The present study is aimed at developing a computational procedure for design and performance prediction of an axial-flow pump. The proposed performance prediction method is tested against a model axial-flow pump and an optimum configuration of axial-flow pump that will deliver water at a rate $0.133m^3/s$ with a head 2.1 $m$ if the proposed pump are obtained by using the streamline curvature method.
The preliminary design is made by using the ideal velocity triangles at inlet and exit and the three dimensional blade shape is calculated by employing the free vortex design method. Then the detailed blading design is carried out by using experimental database of double circular arc cambered hydrofoils. To computationally determine the design incidience, deviation, blade camber, solidity and stagger angle, a number of correlation equations are developed form the experimental database and a theorical formula for the lift coefficient is adopted. A total of 8 equations are solved iteratively using an under-relaxation factor.
An experimental measurement is conducted under a non-cavitating condition to obtain the off-design performance curve and also a cavitation test is carried out by reducing the suction pressure. The experimental results are very satisfactorily compared with the predictions by the streamline curvature method.
