TY - JOUR T1 - Numerical simulation and multi-objective optimization of the centrifugal pump inducer TT - شبیه‌سازی عددی و بهینه‌سازی چند هدفی ایندیوسر پمپ گریز از مرکز JF - mdrsjrns JO - mdrsjrns VL - 18 IS - 7 UR - http://mme.modares.ac.ir/article-15-15078-en.html Y1 - 2018 SP - 205 EP - 216 KW - Inducer KW - Centrifugal pump KW - Artificial neural network KW - Multi-objective optimization N2 - Inducers are important devices which are mounted upstream of the inlet to the main impeller of the centrifugal pump to achieve higher suction performance and rotate with the same speed as the impeller. Inducers improve the hydraulic performance and lifespan of the pump through increasing the inlet pressure, but the quantity of the improvement is dependent on the geometrical parameters of the inducer. Therefore, the optimization of these parameters is crucial. In the present study, the performance of an inducer is optimized by considering the inlet tip blade angle, the outlet tip blade angle and the ratio of the outlet hub radius to inlet hub radius as design variables and the head coefficient, the hydraulic efficiency and the required net positive suction head as objective functions. The inducer performance is simulated using 3-D computational fluid dynamics and compared with experimental data which shows the validity of the used method and assumptions. The artificial neural network is used to relate between design variables and objective functions. Then, the Pareto fronts are plotted using the modified non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II and the proposed optimum points are presented using nearest point to the ideal point method. Using multi objective optimization, the head coefficient, the hydraulic efficiency and the net positive suction head are improved 14.3%, 0.3% and 30.2%, respectively. Recommended design points unveil important optimal design principles that would not have been obtained without the use of a multi objective optimization approach. M3 ER -