Abstract
Displacement type pumps are often applied for micro-chemical plants, while the inherent pulsation natures of these pumps are undesirable to obtain efficient and continuous chemical reaction. We have proposed a multiple-disc pump as an alternative pump and have shown its effectiveness with much less pressure pulsations. In the present study, the effects of the shroud gap between the front disc and the casing on hydraulic performances and pulsation characteristics are investigated. It is found that pressure performance is not affected by the shroud gap, whereas there seems to be an optimal gap for the torque performance. Furthermore, the required torque with the smaller gaps significantly increases near the shut off condition, which is caused by partial collision of the front disc to the casing wall due to the insufficient stiffness of the front disc. The pressure pulsation with rotational frequency is also increased in this flow regime.
