d e - c u r v a t u r e components i n t h e
r- and z - d i r e c t i o n s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The angle p i s found from t h e r e l a t i o n

tan p = r -ae s i n a t r -' 8 cos a

ar a, (9)

Equation ( 9 ) results from t h e r e l a t i o n

tan
de a8 d r
p = r -d-I r - r a F . a m + r a z d m
ae dz

which h o l d s a l o n g a s t r e a m l i n e where 8, r, and z are f u n c t i o n s of m.

For t h e c a s e of r a d i a l b l a d e elements (a@/& = 0) or a x i a l elements

( a 8 / a z = 0 ) , t h e f o l l o w i n g method may be used t o determine t h e mean blade s u r -
face. I n s t e a d o f p r e s c r i b i n g t h e blade angle, e i t h e r t h e t o t a l head r i s e
H - Hi or t h e r e l a t i v e t a n g e n t i a l v e l o c i t y along t h e hub i s prescribed. Then
p along t h e hub i s found from

11
where

For radial b l a d e elemen-Ls

de --
1 tan p
= r h cos a

where p and a are known as f u n c t i o n s of z along t h e hUbj t h e r e f o r e , s i n c e

&/az i s independent of r, d@/az i s known everywhere as a f u n c t i o n o f Z.
For axial. b l a d e elements

and a@/& i s known everywhere as a f u n c t i o n of r, s i n c e p and a are known

along t h e hub as f u n c t i o n s of r.

Although 8 i s n o t needed i n t h e design procedure, it i s u s u a l l y needed f o r

f a b r i c a t i o n and can be o b t a i n e d from

de = - ae dz
he d r + -
dr dZ

Since t h e f l o w n e a r t h e o u t l e t o f t h e pump does n o t c l o s e l y f o l l o w t h e

b l a d e s , a c l o s e r approximation t o actuaJ. f l o w can b e o b t a i n e d i f a reasonable
v a l u e of t h e s l i p f a c t o r can be estimated. The s l i p f a c t o r f s i s d e f i n e d as
t h e r a t i o of t h e a b s o l u t e t a n g e n t i a l v e l o c i t y of t h e f l u i d a t t h e o u t l e t t o t h e
a b s o l u t e t a n g e n t i a l v e l o c i t y t h e f l u i d would have i f t h e f l o w a n g l e were e q u a l
t o t h e mean b l a d e angle, t h a t i s , i f t h e f l u i d w e r e p e r f e c t l y guided by t h e
blades. The e f f e c t of s l i p i s taken i n t o account i n computing t h e f l o w a n g l e p.
A t t h e o u t l e t , p i s computed from t h e s l i p f a c t o r , t h e mean b l a d e angle, and
t h e f l o w rate. I n r e f e r e n c e 7, a p a r a b o l i c v a r i a t i o n i n s i n p i s assumed t o
hold from a p o i n t i n t h e pump where t h e e f f e c t of s l i p b e g i n s (and where p i s
known from eq. ( 9 ) ) t o t h e o u t l e t . Angle p i s t h e n computed i n t h i s r e g i o n
from t h e p a r a b o l i c v a r i a t i o n i n s t e a d of equation ( 9 ) . The p o i n t where s l i p i s
assumed t o become s i g n i f i c a n t can be estimated from experience or can be computed
from an empirical formula such as t h a t given i n r e f e r e n c e 7.

A similar s i t u a t i o n e x i s t s a t t h e i n l e t where t h e a c t u d mean stream s u r f a c e

may d i f f e r s i g n i f i c a n t l y from t h e mean blade s u r f a c e i n t h e c a s e of nonzero a n g l e
o f attack. The a n g l e o f a t t a c k , or i n c i d e n c e angle, a t some s t r e a m l i n e i s
d e f i n e d as t h e a n g l e between t h e mean f l o w d i r e c t i o n a t t h e i n l e t and t h e mean
blade s u r f a c e at t h e b l a d e l e a d i n g edge. Tien t h e p of equations ( 7 ) and (8)
i s n o t the p of t h e mean blade surface. Tne mean b l a d e s u r f a c e a t t h e i n l e t
t h e n has t o be s p e c i f i e d i n such a way t h a t i t s a n g l e i s e q u a l t o a n g l e p p l u s
t h e angle of a t t a c k . The e f f e c t o f a n g l e o f a t t a c k extends somewhat i n t o t h e

12
i m p e l l e r and could b e accounted f o r i n a manner s i m i l a r t o t h a t d i s c u s s e d pre-
v i o u s l y f o r s l i p f a c t o r . Note t h a t even though t h e mean b l a d e a n g l e a t some mean
s t r e w i n e s a t i s f i e s equations ( 7 ) and (8) a t t h e i n l e t , t h e r e may s t i l l b e
nonzero a n g l e of a t t a c k at o t h e r s - h e a m l i n e s and, i f s i g n i f i c a n t , should b e t a k e n
c a r e of as done previously. Reference 2 discusses computation of angle o f
attack.

