Computation of Unsteady 3D Flow and Torque Transmission in Hydrodynamic Couplings PUBLIC ACCESS

For the optimized design of hydrodynamic or fluid couplings an adequate understanding of the flow field in such devices is necessary. In a hydrodynamic coupling, torque is transmitted by fluid circulation due to a speed differential between the rotating pump impeller and a matching turbine runner. Detailed studies of the unsteady 3D flow and torque transmission in fluid couplings are reported here. A finite-volume method with non-staggered variable arrangement is used to solve the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations on boundary-fitted grids and for a rotating frame of reference. The results give further insights into the physical process of torque transmission and allow important conclusions for the design of hydrodynamic couplings.