Hydraulic performance of a large slanted axial‐flow pump

Abstract

Purpose

The pump of the Taipuhe Pump Station, larger flow discharge, lower head, is one of the largest 15° slanted axial‐flow pumps in the world. However, few studies have been done for the larger slanted axial‐flow pump on safe operation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impeller elevation, unsteady flow, hydraulic thrust and the zero‐head flow characteristics of the pump.

Design/methodology/approach

The flow field in and through the pump was analyzed numerically during the initial stages of the pump design process, then the entire flow passage through the pump was analyzed to calculate the hydraulic thrust to prevent damage to the bearings and improve the operating stability. The zero‐head pump flow characteristics were analyzed to ensure that the pump will work reliably at much lower heads.

Findings

The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental data for the pump elevation effects, the performance curve, pressure oscillations, hydraulic thrust and zero‐head performance.

Research limitations/implications

Since it is assumed that there is no gap between blades and shroud, gap cavitations are beyond the scope of the paper.

Originality/value

The paper indicates the slanted axial‐flow pump characteristics including the characteristic curves, pressure fluctuations, hydraulic thrust and radial force for normal operating conditions and zero‐head conditions. It shows how to guarantee the pump safety operating by computational fluid dynamics.

Citation

Wang, Z., Peng, G., Zhou, L. and Hu, D. (2010), "Hydraulic performance of a large slanted axial‐flow pump", Engineering Computations, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 243-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/02644401011022391