The b l a d e t h i c k n e s s may be p r e s c r i b e d i n any manner t h a t allows i t s compu-

t a t i o n as a f u n c t i o n of z and r. Rormally, t, i s p r e s c r i b e d , b u t t h e t h i c k -
ness i n t h e circumferential d i r e c t i o n te i s r e q u i r e d for t h e design method and
i s given by

to = tn +-qEJqy
The i n i t i a l choice of t h e number of blades i s bes-t determined by experience.
The number need n o t be constant, t h a t i s , s p l i t t e r vanes or p a r t i a l b l a d e s may
b e added at v a r i o u s s t a t i o n s throughout t h e pump i m p e l l e r . Since t h e flow i s
assumed t o be p e r i o d i c , t h e number of blades ( i n c l u d i n g s p l i t t e r vanes) a t any
s t a t i o n should b e an i n t e g r a l m u l t i p l e o f t h e number at t h e previous s t a t i o n .

The hub shape, v e l o c i t y along t h e hub, blade shape, and number o f b l a d e s may
b e changed i f t h e i n i t i a l values r e s u l t i n - undesirable flow c o n d i t i o n s ( s e e
NUMERICAIL EXAMPIIF: AND DISCUSSION)

NUMERICAL PROCEDURE

The numerical s o l u t i o n of equations (1) and ( 2 ) i s based on t h e fundamental

assumption t h a t t h e d i s t a n c e An between adjacent s t r e a m l i n e s i s small enough
s o t h a t p r o p e r t i e s can be assumed t o b e constant a c r o s s An.

I n e q u a t i o n (Z), assume t h a t a and b a r e c o n s t a n t a c r o s s a stream t u b e

from nl t o n2. I f equation ( 2 ) i s m u l t i p l i e d by t h e i n t e g r a t i n g f a c t o r
e dn, it can b e i n t e g r a t e d t o g i v e

where An = nZ - nl.
Equation (11) i s used t o compute W, when Wl i s known. The parameters
a and b are computed along t h e s t r e a m l i n e a t nl, and An i s computed from
t h e next e q u a t i o n t o b e developed.

13
 Equation (1) can be solved by applying t h e mean-value theorem. F i r s t , con-
s i d e r t h e i n t e g r a t i o n with r e s p e c t t o 8 :

where im is e v a l u a t e d at some
-8. Assume t h a t Rm is the Wm of t h e mean
surface S. A t any v a l u e o f n

where r and to are f u n c t i o n s of n. Now equation (1) can be w r i t t e n as

W,(2~cr - Mte)dn

Assume t h a t Wm(25(r - Mte) i s constant across An. Then

AQ = Wm(2rrr - Mte)(n2 - nl)

Hence

AQ
& = Wm( 2rrr - Mte)
-
where Wm(2Kr M t e ) i s e v a l u a t e d on t h e s t r e a m l i n e a t nl, as are t h e parameters
a and b o f equation (11).

Coordinates of a new s t r e a m l i n e are o b t a i n e d by assuming ’chat a i s con-

~

s t a n t across a stream t u b e and by i n t e g r a t i n g e q u a t i o n s (B13) and (B12),

respectively, t o give

and

z2 = z1 - AI s i n a

14
 The -two normal d e r i v a t i v e s t h a t occur i n b are computed from s t r e a m l i n e -
i n p u t data f o r a l i n e a r v a r i a . t i o n wtth n assumed a t each s t a t i o n :

The numerical zethod employed t o coapdte d e r i v a t i v e s a t d i s c r e t e p o i n t s

along a s t r e a m l i n e i s a " s p l i n e curve f i t " technique -taken from t h e SI€ARE Program
f o r IBM 704 u s e r s . B r i e f l y , t h e method r e q u i r e s a s e t of p o i n t s and t h e s l o p e s
a t t h e end p o i n t s f o r which a cubic polynomia.1 i s d e f i n e d f o r each i n t e r v a l
(between a.djacent p o i n t s ) such t h a t t h e function r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e s e t of cubic
equations has continuous f i r s t d e r i v a t i v e s within t h e given range. S i n c e t h e
end-point d e r i v a t i v e s are u s u a l l y n o t known, t h e y 'coo must be computed numeri-
c a l l y by a method such as Newton's end-point formulas ( r e f . 8).

A b l o c k diagram f o r a digital-computer program i s shown i n f i g u r e 5. The

diagram i s explained by b l o c k number as follows:

(1)Read pump i n p u t d a t a :

( a ) Number of s t a t i o n s ( p o i n t s along t h e s t r e a m l i n e ) , J

( b ) N-umber of s t r e a m l i n e s , K

( e ) Rota.tive speed, cu

( d ) Flow r a t e , Q

( e ) Number of b l a d e s a t each s t a t i o n , M

( f ) P r e r o t a t i o n f o r each streamline, h

(g) I n l e t t o t a l head for each streamline, Hi

(h) Coordinates of hub f o r each sta.tion, z, r

( i )R e l a t i v e v e l o c i t y a t each s t a t i o n on hub, W

( j ) Tabular blade-shape d a t a as functions of r a-?d z, a Q / a z , a0/ar

( k ) Tabu1a.r b l a d e t h i c k n e s s as function of r and z, tn

15
 wr;i 2 out 17
i ipuL data L i r ,Y ?dine tir>n r e a c k ~ d Stop

Compute j$(-
L
aj, (BB)
m,:, eq. ( 1 8 )

\I

Compute
(%) . 3 15
J

Inseryolate for Compute

hj, eq. ( B 2 2 )
and (2).
J Hj, eq. ( B 2 8 )

Compute
Bj, eq. ( B 1 6 ) 8

t P

7
I

-
Figure 5. - B l o c k diagram f o r computer program.

