Internal flow analysis of a shaft-less double-suction blood pump

Based on the concept of double-suction impeller combined with motor rotor, a novel shaft-less blood pump has been designed. In order to investigate the hydraulic performance and the biocompatibility of the pump, the unsteady numerical simulation for three dimensional flows in entire pump passage near the design condition is conducted. In the calculations, the pulsatile flow of a natural artery is used as the boundary condition at pump inlet so as to observe the flow characteristics such as the velocity, pressure and wall shear stress in flow passage, and the effect on the operating stability of the pump. Based on the results of numerical simulation, the internal flow will be further discussed. © 2015, Science Press. All right reserved.