Transient hydraulic analysis of the water delivery pipeline in mountainous areas for cascade pressurized pump stations

ABSTRACT Aiming at the problem that cascade pressurized pump stations in mountainous areas are more prone to pump shutdown accidents compared to single-stage pressurized pump stations. Various pump shutdown accidents that may occur in the pressurized water supply system of the cascade pumping station were analyzed in a targeted manner. Additionally, it was also explored that in addition to water hammer protection measures, remote-control measures for water pumps based on PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) may be used to reduce the severity of accidents. A single-factor experimental method was used to numerically analyze various accident conditions of a simplified model of a three-stage series pressurized water delivery system consisting of a water intake pump station, a midway pump station, and a final-stage pump station, without water hammer protection devices. The impact of different control variables on the transient hydraulic calculations of pumping stations at all levels was evaluated. The results showed that optimizing the precedence of shutdowns, and the sequential shutdown times of each stage pump station could be assisted to some extent in water hammer protection by the PLC. This provides technical support and detailed optimization for the scientific control of cascade booster pumping stations in mountainous areas.