16
For t h e remaining s t e p s , t h e s u b s c r i p t j r e f e r s t o s t a t i o n s along a s t r e a m l i n e
and i s i n t h e raDge j = 1, 2, . .., J.
( 2 ) Compute ( d r / d z ) from s p l i n e curve f i t , aj from equation (B8), and
mJ from

ji8j

where ml = 0

(3) Compute (da/dm) from curve f i t

(4) Obtain blade-shape d a t a , ( a e / a z ) j and (he/&) J., by i n t e r p o l a t i o n from

t h e tables ( s t e p ( l ) ( j ) )

(5) Compute from equation (9)

Pj
( 6 ) Compute (We) from equation (B18), (W,) from equation (B17), and
3 3
(dWe/dm)j from curve f i t

( 7 ) Obtain blade-thickness d a t a ( t n ) by i n t e r p o l a t i o n from t h e tables

j
( s t e p (1)( k ) ) and compute c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l t h i c k n e s s ( t e ) from
j
e q u a t i o n (10)
( 8 ) Compute Bj from e q u a t i o n (B16)

( 9 ) Compute s t a t i c head hJ from equation (B22) and t o t a l head Hj

from e q u a t i o n (B28)

S t e p s (10) and (11) are t h e b l a d e - s u r f a c e c a l c u l a t i o n s and are o p t i o n a l , s i n c e

t h e y are n o t e s s e n t i a l s t e p s i n t h e design procedure.

(10) Compute (hh)j from e q u a t i o n ( C 3 ) , (ha) from e q u a t i o n (C4), and ( h t )

3 j
from e q u a t i o n ( ~ 5 )

(11)Compute (Wa)j from e q u a t i o n (C6) and ( W t ) from e q u a t i o n (C7)

j
( 1 2 ) Write o u t d e s i r e d s t r e a m l i n e data. In working from t h e hub t o t h e
shroud, t h e f i r s t s t r e a m l i n e d a t a w i l l b e t h a t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h the hub.

17
 Q u a t i t i e s t h a t occur i n t h e c a l c u l a t i o n procedure o f p o t e n t i a l i n t e r -
est are:

(a) Streaniline c o o r d i n a t e s

( b ) R e s u l t m t and component v e l o c i t i e s

( e ) Meridional s t r e a m l i n e c u r v a t u r e

( d ) Blade-curva,ture components

( e ) Angles CL and p

( f ) S t a - t i c head and t o t a l head

(0") Blade-surface v e l o c i t i e s and s t a t i c head

( h ) Circumferential blade thickness

(13) Test whether or n o t t h e s o l u t i o n has reached t h e shroud. ( I f t h e shroud

i s the s t a r t i n 2 s t r e a m l i n e , t h e l o g i c i s s t i l l t h e same and t h e d e s i g n
is f i n i s h e d when t h e hub i s reached; however, i f some i n t e r m e d i a t e
s t r e a m l i n e i s t h e i n i t i a l one, t h e design has t o proceed from t h i s
s t r e a m l i n e t o both t h e hub and t h e shroud, and t h e l o g i c must be
changed s l i g h t l y . ) I f t h e s o l u t i o n has reached t h e shroud, go t o
s t e p ( 1 7 ) ; i f it has not, go -to s t e p ( 1 4 ) .

( 1 4 ) Compute (An)j from equa.tion (13), from equation (16),

Yrom equation (17), aj from equation ( 3 ) , and

(2) j
bj
($)
j
from equation ( 4 )

(15) Compute next s t r e a m l i n e c o o r d i n a t e s and v e l o c i t y :r from equa-

j
t i o n (14), zj from equabion (15), and Wj rrom equation (11)

(li) Return tu s t e p ( 2 )

(17) SLOP

NUMERICAL EXAMPLE AND DISCUSSION

The d i g i t a l - c o m p u t e r program as o u t l i n e d i n t h e preceding see-tion w a s
a p p l i e d t o a numerical example f o r t h e purpose of i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e u s e of t h e
method. The following i s a l i s t of t h e c o n d i t i o n s p r e s c r i b e d :

(1)Number of s t a t i o n s , 26, approximately e q u a l l y spaced with d i s t a n c e along

meridional hub contour
(2) Number of streamlines, 40

(3) Rotative speed, u), 1571 radians/sec

(4) Flow rate, Q, 48 cu ft/sec

(5) Number of blades, M, 4 at each station (no splitter vanes)

(6) Prewhirl, h, 0; inlet total head, Hi, 1304 ft

(7) Hub contour, r = r ( z ) , as in figure 6(a)

(8) Hub velocity distribution, W, shown in figure G(b) as function of m/mJ

0 .4 .E .A 1.C'
hi-l d i s t n l c e , -',f~ P e r c e n t of distance a l o n g m e r i d i o n a l s t r e a m l i n e , m/mJ

( ? ) Hub c o n t o u r . (b) Vub \,el city distrihutim.

