Design and hydraulic performance determination of a centrifugal blood pump with hydrodynamic journal bearing

In recent years, heart failure is one of the diseases that affect human health negatively. Heart failure is a condition that the heart cannot pump the required blood to the tissues and organs as a result of decrease in heart performance. Heart support devices including blood pumps are used for the heart to pump enough blood. Blood pumps can be placed in vivo as well as in vitro to support heart performance. In this study; the parameters required for the design of the blood pump were determined as 5 L/min volumetric flow rate, 3000 rpm rotation speed and 100 mmHg head pressure. Solid models of all components a centrifugal blood pump with hydrodynamic journal bearing were designed and preliminary analyzed with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The prototype of the semi-open impeller monoblock blood pump was produced Hydrodynamic journal bearing technique is preferred as the bearing element of the pump. In the experimental setup using two different testing fluid, aqueous glycerin solution (by volüme 40% glycerin and 60% water) was used for Newtonian fluid and aqueous Xanthan gum solution (by mass 600 ppm Xanthan gum) was used for non-Newtonian fluid. The hydraulic performances of the pump at four rotational speeds for both fluids were determined. In the design flow rate, CFD results were compared with experimental results. According to the data, it was observed that results are in a good compatible. In the design parameter; Experimental hydraulic efficiency were determined 35.8% for Newtonian fluid and 34.4% for non-Newtonian fluid.