Visualization in water jet pump throat under limiting flow condition

Abstract

The effects of varying suction and delivery pressures on the so-called limiting flow condition in a water jet pump have been experimentally investigated. Reducing the delivery pressure may lead to this limiting flow condition, in which the secondary flow will no longer respond to any further reduction in the delivery pressure, accompanied by a drastic drop in the pump efficiency. The measurement results show that the limiting flow condition will not occur when the jet pump suction pressure is reduced, but it will occur earlier at lower suction pressure when the delivery pressure is reduced. However, the jet pump operation was observed to remain stable under this limiting flow condition. Flow visualizations in the jet pump mixing throat revealed that cavitation bubbles were formed well before this condition. Copyright © 1998 by Begell House, Inc.