Fi.;u-e ^. - F;ub i i i i u i Sal 3 f o r numeric11 example.

(9) Blade-shape data, &/az or a@/&, as functions of z. The quantity

&/a2 is a linear function of z from 0.000 to 0.400 as shown in the
following table :

19
 B1ade- shape
from impeller specification
inlet,
ae
I Z

~
5
0.000 -10.39374 0.0
,050 -9.09453
.150 -6.49609
-250 -3.89765
,350 -1.29922
.390 -.
25984

.395 -.12992
,400 0
.405
.410
I
.500
.600 v
(10)Constant blade thickness, tn, 0.0075 ft

Figure 7(a) shows some of the computed streamlines. from'the hub to the
shroud. Figure 7(b) shows the velocity distributions along each of these

.7

.6

e .5
h

m
c
:
ro
4
.4
d
d
m
n4
2 .3

.2

.1
.2 .3 .4 .I .6
Axial d i s t a n c e , z, ft

( a ) Computed s t r e a m l i n e s fror :.ut t o s!n-ouli. ( b ) Velocity d i s t r i b u t i o n s aloni< computed s t r e a n -

l i n e s fror: i-.aiL to s h r o n d .

?i,:ilre 7. - K e r i d i o n n l s t r e a n l i n e s and v e l o c i t j d i s t r i b u t i o n s for n u n e r i c a i exanFle.

20
s t r e a m l i n e s . F i g u r e 7 r e p r e s e n t s t h e f i r s t trial t o o b t a i n a c c e p t a b l e shroud
shape and shroud v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s p r e s c r i b e d pre-
v i ous l y.
I n o r d e r t o improve t h e shroud v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n , it was decided t o
d i s t r i b u t e t h e b l a d e c u r v a t u r e over a g r e a t e r axial d i s t a n c e , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t o
vary aQ,&z l i n e a r l y w5th 2 t.0 a v a k e of z of 0.500 i n s t e a d of 0.400. The
new b l a d e d a t a i s shown i n t h e following t a b l e :

Elade- shn-pe
specification

ae ae
aZ ar
0.000 -10.39374 0 3
.050 -9.35437
.150 -7.27562
- 250 -5.19687
.350 -3.11812
.450 -1.03937

.490 -.20786
.495 -.10394
.500 0

i
.505
.510
.550
.600

The second t r i a l shroud shape and shroud v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n are shown by

dashed l i n e s i n f i g u r e s 7 ( a ) and ( b ) , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The number of b l a d e s , hub
contour, and hub v e l o c i t y may a l s o b e changed t o improve t h e s o l u t i o n . This
p r o c e s s can t h e n b e r e p e a t e d u n t i l an acceptable shroud and shroud v e l o c i t y d i s -
t r i b u t i o n are obtained.

Although it w a s n o t done f o r t h e numerical example t h e b l a d e - s u r f a c e veloc-

i t i e s , i n an a c t u a l design, a l s o would be computed f o r each meridional stream-
l i n e , which would enable t h e d e s i g n e r t o e x e r c i s e a c e r t a i n amount of i n d i r e c t
c o n t r o l over t h e s e v e l o c i t i e s . It i s u s u a l l y not p r a c t i c a l t o e l i m i n a t e a l l
u n d e s i r a b l e q u a l i t i e s of t h e v e l o c i t i e s . For example, all b l a d e - s u r f a c e d e c e l -
e r a t i o n could n o t b e eliminated. The chief u t i l i t y of t h e blade-surface compu-
t a t i o n s i s t h a t t h e y can i n d i c a t e s e v e r e u n d e s i r a b l e g r a d i e r , t s and t h e presence
of an eddy on t h e d r i v i n g s u r f a c e . It i s u s u a l l y f a i r l y easy t o e l i m i n a t e t h e
eddy i n l a t e r t r i a l s by r a i s i n g t h e hub v e l o c i t y , changing t h e b l a d e shape, or,
more commonly, by adding s p l i t t e r vanes between b l a d e s at t h e s t a t i o n where t h e
n e g a t i v e v e l o c i t y f i r s t appears. For numerical examples of b l a d e - s u r f a c e veloc-
i t i e s computed by two approximate methods ( i n c l u d i n g t h e one p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s
r e p o r t ) and t h e i r comparison w i t h exact s o l u t i o n s see r e f e r e n c e s 5 and 6. R e f -
e r e n c e 6 g i v e s results for a pump with s p l i t t e r vanes.
 Although the approximate blade-surface computations also permit indirect
control over the blade-surface static head or pressure, they are unfortunately
of quite limited value in studying cavitation conditions, as is pointed out in
reference 5. If the time and effort were warranted, however, the method of
reference 5, applied to only one stream tube, might give sufficient information
for cavitation studies. (In ref. 5, angle of attack was not taken into account
in the approximate calculations so that the off-design case shows worse agreement
with the exact solution at the inlet than would be the case if angle of attack
were included, as suggested in this report.)

