Paper Title
Optimization of Process Parameter Influencing on Discharge of External Gear Pump Using CFD

Abstract
Centrifugal pumps are among the most important turbomachinery used in industries as well as in domestic applications. The most crucial step in the working of this pump is to optimize the reverse flow of the fluid sucked in by the pump. In order to reduce reverse flow, selection of pump inlet diameter, suction to discharge ratio of diameter, and velocity with which water enters pump are extremely vital parameters. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Taguchi Techniques could be coupled to find out the optimum discharge parameters of the external gear pump. The Taguchi method is employed in order to figure out the optimal process parameters for reverse flow in external gear pumps. Three process parameters - inlet diameter of the external gear pump, suction to discharge ratio of diameters, and velocity with which fluid enters pump, are used for the analysis. The response variables considered are mass flow rate and discharge velocity. Based on SN ratio analysis, the optimal discharge parameters are 18mm as inlet diameter, 1.5 as suction to discharge ratio and 15ft/sec as inlet velocity. From the ANOVA results, it can be found that inlet velocity is the most significant parameter for affecting Mass flow ratio and discharge velocity. Keywords - External Gear Pump, Taguchi, ANOVA, CFD.