Numerical simulation on energy characteristics of pump-turbine under pump condition

Abstract To investigate the energy characteristics of the pump turbine in pump mode, we selected the pump turbine as the research object and employed the SST k-ω turbulence model to conduct three-dimensional steady numerical simulations of the internal flow field of the pump turbine under several typical flow conditions. Our findings indicate that the unit’s energy loss is primarily concentrated in the runner and guide vane areas. In the small flow condition area, the energy loss of the draft tube basin cannot be ignored, while the energy loss in the stay guide vane and spiral casing areas is relatively small due to their low flow velocity. As the flow rate decreases, the energy loss in the draft tube, runner, and guide vane areas increases continuously. Additionally, complex flows such as vortex flow and backflow appear in the double-row cascade flow channel, which obstructs the flow channel and increases dissipation energy. In typical flow conditions, the energy loss in the draft tube, runner, and guide vane areas is a significant factor contributing to the decrease in head.