As mentioned in the Design Inputs section, the method can also proceed from
shroud to hub by making the sign of An in equation (13) negative and by pre-
scribing conditions along the shroud. Adjustment of conditions on the shroud
similar to those done to the hub can produce an acceptable hub and hub velocity
distribution. The shroud contour and velocity distribution computed as the first
trial (figs. 7(a) and (b)) were used as input to the program to illustrate start-
ing on the shroud and the computed hub and hub velocity distribution, as shown
in figures 7(a) and (b), are almost identical with the original prescribed hub
and hub velocities.

In choosing the number of stations for a solution, some care should be

exercised to avoid very small spacings especially in regions of large curvature
in order to prevent numerical difficulties that become increasingly worse as the
solution proceeds toward the shroud. The reason is that the spacing gets smaller
near the shroud and may become of the same order of magnitude as the error in the
numerical procedures, or the spacing may become negative. In either case, the
solution becomes meaningless in such a region.

A sufiicient numuer of streanbiues ;hodd be ch,;en so that the resulting

LM is s m a l l enough to make the assumption of constant a and b in equa-
tion (2) a valid one. The value of An varies with the size of the impeller
and can usually be determined in one or two trials. It is probably not worth
starting with less than 10 streamlines. Limited experience indicates that no
difficulties result froIi,having too many streamlines; however, it is a waste of
time to have more than necessary for the degree of accuracy desired. In the
numerical example presented, the results of the solution from the shroud to the
hub indicate that An was chosen s m a l l enough to make the assumption of constant
a and b satisfactory.

Lewis Research C3nter

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Cleveland, Ohio, September 19, 1962

22
 APPENDIX A

SYMBOLS

A area of stream t u b e no-rmal t,o through flow

a geometric parameter, eq. ( 3 )

F l a d e - s h a p p y z T e t e y , eq. ( --”
O ~ CI ’

b geometric parameter, eq. (4)

s l i p factor

a c c e l e r a t i o n due t o g r a v i t y

a b s o l u t e t o t a l head, h + Vz/2g
head r i s e a c r o s s pump

I Hrel r e l a t i v e t o t a l head, h + W2/2g

1 h s t a t i c head

h* s t a t i c head on s u r f a c e S

Ah hd - ht
J number of s t a - t i o n s

K number of s t r e a m l i n e s

M number of b l a d e s

m d i s t a n c e along meridional streamline

n d i s t a n c e along normal t o meridional s t r e a m l i n e

An normal d i s t a n c e between a d j a c e n t meridional s t r e a m l i n e s

Q volume flow r a t e through pump

AQ volume flow rate through annular stream t u b e

r r a d i a l d i s t a n c e from axis of r o t a t i o n

rc r a d i u s of c u r v a t u r e of meridional streamline

23
S s t r e m - s u r f a c e f u n c t i o n and s u r f a c e i t s e l f

t time

tn b l a d e t h i c k n e s s normal t o mean b l a d e s u r f a c e

blade thickness i n circumferential d i r e c t i o n

v absolute f l u i d v e l o c i t y

W f l u i d velocity relative t o rotating impeller

Z a x i a l d i s t a n c e from i m p e l l e r i n l e t

a a n g l e meridional s t r e a m l i n e makes with i m p e l l e r axis, t a n - l dr/dz

P a n g l e between s t r e a m l i n e of s u r f a c e S and i t s meridional p r o j e c t i o n ,

tan-’ r de/dm

rl hydraulic e f f i c i e n c y

0 angular d i s t a n c e from r a d i a l l i n e r o t a t i n g w i t h i m p e l l e r , r a d i a n s

ae et - Qd
A prewhirl, r i ( V e )
i
w r o t a t i v e speed of i m p e l l e r

Subscripts:

av average between hub and shroud

d d r i v i n g s u r f a c e of b l a d e

h hub

i impeller i n l e t

j index f o r sta’cions along meridional s t r e a m l i n e

m meridional component

r r a d i a l component

S shroud
L
t r a i l i n g s u r f a c e of b l a d e

24
z axial component

0 circumferential component

1 known streamline

2 adjacent unknown streamline

25
 APPENDIX 13

DERIVATION OF VELOCITY EQUATION

The o b j e c t i v e i n t h i s appendix i s t o d e r i v e a s i m p l i f i e d r e l a t i o n between

t h e known r e l a t i v e v e l o c i t y on some known s t r e a m l i n e and t h e unknown r e l a t i v e
v e l o c i t y on an a d j a c e n t streamline. Other q u a n t i t i e s involved i n t h e r e l a t i o n
are c e r t a i n p r o p e r t i e s of t h e known s t r e a d i n e and t h e i m p e l l e r b l a d e geometry.

The s t a r t i n g p o i n t i s t h e equations of motion governing t h e s t e a d y r e l a t i v e

three-dimensional incompressible nonviscous f l o w a t any p o i n t i n a turbomachine
( r e f . 4):

where Vo t: We + WT, hi s s t a t i c head i n f e e t of f l u i d and r, 0, and z are

c y l i n d r i c a l coordinates r e l a t i v e t o t h e r o t a t i n g impeller (see sketch).

