Experimental Investigation of the Overall Efficiency of a Centrifugal Blood Pump Using Glycerin Solution and Xanthan Gum Solutions as Blood Analog Fluid

Abstract

The most critical issues to consider in the design of the blood pumps are the hydraulic performance and hemocompatibility of the pump. It is important to perform hydraulic performance tests during the blood pump development process before clinical applications. Using substitute fluids instead of blood as the working fluid during the testing of blood pumps provides convenience for the tests. In this study, solid models of all components of a centrifugal blood pump were designed, and then the pump volute and impeller were manufactured. The hydraulic performance of the manufactured centrifugal blood pump is experimentally tested using an aqueous glycerin solution and xanthan gum solution as working fluids. The overall efficiency of the pump at four rotation speeds which are 2700, 3000, 3300, and 3600 rpm was determined for both fluids. Experiments were carried out in the flow rate range of 1–8 L/min. The experimental overall efficiencies of the two working fluids were compared at all rotational speeds and throughout the flow rate range. As a result of the study, there were approximately 2% differences in overall efficiency for the two working fluids at the same rotational speeds and flow rates. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.