S H Liu

Runaway transient simulation of a model Kaplan turbine

The runaway transient is a typical transient process of a hydro power unit, where the rotational speed of a turbine runner rapidly increases up to the runaway speed under a working head as the guide vanes cannot be closed due to some reason at the load rejection. In the present paper, the characteristics of the runaway transient of a model Kaplan turbine having ns = 479(m-kW) is simulated by using a time-dependent CFD technique where equation of rotational motion of runner, continuity equation and unsteady RANS equations with RNG k- turbulence model are solved iteratively. In the calculation, unstructured mesh is used to the whole flow passage, which consists of several sub-domains: entrance, casing, stay vanes + guide vanes, guide section, runner and draft tube. And variable speed sliding mesh technique is used to exchange interface flow information between moving part and stationary part, and three-dimensional unstructured dynamic mesh technique is also adopted to ensure mesh quality. Two cases were treated in the simulation of runaway transient characteristics after load rejection: one is the rated operating condition as the initial condition, and the other is the condition at the maximum head. Regarding the runaway speed, the experimental speed is 1.45 times the initial speed and the calculation is 1.47 times the initial for the former case. In the latter case, the experiment and the calculation are 1.67 times and 1.69 times respectively. From these results, it is recognized that satisfactorily prediction will be possible by using the present numerical method. Further, numerical results show that the swirl in the draft-tube flow becomes stronger in the latter part of the transient process so that a vortex rope will occur in the draft tube and its precession will cause the pressure fluctuations which sometimes affect the stability of hydro power system considerably.

Study of unsteady cavitation flow of a pump-turbine at pump mode

Three dimensional, unsteady, cavitating flows in a pump-turbine at pump mode were numerically studied using SST k-ω turbulence model and the mixture model. The unsteady cavitating flow and pressure fluctuations at different positions were analysed with two openings of guide vanes. Calculation results are in good agreement with experimental data. Results show that the opening of guide vanes has great effect on the cavitation phenomenon. The cavitating region gradually decreases with the increase of the relative opening, and it locates at the inlet of the suction side. The amplitude of the pressure fluctuation reduces as the cavitating region decreases. The numerical study of unsteady cavitating flow can provide a basic understanding for the improvement of stable operation of a pump-turbine.

Numerical study of pressure fluctuations in different guide vanes' opening angle in pump mode of a pump turbine

A numerical model based on a pumped storage power station was built to develop the numerical simulation, to analyze the pressure fluctuations in a pump turbine in different guide vanes opening angle. The different guide vanes opening angles were simulated using the SST k-ω turbulence model and SIMPLEC Pressure-Velocity coupling scheme. The pressure sensor were placed in mainly three positions, they are: bottom ring between runner and the wicket gates, downstream and left side in the draft tube cone below the runner. All the peak to peak values of pressure fluctuation meet signal probability of 97%. The frequency is gained by Fast Fourier Transform. The pressure fluctuations in different positions of the model in pump condition were showed when the guide vanes opening angels were different. The simulation results confirmed the results gained in model tests. The results show that pressure fluctuations in design opening angle were much lower than those in off design opening angle. The main source of pressure fluctuations between runner and guide vanes is rotor stator interaction. While a lower frequency is the main frequency of the pressure fluctuation in draft tube.

Numerical simulation of the influence of distributor pitch diameter on performance and pressure fluctuations in a pump-turbine

In order to analyse the influence of distributor pitch diameter on performance and pressure fluctuations in a pump turbine, a numerical model based on a pumped storage power station was built to develop the numerical simulation. Steady and unsteady flows were simulated using the SST k-ω turbulence model and SIMPLEC Pressure-Velocity coupling scheme. The performance, inner flow and pressure fluctuations between runner blades and guide vanes of both turbine and pump mode was contrasted in different distributor pitch diameters. The result shows there was a maximum total efficiency in a given distributor pitch diameter instead of the design diameter. Amplitudes and frequencies of pressure fluctuations on this diameter and design diameter were analysed, minor differences were observed. This position can be considered to help improving the flow of the pump turbine.

Numerical simulation of cavitating turbulent flow through a Francis turbine

The unsteady cavitating turbulent flow in a Francis turbine is simulated based on governing equations of the mixture model for cavity-liquid two-phase flows with the RNG k- turbulence model in the present paper. An improved mass transfer expression in the mixture model is obtained based on evaporation and condensation mechanics with considering the effects of the non-dissolved gas, the turbulence, the tension of interface at cavity and the effect of phase change rate and so on. The governing equations of the mixture model for the unsteady cavitating-liquid flow is solved by a direct coupling method numerically with the finite volume method (FVM) using the unstructured tetrahedron grid and the structured hexahedral grid system. This direct coupling simulation was successfully applied to simulate the cavitating two-phase turbulent flow through a Francis turbine. The simulated external results agreed well with the experimental results.