7 Z

The problem can be reduced from t h r e e dimensions t o two dimensions by f i r s t

considering a r e l a t i v e stream s u r f a c e S ( f i g . 2) t h a t extends from hub t o shroud

26
about midway between blades. (This i s a s u r f a c e of t h e second kind i n t h e ter-
minology of ref. 4.) For steady r e l a t i v e flow, such a s u r f a c e i s a t h r e e -
dimensional s u r f a c e t h a t r o t a t e s with t h e impeller and i s given by a r e l a t i o n
among t h e c o o r d i n a t e s of t h e form

or s o l v i n g f o r 8

This equation i s used t o r e l a t e t h e s t a t i c head h of t h e three-dimensional

flow f i e l d w i t h t h e s t a t i c head h* on t h e s u r f a c e S. I n general,

b u t on t h e s u r f a c e S

h* = h [ r , Q ( r , z ) , z ] = h*(r,z) (B4)

s i n c e 8 on t h e s u r f a c e i s n o t an independent v a r i a b l e . The r e l a t i o n between

p a r t i a l d e r i v a t i v e s of t h e s t a t i c head i n t h e three-dimensional f i e l d w i t h t h o s e
on t h e s u r f a c e S i s given by

ah*
-=-
aZ
ah
aZ + -a-h de
he aZ J
S u b s t i t u t i o n of e q u a t i o n s (B5) i n e q u a t i o n s (Bl) y i e l d s

Equations (B6) w e seen t o be t h e same as Lorenz*s e q u a t i o n s for a x i a l l y

symmetric flow (ref. 9, p. 991) w i t h a b l a d e f o r c e (appendix B of ref. 1).
I n s t e a d of assuming axial symmetry, however, t h e e q u a t i o n s are w r i t t e n f o r flow
on a stream s u r f a c e S. And i n s t e a d of introducing t h e concept of b l a d e f o r c e
and having b l a d e - f o r c e components i n t h e equations, t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e
1ah
gradient
-?z appears i n a l l t h r e e equations.

27
 Equation (B6b) can be used t o e l i m i n a t e t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e g r a -
d i e n t from equations (B6a) and (B6c) g i v i n g

The remaining two e q u a t i o n s i n v o l v e known geometry, flow p r o p e r t i e s on t h e

s u r f a c e S, and t h e i r d e r i v a t i v e s i n t h e r- and z - d i r e c t i o n s only. The mathe-
m a t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e h e r e i s t h a t t h e problem can be considered i n t h e r-, z-
o r meridional plane. I f a t t e n t i o n i s f u r t h e r l i m i t e d t o a s t r e a m l i n e of t h e
s u r f a c e and i t s p r o j e c t i o n i n t h e m e r i d i o n a l plane, t h e n r and z a r e r e l a t e d ,
and equations (B7) can b e reduced t o one equation. The p r o j e c t i o n of a stream-
l i n e of S onto t h e m e r i d i o n a l p l a n e i s c a l l e d t h e m e r i d i o n a l s t r e a m l i n e
( f i g . 4) and t h e v e l o c i t y i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h i s s t r e a m l i n e i s c a l l e d t h e
meridional o r through-flow v e l o c i t y W., The v e l o c i t y components W, and Wz
are r e l a t e d t o each o t h e r and t o Wm by t h e a n g l e a , which i s t h e a n g l e between
t h e pump axis and a t a n g e n t t o t h e m e r i d i o n a l s t r e a m l i n e ( f i g . 3). Along t h e
streamline, r e r ( z ) , and a i s o b t a i n e d from

a = tan-1
dr

The v e l o c i t y components Wr and Wz can b e expressed i n terms of Wm and

a t o y i e l d ( f i g . 3)

Wr P Wm s i n a

Wz I Wm cos a

Differentiation yields

-
dwr = w,
at

-
dWZ
at P
cos a -da

-Wm s i n a
a t + -adw,

-
t sin a

a t cos a J
d c ~ dwm
at + -
I
The q u a n t i t y da/dt can be e l i m i n a t e d from e q u a t i o n s (B9) by making use of
t h e curvature o f t h e m e r i d i o n a l s t r e a m l i n e

dt

28
Making u s e of t h i s r e l a t i o n and combining equations (B7) and (B9) y i e l d s

(BlOa)

--w2, s i n a
dWm
+- cos a =
ah* a0 1 d r b
(Blob)
TC dt -gT-r;S;trat
The n e x t s t e p i s t o combine ah*/& and ah*/hz and reduce e q u a t i o n s (B10)
t o one equation. To t h i s end, t a k e t h e d i r e c t i o n a l d e r i v a t i v e of h* i n t h e
d i r e c t i o n normal t o t h e meridional streamline, t h a t i s , i n t h e d i r e c t i o n
a + 90°, and call t h e d i s t a n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n n. Then

But from f i g u r e 3

dz =
- cos(a. + 90') 3 -sin a
dn

dn
= sin(a + 900) t cos a

and equation ( B 1 1 ) can be w r i t t e n

dh* - g G c o s a - g ~ah*
ah* s - n a
gdn- 4)

