Test bench flow straightener design investigation and optimization with computational fluid dynamics methods

The article contains the application of computational fluid dynamics methods to optimization of flow straightener, which is a part of test bench for centrifugal pumps manufactured with additive technologies. Problems faced during testing of large-scale prototypes are shown, e.g. unsteady cavitation processes occurring in case there is no straightener, the ways to solve such problems are suggested. The design of the optimized flow straightener is described, and its effectiveness is proved by calculations carried in STAR-CCM+ software. (paper)