Performance Enhancement of the Fluidyne Pump

In this work, an analysis of the governing equations of the Fluidyne pump has been carried out to identify the design and operating parameters, which affect the performance of the Fluidyne pump, such that the pump performance can be enhanced through the optimum tune up of these parameters. The impact of these parameters has been evaluated through two performance indicators including the non-dimensional pump flow rate and efficiency. The results showed that the three main controlling parameters are; gas to liquid volume ratio, the input energy intensity and the pumping pressure to displacer length ratio (Po / ρw *g*Ld ). It has been found that as Vg/Vl is higher, the efficiency of the Fluidyne pump improves. Yet this is limited by the difference (2 PoTi /ρw*g*Ld) -(Vg / Vw), which should not be negative. Maximum flow rate and efficiency can be achieved as the difference between (2 PoTi /ρw*g*Ld) -(Vg / Vw) becomes minimum. Also, both efficiency and non-dimensional flow rate improve as the heat added per unit of the working gas volume is higher. Furthermore, it improves the pump startup time due to the onset time for oscillation becomes less. These results are verified experimentally using an experimental model of the Fluidyne pump, which is equipped with the necessary measuring instruments, where the test parameters can be changed independently to evaluate their impact. Good convergence between the computational results and the experimental measurements has been found.