M u l t i p l y equation ( B l O a ) by cos a and (Blob) by sin a and combine them t o

obtain

dh
V~
2 cos a 'W drV@
g - I
dn r
- -rcm + -Br- dt

where, f o r convenience, B i s d e f i n e d as

B E r '0 s i n a
aZ - r $ cos a
and where h has been w r i t t e n f o r h* s i n c e t h e r e i s no l o n g e r any need t o ais-
t i n g u i s h between them. Equation (B15) i s u s u a l l y c a l l e d t h e f o r c e equation.
The dimensions of i t s terms a r e t h o s e of a c c e l e r a t i o n or f o r c e p e r u n i t m a s s .
The l e f t s i d e i s t h e t o t a l f o r c e on a p a r t i c l e i n t h e d i r e c t i o n normal t o t h e
m e r i d i o n a l s t r e a m l i n e . The f i r s t term on t h e r i g h t i s t h e normal component of
t h e c e n t r i f u g a l f o r c e due t o r o t a t i o n about t h e axis of t h e i m p e l l e r , t h e second

29
term i s c e n t r i f u g a l f o r c e due t o c u r v a t u r e of the meridional s t r e a m l i n e , and t h e
t h i r d term i s t h e n r m a l component of t h e f o r c e due t o t h e c i r c u m P e r e n t i a l pres-
s u r e gradient. A t first, it ma;y appear t h a t t h e r e should be no component ol"
c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e g r a d i e n t i n t h e meridional plane s i n c e t h e c i r c u n f e r -
e n i i a l d i r e c l i o n i s normal t o t h e meridional plane. It must be remembered,
however, t h a t t h e meridional plane i s n o t a p h y s i c a l p l a n e i n which t h e f l o w
t a k e s place b u t i s a computational t o o l t h a t permits v i s u a l i z a t i o n of t h e through
flow. The normal component oT t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e g r a d i e n t i s t h e com-
ponent along a l i n e i n t h e f l o w s u r f a c e S of which t h e normal i s t h e m e r i d i o n a l
projection. I n g e n e r a l , i n moving along a l i n e i n t h e f l o w s u r f a c e , 8 w i l l
change s o t h a t t h e r e can b e a component of t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e g r a d i e n t
along such a l i n e . (For s t r a i g h t b l a d e s , i . e . , f o r a@z and &/ar b o t h
zero, there i s no component of t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e g r a d i e n t i n t h e
meri.dionaL plane. )

The veloci-ty components We and Wm are r e l a t e d t o each o t h e r and t o t h e

r e s u l t a n t v e l o c i t y W throuzh an a n g l e p ( f i g . 4 ) . This a n g l e i s o f t e n c a l l e d
t h e flow angle and i s a l s o t h e bla.de a n g l e when t h e stream s u r f a c e i s p a r a l l e l
-to t h e mean b l a d e surface. It i s t h e a n g l e between a s t r e a m l i n e of t h e s u r f a c e
S and i t s meridional p r o j e c t i o n . When t h e f l o w s u r f a c e i s a mean b l a d e s u r f a c e ,
B i s known.

From f i g u r e 4, i t can be seen t h a t

wm = w cos p

and

Making use of r e l a t i o n s (B16), (B17), and (BlB) (and c e r t a i n d e r i v a t i v e s

and i d e n t i t i e s ) , equation (B15) can be w r i t t e n i n a more u s e f u l form:

dh -Wz cos'p
+ (W sin p + wr)' cos cL
g z = r

Since an equation i n W only and n o t h i s d e s i r e d , a n o t h e r r e l a t i o n

between h and W i s needed. Such a r e l a t i o n can be o b t a i n e d from a dift'erent
manipulation of t h e equa.tions of motion, which i s e q u i v a l e n t t o m i - t i n 3 an energy
equation along a streamline.

30
 de
Multiply equation ( B l a ) by Wr = -
dr
dt' equation ( B l b ) by We = r dt' and

e q u a t i o n (Blc) by W, c E and add and combine terms t o o b t a i n

V2
Since W2 = V2 - 2 V e c ~ r+ d r 2 and H = h +-
2i5
where H = t o t a l head, equa-
t i o n (B21) can be w r i t t e n

where i n s t e a d of ri(Vo)
i
,A has been written, which i s commonly c a l l e d pre-

w h i r l . The p r e w h i r l i s a f u n c t i o n of t h e upstream c o n d i t i o n s and i s u s u a l l y

s p e c i f i e d f o r t h e pump designer.
Take t h e d i r e c t i o n a l derivative of h i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of n, t h a t is, t h e
d i r e c t i o n normal t o t h e meridional s t r e a m l i n e t o o b t a i n

dh W dW + -0%
- - -d-r w dh
-
- e - - - -

dn dn g dn g dn g dn

Equation (B23) can b e used t o e l i m i n a t e dh/dn from e q u a t i o n (B19) w i t h

the result that

s i n 2 0 cos a
- B cos p s i n p sin - ZW s i n p cos a
r r

31
For convenience, d e f i n e t h e q u a n t i t i e s a and b so t h a t

cos2p
a=-- s i n2 p cos a - B cos p s i n p s i n a
TC r r

and

P u t t h e s e i n t o equation (B24) t o o b t a i n t h e v e l o c i t y equation

-E -- a W - b
This equation t o g e t h e r w i t h a s u i t a b l e form of t h e c o n t i n u i t y e q u a t i o n
e n a b l e s the d e s i g n e r t o compute t h e c o o r d i n a t e s of any s t r e a m l i n e of t h e s u r f a c e
S and i t s v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n provided t h a t t h e stream s u r f a c e i s known or
p r e s c r i b e d and some s t r e a m l i n e of t h e s u r f a c e t o g e t h e r w i t h i t s v e l o c i t y d i s -
t r i b u t i o n i s known o r p r e s c r i b e d (boundary condition). Furthermore, t h e s t a t i c
head on the s u r f a c e can be computed from equation (B22). The t o t a l head H can

