This paper analyzes the clogging behavior of a vortex pump with different impeller designs. The influence of blade outlet angle, blade number, and impeller diameter were tested. Non-woven textiles in different concentrations served as the clogging material. The results suggest that a smaller outlet blade angle, a higher blade number, and a larger impeller diameter allow pumping more textiles. Impellers that were capable of pumping more textiles, however, were less efficient. Overall, pumping textiles causes efficiency losses. However, this could not be only related to increased power consumption. Flow rates under clogging operation were close to the flow rates under clear water operation irrespective of the amount of clogging material and the impellers design. Further, in all tests clogging material accumulated at the suction mouth in the casing.
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