DIMENSIONLESS PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR REVERSE-FLOW DIVERTERS DURING REVERSE-FLOW MODE

Pneumatic pulse jet pumps are air-powered, low-maintenance devices useful for delivering hazardous liquids. A key component in these pumps is the reverse-flow diverter (RFD), consisting of a nozzle and a diffuser. Despite several decades of practical application, no clear guidelines exist for RFD design during the reverse-flow portion of the pumping cycle. We experimentally investigated the effects of diffuser entrance/nozzle exit area ratio, suction gap length, and diffuser divergence angle on RFD flow and pressure. The results were used to derive two dimensionless performance coefficients (ξM = 0.50ϕ0.38 and q = A + B · exp[-Euout/(C · Eu0)] + D · exp[-Euout/(E · Eu0)]) and to develop a series of design guidelines for RFDs in reverse-flow mode.