ABSTRACT To address the severe performance degradation (head reduction ≤43%) and shortened service life of centrifugal pumps caused by high-concentration fine-sand water in Southern Xinjiang irrigation districts, this study establishes a multiphase flow-wear coupling analysis framework. Using experimentally validated realizable k-ε modeling, we investigate flow patterns and wear mechanisms under both clear and sediment-laden conditions (15%/16.5% concentration, 0.06–0.40 mm particles). Under clear water, 0.95Q ensures optimal pressure-streamline synergy, whereas 0.75Q induces vortex breakdown with TKE surges, and 1.15Q accelerates efficiency decay. At 15% sediment concentration, 0.15–0.25 mm particles achieve hydraulic compatibility. Increasing to 16.5%, fine sand (0.1 mm) triggers nested ‘vortex-in-vortex’ structures, while 0.15 mm particles exhibit a 25% steeper concentration gradient. Coarse sand (0.40 mm) forms settling nuclei in the impeller. The impeller outlet shows maximal wear, validated experimentally. This study offers theoretical and technical support for pump operation in sediment-laden flows.
Gao et al. (Wed,) studied this question.