Hydraulic and axial force characteristics of large axial flow pumps under different flow conditions

Abstract Axial flow pumps often experience uneven distribution of axial force on the blades when deviating from design conditions, which can easily lead to local damage to the pump blades. In response to this issue, this article conducts a detailed study on the hydraulic and axial force characteristics of large vertical axial flow pumping stations in China based on constant and non-constant numerical simulation research methods. Research has found that under biased operating conditions, due to the angle between the water flow direction inside the impeller and the impeller blades, the water body collides with the blades, resulting in concentrated pressure distribution on both sides of the inlet side of the impeller blades. Under low flow conditions, the high axial force area of the impeller blade is concentrated in the middle and rear position of the suction surface, while under high flow conditions, the high axial force area is widely distributed. Under the conditions of 0.8 Q to 1.4 Q , the fluctuation of axial force on the impeller blades is mainly affected by the rotation of the impeller blades. However, under low flow conditions, due to the turbulence of the flow state, there is no obvious pattern of axial force variation on the impeller blades. In addition, under different flow conditions, there is no obvious pattern in the fluctuation of axial force on the guide vanes. This also proves that there are problems such as uneven axial force distribution and no periodic changes in the impeller blades under low flow conditions, which can easily lead to damage to the impeller blades. The above analysis can provide some reference for the design of impeller blades.