OpenFOAM centrifugal-pump simulation
An OpenFOAM-only rotating-flow study for estimating centrifugal-pump head, hydraulic efficiency, torque, and internal flow across operating points.
Software compatibility
Cases are prepared for the OpenCFD OpenFOAM v2606 distribution. No ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL, STAR-CCM+, or OpenFOAM Foundation v14 files are included.
Project definition
Problem statement
Pump head and internal losses vary with flow rate, impeller speed, blade geometry, volute interaction, mesh, and rotating-interface treatment.
Project objectives
- Prepare a selected centrifugal-pump fluid domain and rotating region.
- Calculate head, torque, hydraulic-power and efficiency proxies across operating points.
- Inspect recirculation, separation, pressure loading, and velocity distribution.
- Perform mesh and interface-sensitivity checks.
- Compare the simulated curve with permitted experimental or published reference data.
System design
System modules
Rotating geometry
Defines inlet, impeller, rotating zone, volute, outlet, clearances, and interfaces.
MRF cases
Configures steady rotating-frame flow, turbulence, speed, flow-rate, and convergence controls.
Operating-point runner
Creates controlled cases across the selected flow and speed range.
Performance analyser
Calculates pressure head, torque, hydraulic power, efficiency proxy, and internal losses.
Verification
Checks mesh, balances, force stability, and curve agreement with reference data.
Methodology
System workflow
- 01Prepare baseline
Geometry, mesh, fluid, speed, and design flow are fixed.
- 02Run design point
The MRF case converges and head, torque, and flow structures are reviewed.
- 03Build curve
Several flow rates run with identical solver and evaluation settings.
- 04Check mesh
Key results are compared across refinement levels and interface choices.
- 05Validate
The predicted pump curve and flow features are compared with reference evidence.
Demonstration scenario
The pump runs below, near, and above its design flow. The generated curve shows head reduction and changing hydraulic efficiency. Pressure and velocity fields explain one off-design loss, and mesh sensitivity is included before comparison with reference measurements.
Engineering
Technical architecture
- Case format
- Native OpenCFD OpenFOAM v2606 MRF cases, meshes, rotating zones, and function objects.
- Flow model
- Single-phase incompressible turbulent flow with a steady multiple-reference-frame approximation.
- Mesh
- Rotating and stationary refinement with blade, volute, interface, and wall-quality checks.
- Analysis
- Python performance-curve scripts and ParaView states for pressure and velocity inspection.
Testing
Evaluation
Evaluation measures
- Mass conservation and force and torque stability
- Head and torque agreement with reference values
- Hydraulic-efficiency trend across flow rates
- Mesh, wall-treatment, and interface sensitivity
- Internal recirculation and separation interpretation
- Runtime and convergence across operating points
System boundaries
- Only OpenCFD OpenFOAM v2606 cases are delivered.
- The first scope uses steady MRF and single-phase flow.
- Cavitation, fluid-structure interaction, vibration, seal leakage, and full transient rotor-stator interaction are excluded.
- The result is not a certified pump selection or mechanical design.
Included
- 01Pump fluid-domain geometry and mesh workflow
- 02OpenFOAM rotating-frame case files
- 03Head, torque, efficiency, and operating-curve scripts
- 04Prepared meshes, flow-rate cases, and results
- 05Complete source code in a private GitHub repository
- 06Complete project documentation with synopsis, abstract, methodology, turbomachinery diagrams, mesh study, results, screenshots, and conclusion
- 07Setup and usage guide
Project record
No buyer information is collected on this page.
- Permanent project ID
- GP-ME-1HLIT7C
- Catalogued
- 22 Aug 2026
- Completed
- Pending
- Verified
- Pending
- Demonstration
- Added when ready
Handover
After purchase
- 01Payment is confirmed
The project is marked unavailable and cannot be purchased again.
- 02Repository access is granted
The buyer's submitted GitHub account receives access to the private repository.
- 03The purchase record is delivered
The certification sheet is prepared from the reviewed buyer details and sent privately by email.