Transient Flow Analysis of a Turbine Cover Drainage System Based on TransAM

The turbine cover drainage system of a certain hydropower station may experience a siphon effect during operation due to its unique pipeline layout. This study utilizes TransAM, a Canadian complex fluid computational pipeline network software, to model and conduct transient flow analysis of the drainage system. The impact of the siphon effect under different operating conditions is explored. For hydropower stations where the siphon effect is severe, it is recommended to consider air valve optimization at the design stage by installing air valves at the highest points of the drainage pipelines for each generating unit. This ensures the safe and stable operation of the drainage system. The findings of this study provide strong support for the optimization of the turbine cover drainage system and serve as a valuable reference for siphon protection design in similar engineering applications.