A new nonlinear turbulence model based on Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations

Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) Model was recognized as a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) to direct numerical simulation (DNS) bridging method. PANS model was purported for any filter width-from RANS to DNS. PANS method also shared some similarities with the currently popular URANS (unsteady RANS) method. In this paper, a new PANS model was proposed, which was based on RNG k-e turbulence model. The Standard and RNG k-e turbulence model were both isotropic models, as well as PANS models. The sheer stress in those PANS models was solved by linear equation. The linear hypothesis was not accurate in the simulation of complex flow, such as stall phenomenon. The sheer stress here was solved by nonlinear method proposed by Ehrhard. Then, the nonlinear PANS model was set up. The pressure coefficient of the suction side of the NACA0015 hydrofoil was predicted. The result of pressure coefficient agrees well with experimental result, which proves that the nonlinear PANS model can capture the high pressure gradient flow. A low specific centrifugal pump was used to verify the capacity of the nonlinear PANS model. The comparison between the simulation results of the centrifugal pump and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) results proves that the nonlinear PANS model can be used in the prediction of complex flow field.

Pressure fluctuation prediction of a model pump turbine at no load opening by a nonlinear k-ε turbulence model

In this paper, a new nonlinear k-e turbulence model based on RNG k-e turbulence model and Wilcoxs k-ω turbulence model was proposed to simulate the unsteady flow and to predict the pressure fluctuation through a model pump turbine for engineering application. Calculations on a curved rectangular duct proved that the nonlinear k-e turbulence model is applicable for high pressure gradient flows and large curvature flows. The numerically predicted relative pressure amplitude (peak to peak) in time domain to the pump turbine head at no load condition is very close to the experimental data. It is indicated that the prediction of the pressure fluctuation is valid by the present nonlinear k-e method. The high pressure fluctuation in this area is the main issue for pump turbine design, especially at high head condition.

Numerical study of pressure fluctuations transfer law in different flow rate of turbine mode in a prototype pump turbine

Numerical simulation using SST k-w turbulence model was carried out, to predict pressure fluctuation transfer law in turbine mode. Three operating points with different mass flow rates are simulated. The results of numerical simulation show that, the amplitude and frequency of pressure fluctuations in different positions are very different. The transfer law of amplitude and frequency of pressure fluctuations change with different position and different mass flow rate. Blade passing frequency (BPF) is the first dominant frequency in vaneless space, while component in this frequency got smaller in the upstream and downstream of vaneless space when the mass flow is set. Furthermore triple blade passing frequency (3BPF) component obtained a different transfer law through the whole flow passage. The amplitude and frequency of pressure fluctuations is also different in different circumference position of vaneless space. When the mass flow is different, the distribution of pressure fluctuations in circumference is different. The frequency component of pressure fluctuations in all the positions is different too.

Numerical simulation on casing modification of a boiler water circulation pump

In this paper, hydraulic performance comparisons are made by numerical simulation method on boiler water circulation pump with casings of different shapes. The existing pump adopts a semispherical casing and a garlic-shaped casing. Results show that in the garlic-shaped casing noticeable swirling vortex can be found in the top region of the discharge nozzle, and semispherical casing has better performance in hydraulic efficiency and head.

Measurement and Analysis on the Velocity Field of Tubular Pump Unit Flow Passage

Being required to have the functions of both pumping and drainage, some pumping stations are suggested to adopt two-way standard tube tubular pump unit, which also meets the needs of low heads and large discharge condition. In the paper, the velocity field of flow passage among the passage of tubular pump unit is measured by micro 5-hole probes system, in order to provide experimental evidences for improving the pump unit performance further. Experimental results show that axial velocity become larger from the wall to the center of inlet passage; however, axial velocity in the outlet passage center is less than that near the wall. At the same time, the uniformity of axial velocity in the outlet passage also turns badly. It is also found that transverse velocity of inlet passage is small and it becomes larger in the outlet passage because of the outlet circulation. The axial velocity of curved pipe becomes less from the inside to the outside, which is caused by centrifugal effort. The above data can make for both reference to design perfect tubular pump unit and comparison with CFD results.Copyright