Time-resolved particle imaging velocimetry for the investigation of rotating stall in a radial pump

The operating range of turbomachines is limited in terms of the low flow rate by instabilities appearing in flow-leading parts of the machinery resulting in the creation of vortices. If the flow is further throttled, stall cells can start to propagate in the impeller at a fraction of the rotor speed. This article presents an investigation of rotating stall at different flow rates in a radial pump using time-resolved particle imaging velocimetry (PIV). This technique was used to investigate the flow field at the same position in every channel of the impeller during several revolutions. Frequency analysis was applied to the measured velocities to calculate the angular speed of the rotating stall in the impeller. The interest of time-resolved PIV to understand rotating stall is demonstrated, as it allows measurement of transient, irregularly appearing flow fields.