Abstract
During the starting up of the pump mode in pump turbines, the axial hydraulic force acting on the runner would develop with the guide vane opening. It causes deformation and stress on the support bracket, main shaft and runner, which influence the operation security. In this case, the axial hydraulic force of the pump turbine is studied during the starting up of pump mode. Its influences on the support bracket and main shaft are investigated in detail. Based on the prediction results of axial hydraulic force, the starting-up process can be divided into “unsteady region” and “Q flat region” with obviously different features. The mechanism is also discussed by analyzing pressure distributions and streamlines. The deformation of the support bracket and main shaft are found to have a relationship with the resultant force on the crown and band. A deflection is found on the deformation of the runner with the nodal diameter as the midline in the later stages of the starting-up process. The reason is discussed according to pressure distributions. The stress concentration of the support bracket is found on the connection between thrust seating and support plates. The stress of the runner is mainly on the connection between the crown and the blade’s leading-edge. This work will provide more useful information and strong references for similar cases. It will also help in the design of pump turbine units with more stabilized systems for reducing over-loaded hydraulic force, and in the solving of problems related to structural characteristics.
Highlights
Pumped storage power stations are crucial in electric power systems
During the peak period of electricity demand, the pump turbine operates in turbine mode and converts the potential energy of water in upstream to electrical energy
During the off-peak period, it operates in pump mode and stores the excess energy via pumping water into the upstream reservoir
Summary
Pumped storage power stations are crucial in electric power systems. They have two main modes—the power generating (turbine mode) and pump-storing (pump mode) modes—with the ability to quickly start up and shut down. During the off-peak period, it operates in pump mode and stores the excess energy via pumping water into the upstream reservoir. The pump turbine, designed as reversible in modern times, is the key component of pumped storage power stations [1]. It operates under complex conditions and suffers varying hydraulic force on the runner, shaft and support bracket. The desirable condition of axial force is upward but slightly less than the runner-shaft weight. If the downward axial hydraulic force is too strong, especially with strong pulsation, the support bracket will strongly deform or even be damaged due to plastic deformation or fatigue failure [7]
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