A wireless method for measuring blade surface pressure and an experimental study on pressure fluctuations in a centrifugal pump

Bingfu HAN, Lei TAN

Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2026, Vol. 66 ›› Issue (8) : 1556-1563.

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Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2026, Vol. 66 ›› Issue (8) : 1556-1563. DOI: 10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2026.27.031
Hydraulic Engineering

A wireless method for measuring blade surface pressure and an experimental study on pressure fluctuations in a centrifugal pump

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Abstract

Objective: The unsteady flow within a centrifugal pump, particularly the pressure distribution on rotating impeller blades, is fundamental to its performance and stability. Direct, high-fidelity measurement of this pressure field remains a significant technical challenge due to the complexity of transmitting data from a high-speed rotating frame. In response, this study develops and validates a novel wireless measurement system designed to acquire dynamic pressure data directly from rotating pump blades. The objective is to use this system to conduct a detailed experimental investigation of the spatiotemporal characteristics of blade surface pressure under various operating conditions. This approach provides crucial data for validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, optimizing hydraulic design, and understanding the root causes of pump vibration and noise. Methods: The study was conducted on a centrifugal pump with a design flow rate (Qd) of 18 m3/h, a rotational speed of 1 450 rpm, and an eight-blade impeller. A wireless measurement system was custom-designed, integrating four miniature pressure sensors (0–200 kPa range, 0.5% accuracy) flush-mounted on the blade surface to minimize flow disturbance. A specially machined main shaft with internal grooves routed the sensor wires to a compact shaft-mounted module containing signal amplifiers, a multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) card, and a Wi-Fi transmitter. The DAQ system synchronously sampled data from all four channels at 1 024 Hz. Measurement points were located on the pressure side at 30% (PA) and 70% (PB) of the chord length, with corresponding locations on the suction side (SA and SB). Experiments were conducted over a range of flow rates, and nonstationary signal processing techniques, including time-domain analysis and Fast Fourier Transform, were applied. Results: The experiments provided detailed insights into time-averaged and unsteady pressure characteristics. Time-averaged results confirmed that on both the pressure and suction sides, the pressure at the trailing edge was higher than that at the leading edge. The pressure difference between the pressure and suction sides increased linearly with flow rate. Notably, the leading edge exhibited greater sensitivity to flow rate variations compared with the trailing edge, indicating that improvements in inlet flow conditions more significantly impact the loading at the blade front. The dynamic pressure signals showed strong periodicity driven by rotor–stator interaction (RSI) with the volute tongue. Frequency-domain analysis revealed that the dominant pulsation frequency at all locations was the shaft rotation frequency (Fi≈24.17 Hz), followed by the blade passing frequency (Fb≈193.36 Hz) and the third harmonic of the shaft rotation (≈72.5 Hz). The amplitude of the dominant frequency varied non-monotonically with flow rate, decreasing initially, then increasing, and finally decreasing again. Furthermore, the dimensionless peak-to-peak value (97% confidence level) exhibited a monotonic trend with increasing flow rate. Conclusions: A stable and reliable wireless measurement system for acquiring dynamic surface pressure on a rotating centrifugal pump impeller was successfully developed and validated. The system enables multi-point, synchronized, high-fidelity data acquisition, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods. The results offer direct quantitative insights into the effects of RSI and flow rate on blade loading and pressure pulsation, providing a valuable experimental database for CFD validation and a key foundation for the design of high-performance centrifugal pumps.

Key words

centrifugal pump / rotating impeller / blade surface / pressure / wireless measurement / pressure fluctuation

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Bingfu HAN , Lei TAN. A wireless method for measuring blade surface pressure and an experimental study on pressure fluctuations in a centrifugal pump[J]. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology). 2026, 66(8): 1556-1563 https://doi.org/10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2026.27.031

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