A Computational Fluid Dynamic Model of Archimedes Screw Pumps

The Archimedes screw pump (ASP) has been used since antiquity (circa 700 BCE) for high volume, low head pumping applications. There are not many screw pumps installed in Canada; they are much more common in Europe. However, there is significant potential for ASP use in Canada since they can safely transport food-grade liquids, biohazardous materials, granular solids, liquids containing suspended solids, and live fish. Screw pumps are an empirical technology; there is little engineering design guidance or research in the literature, making application-specific ASP design difficult. There is an opportunity to significantly improve the efficiency and performance of screw pumps by developing engineering design tools. The University of Guelph’s research team has built a successful, comprehensive design tool for Archimedes screw generators, and plan to work together to develop a new, first-of-kind model for screw pumps. Mr. Simmons’ deep experience with the related Archimedes screw generator research, coupled with the unique features of the ICUBE laboratory (personnel, computing cluster, hydraulics lab, proximity to field sites) will be able to expedite the development of the proposed model.

Faculty Supervisor:

William David Lubitz

Student:

Partner:

Université de Strasbourg

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Guelph

Program: