Analysis of the Unstable Behavior of a Pump-Turbine in Turbine Mode: Fluid-Dynamical and Spectral Characterization of the S-shape Characteristic

The most common mechanical equipment adopted in the new generation of pumped-hydro power plants is represented by reversible pump-turbines, required to rapidly switch between pumping and generating modes in order to balance the frequent changes in electricity production and consumption caused by unpredictable renewable energy sources. As a consequence, pump-turbines are required to extend their operation under off-design conditions in unstable operating areas. The paper presents a numerical analysis of the unstable behavior of a pump-turbine operating in turbine mode near the no-load condition. To study in depth the unsteady phenomena which lead to the S-shape of the turbine characteristic, a load rejection scenario at constant and large guide vane opening was numerically analyzed by running through the flow-speed characteristic up to the turbine brake region. The flow field analysis led to the onset and development of unsteady phenomena progressively evolving in an organized rotating stall (65.1% of the runner rotation frequency) during the turbine brake operation. These phenomena were characterized by frequency and time-frequency analyses of several numerical signals (static pressure, blade torque, mass flow rate in blade passages). The influence of the development of these unsteady phenomena on the pump-turbine performance in a turbine operation was also analyzed, and the potential causes that generated the S-Shaped characteristic curve were also investigated

Numerical study on the internal flow field of a reversible turbine during continuous guide vane closing

The unsteady flow field in a reversible pump-turbine is investigated during the continuous load rejection using a 3D computational fluid dynamic analysis. Numerical calculations are carried out using the detached eddy simulation (DES) turbulence model and a new approach involving automatic mesh motion. In this way, the instability of the flow field is analyzed by continuously changing the guide vane openings from the best efficiency point (BEP). Unsteady flow characteristics are described by post-processing signals for several monitoring points including mass flow, torque, head and pressure in the frequency and time-frequency domains. The formation of vortices of different scales is observed from the origin to further enlargement and stabilization; the effect of the rotating structures on the flow passage is analyzed, and the influence of unsteady flow development on the performance of the turbine is investigated. Finally, the evolution during the period of load rejection is characterized in order to determine the hydrodynamic conditions causing the vibrations in the machine

Dynamic safety assessment of a nonlinear pumped-storage generating system in a transient process

This paper focuses on a pumped-storage generating system with a reversible Francis turbine and presents an innovative framework for safety assessment in an attempt to overcome their limitations. Thus the aim is to analyze the dynamic safety process and risk probability of the above nonlinear generating system. This study is carried out based on an existing pumped-storage power station. In this paper we show the dynamic safety evaluation process and risk probability of the nonlinear generating system using Fisher discriminant method. A comparison analysis for the safety assessment is performed between two different closing laws, namely the separate mode only to include a guide vane and the linkage mode that includes a guide vane and a ball valve. We find that the most unfavorable condition of the generating system occurs in the final stage of the load rejection transient process. It is also demonstrated that there is no risk to the generating system with the linkage mode but the risk probability of the separate mode is 6 percent. The results obtained are in good agreement with the actual operation of hydropower stations. The developed framework may not only be adopted for the applications of the pumped-storage generating system with a reversible Francis turbine but serves as the basis for the safety assessment of various engineering applications.National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesScientific research funds of Northwest A&F UniversityScience Fund for Excellent Young Scholars from Northwest A&F University and Shaanxi Nova progra

Inducer dynamics full-flow, full-admission hydraulic turbine drive Interim report for tasks 1, 2, and 3

Hydrodynamical and mechanical design layout for two-speed hydraulic turbine inducer, computer simulation of pumping system and test facility performance, and study of demonstration uni

Flows through s-shaped annular, inter-turbine diffusers

Inter-turbine diffusers or swan neck ducts (SND's) provide flow continuity between the H.P. and L.P. turbine, which with diffusing of the flow allow; greater stage efficiencies to be achieved as a consequence of reducing both the stage loading and flow coefficient of the L.P. turbine. This thesis presents an experimental and computational investigation into the local flow development and overall performance of two different severity diffusing annular sshaped ducts, with the same overall diffusion ratio of 1.5, in order to validate the CFD code M.E.F.P. The first less severe diffusing duct was used to investigate the effects of inlet swirl on the duct performance. It was found that at an optimum swirl angle of 15 degrees, the duct total pressure loss coefficient was approximately half the value at 0 or 30 degrees swirl. The second more severely diffusing duct had simple symmetrical aerofoil struts added, which simulated struts required in real inter-turbine diffusers to support inner shafts and supply vital engine services. The total pressure loss developed by the 30% shorter duct was 15% greater that of the longer duct, and when struts were added to the second duct the loss almost doubled. These increases were attributed to gradually worsening casing surface flow separations which also acted to reduce the overall static pressure recovery of the ducts as their losses increased. The computational investigations were made on the more severe duct with and without struts. The code, Moore's Elliptic Flow Solver (M.E.F.P) which used a mixing length model, predicted flow separation in the strutted duct case albeit in slightly the wrong position, however, it failed to predict any secondary flow for the unstrutted case and hence correlated worse with the measured results. This was also true of the results predicted by a version of Dawes BTOB3D

The aerodynamic performance of an annular S-shaped duct

An experimental investigation has been carried out to determine the aerodynamic performance of an annular S-shaped duct representative of that used to connect the compressor spools of aircraft gas turbine engines. Measurements of both the mean flow and turbulent structure have been obtained using both 5 hole pressure probes and a3 component Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) system. The measurements indicate that development of the flow within the duct is complex and significantly influenced by the combined effects of streamwise pressure gradients and flow curvature. For inlet conditions in which boundary layers are developed along an upstream entry length the static pressure, shear stress and velocity distributions are presented. The data shows that as a result of flow curvature significant streamwise pressure gradients exist within the duct, with this curvature also affecting the generation and suppression of turbulence. The stagnation pressure loss within the duct is also assessed and is consistent with the measured distributions of shear stress. More engine representative conditions are provided by locating a single stage compressor at inlet to the duct. Relative to the naturally developed inlet conditions the flow within the duct is less likely to separate, but mixing out of the compressor blade wakes increases the measured duct loss. With both types of inlet conditions the effect of a radial strut, such as that used for carrying loads and engine services, is also described both in terms of the static pressure distribution along the strut and its contribution to overall loss. The effects of inlet swirl on the flow field that develops within an annular S-shaped duct have also been investigated. By removing the outlet guide vanes from an upstream single stage compressor swirl angles in excess of 30° were generated. Results show that within the S-shaped duct tangential momentum is conserved, leading to increasing swirl velocities through the duct as its radius decreases. Furthermore, this component influences the streamwise velocity as pressure gradients are established to ensure the mean flow follows the duct curvature. Consequently in the critical region adjacent to the inner casing, where separation is most likely to occur, higher streamwise velocities are observed. Within the duct substantial changes also occur to the turbulence field which results in an increased stagnation pressure loss between duct inlet and exit. Data is also presented showing the increasing swirl angles through the duct which has consequences both for the design of the downstream compressor spool and of any radial struts which may be located within the duct

Instabilities and Influence of Geometric Parameters on the Efficiency of a Pump Operated as a Turbine for Micro Hydro Power Generation: A Review

Compared to a traditional turbine (Kaplan, Francis, Pelton), pumps operated as turbine are a good alternative for micro hydroelectric power plants thanks to their low cost and easy availability. This paper presents a review of the most challenging aspects of the pump as turbine: prediction and improvement in turbine mode. First, an explanation of the theory of the pump as turbine focused on the functioning, types of pumps, selection criteria and performance predictions as shown in the literature, giving also methodologies and details on the pump as turbine selection. Afterwards, the literature shows the instabilities produced by the operation of the pumps on inverse mode, which generates S-shape curves and cavitation. Finally, as the main focus of this paper, aspects of efficiency produced by geometric parameters were discussed. Current trends and future scope for further improvement and implementation of pump as turbine are also discussed

Non-Linear Stability Analysis of a Reduced Scale Model Pump-Turbine at Off-Design Operation

Nowadays, the pump-storage power plants are a proven solution for storing electricity at large scale and offering flexibility to the power management. Therefore, the hydraulic machines are increasingly subject to off-design operation, start-up and shutdown sequences. However, the fast and frequent switching between pumping mode and generating mode presents technical challenges. In the present study, the reduced scale model of a low specific speed pump-turbine is investigated in generating mode at off-design conditions. The operation in the typical “S-shaped” curve of pump-turbine may become unstable and the machine may switch back and forth from generating mode to reverse pumping mode preventing the correct experimental survey of this part during the model testing. The instability has been solved by a testing procedure imposing a restriction of section and a control valve for being able to increase the energy losses. This procedure, commonly used in model testing of pump-turbines, significantly improves the stability of the machine and allows for the survey of the entire “S-curve”. The aim of the present investigation is to understand and explain the origin of the switch to reverse pumping mode. Thus, a hydro-acoustic test rig model was developed with the In-house EPFL SIMSEN software and a comparison between the systems with and without a restriction of section was studied. A numerical analysis indicates that the operating points of a pump-turbine system are defined by the solution of the equation relating the test rig characteristic and the energy-discharge characteristic of the hydraulic machine for a given rotational speed and a constant guide vanes opening. Furthermore, the addition of a restriction alters the curvature of the test rig characteristic and creates a new degree of freedom to achieve stable operating points in the “S-curve”. Finally, to ensure the stability of each operating points described by the numerical model, an eigenvalue study of the non-linear hydraulic system is necessary

Micro hydropower in water distribution systems

Considering various applications of Pump as Turbine (PAT) as an effective source of reducing the equipment cost in small hydropower plants as well as the selecting process of appropriate location and suitable machinery are the main concerns of this study. Vary range of PAT settings criteria has been propound by taking into account the State-of-the-Art researches. The purpose of this study is to establish the effectiveness of pump as turbine, considering all the possible obstacles such as producer’s market interests, accessibility of technical information and mechanical limitation. Cutting-edge scientific researches concerning PAT have been proposed by implementation of various approaches. The most challenging criteria of PAT, which is selecting the appropriate machinery, has been investigated subsequently. A comparative methodology to model the effectiveness of PATs, both numerical and experimental, has been developed based on the efficiency. The mechanical reliability of the hydropower devices in situ, prototype and numerical investigation have been reviewed. These results have been obtained through measurements and optimization of the simulated system by means of characteristic methods against the established PAT system in many different case studies. Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) allow to obtain a widespread and globally significant amount of produced energy by exploiting the head drop due to the network pressure control strategy for leak reductions. Replacing PAT in water distribution networks regarding to all the possible obstacles, will reduce the final cost and will improve the expected efficiencies, as much as the reduction of environmental impacts. This study definitively answers the question whether PAT is an effective alternative in WDNs. The comparative approach also aims for a better understanding of the impact of PAT on the transition to renewable energy systems