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Transient simulation of a pump-turbine with misaligned guide vanes during turbine model start-up

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Abstract

Experimental studies of a model pump-turbine S-curve characteristics and its improvement by misaligned guide vanes (MGV) were extended to prototype pump turbine through 3-D transient flow simulations. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with the SST turbulence model were used to model the transient flow within the entire flow passage of a reversible pump-turbine with and without misaligned guide vanes during turbine model start-up. The unstable S-curve and its improvement by using misaligned guide vane were verified by model test and simulation. The transient flow calculations were used to clarify the variations of pressure pulse and internal flow behavior in the entire flow passage. The use of misaligned guide vanes can eliminate the S-curve characteristics of a pump-turbine, and can significantly increase the pressure pulse amplitude in the entire flow passage and the runner radial forces during start-up. The MGV only decreased the pulse amplitude on the guide vane suction side when the rotating speed was less than 50% rated speed. The hydraulic reason is that the MGV dramatically changed the flow patterns inside the entire flow passage, and destroyed the symmetry of the flow distribution inside the guide vane and runner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering & Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China

    Ye-Xiang Xiao

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

    Ruo-Fu Xiao

Authors
  1. Ye-Xiang Xiao
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  2. Ruo-Fu Xiao
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Correspondence to Ruo-Fu Xiao.

Additional information

The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51009077) and State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering (2014-KY-05).

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Xiao, YX., Xiao, RF. Transient simulation of a pump-turbine with misaligned guide vanes during turbine model start-up. Acta Mech Sin 30, 646–655 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-014-0061-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-014-0061-6

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