Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Numerical simulation of transient characteristics in a bulb turbine during the load rejection process

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Hydrodynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To evaluate the safety of the bulb tubular turbine, the dynamic hydraulic characteristics of a hydropower station system during the load rejection process are studied through numerical simulations and a prototype test. In the developed model, a dynamic grid technology (DGT) controls the closure of the guide vane and the blade, whilst the moment balance equation and the user-defined function (UDF) provide the runner’s rotation speed. The 3-D transient simulation method can well predict the rotation speed and mass flow curves in the state of load rejection. The simulation outcomes of the system performance are basically consistent with the measurement data of the prototype. As observed, the runner is subjected to the reversely increased torque and axial force, the system is in a braking phase, and the maximum speed peaks at 144.6% of the rated speed. Moreover, the internal flow of the runner is greatly affected by the closure of the guide vane, and the draft tube forms an eccentric spiral vortex rope. It breaks downstream, aggravating the instability of the draft tube. Overall, the transient characteristics span for the first five seconds, demonstrating the importance of establishing an efficient governing controller. The obtained results are useful for designing the turbine’s flow channel with a double regulating function and comprehending the turbine’s transient characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhou D., Deng Z. Ultra-low-head hydroelectric technology: A review [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, 78: 23–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Elbatran A. H., Yaakob O. B., Ahmed Y. M. et al. Operation, performance and economic analysis of low head micro-hydropower turbines for rural and remote areas: A review [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 43: 40–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang Z., Zhang Y., Zheng Y. et al. Power fluctuation and wake characteristics of tidal stream turbine subjected to wave and current interaction [J]. Energy, 2023, 264: 126185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang Y., Zang W., Zheng J. et al. The influence of waves propagating with the current on the wake of a tidal stream turbine [J]. Applied Energy, 2021, 290: 116729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cao J., Luo Y., Presas A. et al. Influence of rotation on the modal characteristics of a bulb turbine unit rotor [J]. Renewable Energy, 2022, 187: 887–895.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhao Y., Feng J., Li Z. et al. Analysis of pressure fluctuation of tubular turbine under different application heads [J]. Sustainability, 2022, 14(9): 5133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yin C. C., Zeng W., Yang J. D. Transient simulation and analysis of the simultaneous load rejection process in pumped storage power stations using a 1-D-3-D coupling method [J], Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2021, 33(5): 979–991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kan K., Zheng Y., Chen H. et al. Numerical simulation of transient flow in a shaft extension tubular pump unit during runaway process caused by power failure [J], Renewable Energy, 2020, 154: 1153–1164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Yang Z., Cheng Y., Xia L. et al. Evolutions of flow patterns and pressure fluctuations in a prototype pumpturbine during the runaway transient process after pumptrip [J]. Renewable Energy, 2020, 152: 1149–1159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Li D., Fu X., Zuo Z. et al. Investigation methods for analysis of transient phenomena concerning design and operation of hydraulic-machine systems-A review [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2019, 101: 26–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Luo Y., Wang Z., Liu X. et al. Numerical prediction of pressure pulsation for a low head bidirectional tidal bulb turbine [J]. Energy, 2015, 89: 730–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen H., Zhou D., Kan K. et al. Transient characteristics during the co-closing guide vanes and runner blades of a bulb turbine in load rejection process [J]. Renewable Energy, 2021, 165: 28–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Yang Z., Liu Z., Cheng Y. et al. Differences of flow patterns and pressure pulsations in four prototype pumpturbines during runaway transient processes [J]. Energies, 2020, 13(20): 5269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Iovănel R. G., Dunca G., Bucur D. M. et al. Numerical simulation of the flow in a Kaplan turbine model during transient operation from the best efficiency point to part load [J]. Energies, 2020, 13(12): 3129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Fu X., Li D., Wang H. et al. Dynamic instability of a pump-turbine in load rejection transient process [J]. Science China Technological Sciences, 2018, 61(11): 1765–1775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang W., Pavesi G., Pei J. et al. Transient simulation on closure of wicket gates in a high-head Francis-type reversible turbine operating in pump mode [J]. Renewable Energy, 2020, 145: 1817–1830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Fu S., Zheng Y., Kan K. et al. Numerical simulation and experimental study of transient characteristics in an axial flow pump during start-up [J]. Renewable Energy, 2020, 146: 1879–1887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fu X., Li D., Wang H. et al. Influence of the clearance flow on the load rejection process in a pump-turbine [J]. Renewable Energy, 2018, 127: 310–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Mao X. L., Zheng Y., Pavesi G. et al. A new method of dynamic mesh used in continuous guide vane closure of a reversible pump-turbine in generating mode [J]. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2019, 31(5): 976–985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Han L., Wang H., Gao Y. et al. Dynamic simulation in guide vane opening process of a pump-turbine in pump mode [J]. Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, 2017, 10(5): 1441–1449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang R., An A., Wen Y. et al. Study on the influence of parallel fuzzy PID control on the regulating system of a bulb tubular turbine generator unit [J]. Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology, 2021, 16(3): 1403–1414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang Y., Zhao Y. Atypical start-up experiments on pump as turbine [J]. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 2021, 13(11): 16878140211062716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zang W., Zheng Y., Zhang Y. et al. Numerical investigation on a diffuser-augmented horizontal axis tidal stream turbine with the entropy production theory [J]. Mathematics, 2023, 11(1): 116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Walseth E. C., Nielsen T. K., Svingen B. Measuring the dynamic characteristics of a low specific speed pumpturbine model [J]. Energies, 2016, 9(3): 199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Chen H., Zhou D., Kan K. et al. Experimental investigation of a model bulb turbine under steady state and load rejection process [J]. Renewable Energy, 2021, 169: 254–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Coulaud M., Lemay J., Deschênes C. Analysis of the runner behavior during the start-up sequence in a bulb turbine model [J]. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 2019, 141(8): 081106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Feng J., Ge Z., Zhu G. et al. Runaway characteristics of a prototype bulb turbine considering upper and lower reservoirs based on lattice Boltzmann method [J]. Renewable Energy, 2023, 202: 773–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhou D., Chen H., Zhang J. et al. Numerical study on flow characteristics in a Francis turbine during load rejection [J]. Energies, 2019, 12(4): 716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Peng B., Zhang Y., Zheng Y. et al. The effects of surge motion on the dynamics and wake characteristics of a floating tidal stream turbine under free surface condition [J]. Energy Conversion and Management, 2022, 266(3): 115816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Liu Y. F., Zhou J. X., Guo Q. et al. 3-D CFD simulation of transients in multiple pump system with some pumps being stopped [J]. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2021, 33(3): 583–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Fu X. L., Li D. Y., Wang H. J. et al. Hydraulic fluctuations during the pump power-off runaway transient process of a pump turbine with consideration of cavitation effects [J]. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2021, 33(6): 1162–1175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Zhou L., Hang J., Bai L. et al. Application of entropy production theory for energy losses and other investigation in pumps and turbines: A review [J]. Applied Energy, 2022, 318: 119211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Key Technologies Research and Development Program-Intergovernmental Cooperation on International Scientific and Technological Innovation (Grant No. 2019YFE0105200).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yue Lu & Yu-quan Zhang

  2. College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yu-quan Zhang & Yuan Zheng

  3. Huadong Engineering Corporation Ltd., Hangzhou, 311122, China

    Zhong-wei He

Authors
  1. Yue Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu-quan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhong-wei He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yuan Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu-quan Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. All authors declare that there are no other competing interests.

Ethical approval: This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent: Not applicable.

Additional information

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52271275).

Biography: Yue Lu (1992-), Female, Ph. D. Candidate

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lu, Y., Zhang, Yq., He, Zw. et al. Numerical simulation of transient characteristics in a bulb turbine during the load rejection process. J Hydrodyn 36, 170–183 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42241-024-0013-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42241-024-0013-y

Key words

Search

Navigation