''
h

b e found by p u t t i n g h = H - -
2g
in equation (B22) which gives, a f t e r some manip-
ula-tion,

32
 APPENDIX c

EQUATION FOR BLADE SURFACE VELOCITY AND HEAD RISE

With f u r t h e r s i m p l i f y i n g assumptions, the approximate v e l o c i t y and head on

t h e b l a d e s u r f a c e s can be computed. The s t a t i c - h e a d d e r i v a t i v e i n t h e circum-
ferenCYial d i r e c t i o n , t h a t i s , from b l a d e t o blade, i s g i v e n by e q u a t i o n (Blb):

1 drVe
----
dWe WrWe awe We awe a w ~+-WrWe + ZWW, = - rg -ah
r dt - dt + - r + ilcuw, = Wr + + Wz r

Making use of r e l a t i o n s among v e l o c i t y components and a n g l e s , t h e previous

equation becomes

w cos p ( 2 +
r
sin p sin a t 2w sin a ) = -g ;se
ah

I f a l i n e a r v a r i a t i o n i n s t a t i c head from b l a d e to b l a d e i n t h e circumfer-

e n t i a l d i r e c t i o n ( i . e . , along a p a t h of constant z and r ) i s assumed,

1ah -Ah

where

and

where to i s t h e blade thickness i n t h e circumferential direction.

Combine equations ( C l ) and (C2) and solve f o r Ah to o b t a i n

If t h e s t a t i c head h (eq. (B22)) evaluated on t h e s u r f a c e S i s assumed

t o be t h e average between b l a d e s ,

h =
hd +

2
ht = h d - -Ah
r
2
ht + -oh
2

33
which gives

hdc h + -ab
2

and

h t = h - - Ah
2

The r e l a t i v e v e l o c i t y on t h e b l a d e s u r f a c e can b e computed by making u s e of

t h e r e l a t i v e t o t a l head, Hrel:

P u t t h i s r e l a t i o n i n e q u a t i o n (B22) t o o b t a i n

If Hi and A are n o t f u n c t i o n s of 8 , at constant r, Hrel i s constant

and

so t h a t

and

I n equation ( C 6 ) , i f WZ - g i s n e g a t i v e , wd i s imaginary; however,

wd i s i n t e r p r e t e d as being negative, which i n d i c a t e s an eddy on t h e d r i v i n g
s u r f a c e o f t h e blade. I n r e f e r e n c e 6, r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d by t h i s method were com-
pared with an e x a c t blade-to-blade s o l u t i o n o f a c a s e w i t h an eddy. The p r e s e n t
method (which i n t e r p r e t s t h e imaginary wd as n e g a t i v e ) d i d i n d i c a t e t h e eddy,
but it somewhat exaggerated t h e magnitude of t h e n e g a t i v e v e l o c i t i e s .

34
 1. Hamrick, Joseph T. , Ginsburg, Ambrose, and Osborn, Walter M. : Method of
Analysis for Compressible Flow Through Mixed-Flow Centrifugal Impellers of
Arbitrary Design. NACA Rep. 1082, 1952. (Supersedes NACA TN 2165. )

2. Smith, Kenneth J., and Hamrick, Joseph T.: A Rapid Approximate Method for
the Design of Hub Shroud Profiles Of Centrifugal Impellers of Given Blade
Shape. NACA TN 3399, 1955.

3. Osborn, Walter M., Smith, Kenneth J., and Hamrick, Joseph T.: Design and Test
of Mixed-Flow Impellers. VI11 - Comparison of E - q e r i r n e n t d g e s 7 L t s fcr
Three Impellers with Shroud Redesigned by Rapid Approximate Method. NACA
RM E56L07, 1957.
4. Wu, Chung-Hua: A General Theory of Three-Dimensional Flow in Subsonic and
Supersonic Turbomachines of Axial-, Radial-, and Mixed-Flow Types. NACA
TN 2604, 1952.
5. Kramer, James J. , Stockman, Norbert O., and Bean, Ralph 5. : Nonviscous Flow
%rough a Pump Impeller on a Blade-to-Blade Surface of Revolution. NASA
TN D-1108, 1962.
6. Kramer, James J., Stockman, Norbert O., and Bean, Ralph J. : Incompressible
Nonviscous Blade-to-Blade Flow Through a Pump Rotor with Splitter Vanes.
NASA TN D-1186, 1962.
7. Stanitz, John D., and Prian, Vasily D. : A Rapid Approximate Method for
Determining Velocity Distribution on Impeller Blades of Centrifugal Com-
pressors. NACA TN 2421, 1951.

8. Scarborough, James B.: Numerical Mathematical Analysis. The Johns Hopkins

Press, 1958.

9. Stodola, A. : Steam and Gas Turbines. Vol. 11. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.,
1927. (Reprinted, Peter Smith (New York), 1945. )

NASA-Langley, 1963 E-1.566 35