Experimental and numerical characterization of the under-vane pressure in balanced vane pumps

Vane motion is a critical aspect of balanced vane pumps as related to efficiency, durability, and noise-vibrationharshness performance. Assessing the behavior of the under-vane pockets in those machines is relevant since the related pressure forces are recognized as important contributors to vane dynamics. Within this context, this work addresses a numerical-experimental approach for the under-vane pressure characterization of balanced vane pumps. The methodology is numerically based on transient three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics models that simulate the fluid domains of the entire machine, under-vane pockets included. The experimental approach for under-vane monitoring is based on a remote pressure transducer linked to an under-vane pocket through an auxiliary conduit. The methodology is applied to an automotive machine, and a virtual-experimental campaign concerning dedicated samples is presented for pump characterization and model validation. The numerical results reveal a notable agreement with experiments, showing the suitability of the proposed modeling approach for under-vane pressure prediction. Special attention is devoted to the limitations of the described experimental method due to the frequency response behavior of the auxiliary conduit as underlined by the numerical results. The latter topic is further investigated through acoustic Finite Element Method and Helmholtz resonator lumped parameter models.