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Analysis of the pump-turbine S characteristics using the detached eddy simulation method

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Abstract

Current research on pump-turbine units is focused on the unstable operation at off-design conditions, with the characteristic curves in generating mode being S-shaped. Unlike in the traditional water turbines, pump-turbine operation along the S-shaped curve can lead to difficulties during load rejection with unusual increases in the water pressure, which leads to machine vibrations. This paper describes both model tests and numerical simulations. A reduced scale model of a low specific speed pump-turbine was used for the performance tests, with comparisons to computational fluid dynamics(CFD) results. Predictions using the detached eddy simulation(DES) turbulence model, which is a combined Reynolds averaged Naviers-Stokes(RANS) and large eddy simulation(LES) model, are compared with the two-equation turbulence mode results. The external characteristics as well as the internal flow are for various guide vane openings to understand the unsteady flow along the so called S characteristics of a pump-turbine. Comparison of the experimental data with the CFD results for various conditions and times shows that DES model gives better agreement with experimental data than the two-equation turbulence model. For low flow conditions, the centrifugal forces and the large incident angle create large vortices between the guide vanes and the runner inlet in the runner passage, which is the main factor leading to the S-shaped characteristics. The turbulence model used here gives more accurate simulations of the internal flow characteristics of the pump-turbine and a more detailed force analysis which shows the mechanisms controlling of the S characteristics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Hui Sun, Ruofu Xiao & Fujun Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering & Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yexiang Xiao

  3. Dongfang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd, Deyang, 618000, China

    Weichao Liu

Authors
  1. Hui Sun
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  2. Ruofu Xiao
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  3. Fujun Wang
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  4. Yexiang Xiao
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  5. Weichao Liu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruofu Xiao.

Additional information

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51139007), and State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering Open Foundation of China (Grant No. 2014-KY-05)

SUN Hui, born in 1988, is currently a master candidate at College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, China.

XIAO Ruofu, born in 1976, is currently an associate professor and a PhD candidate supervisor at College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, China. He received his PhD degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2004. His research interests include hydraulic machinery and Fluid-structure interaction.

WANG Fujun, born in 1964, is currently a professor and a PhD candidate supervisor at College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, China.

XIAO Yexiang, born in 1978, is currently an associate professor at State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering & Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, China.

LIU Weichao, born in 1973, is currently an engineer at Dongfang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd, China.

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Sun, H., Xiao, R., Wang, F. et al. Analysis of the pump-turbine S characteristics using the detached eddy simulation method. Chin. J. Mech. Eng. 28, 115–122 (2015). https://doi.org/10.3901/CJME.2014.1021.159

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3901/CJME.2014.1021.159

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