Analysis on cavitating flow and axial force in pump-turbine

In order to obtain the cavitation performance and axial force of pump-turbine in pump mode, a pump-turbine model in a pumped storage power station was selected as the study object. based on SST k-ω turbulence model and Zwart cavitation model, the numerical simulation is carried in different flow coefficient and compared with the experiment results. Results show that: with the decrease of the total pressure in draft inlet, vapors generated at suction surface of blade near the leading edge at first and then extend to the exit of runne and pressure surface of blade under low flow rates and design flow rates. However, under the condition of large flow, vapors generated at pressure surface of blade near the leading edge at first and then extend to the exit of runner and suction surface of blade leading edge away from the leading edge. Meanwhile the change rule of axial force with cavitation number under different flow conditions is discussed. © 2020, Editorial Board of Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. All right reserved.