Multi-objective optimization of guide vane closure scheme in clean pumped-storage power plant with emphasis on pressure fluctuations

Abstract

In this study, multi-objective optimization was conducted for the guide vane closure scheme during the load-rejection process of a pump turbine, considering pressure fluctuation, maximum rotational speed, maximum pressure at the volute, and minimum pressure at the draft tube inlet to decrease the low-frequency high-amplitude pressure fluctuations at conditions near no-load. Two quantitative indicators, minimum discharge (Qmin) and the ratio of rotational speed to hydraulic head (NDH) of the pump turbine, were proposed to represent the backflow-induced pressure fluctuations. Two objective functions were defined to optimize the guide vane closure scheme and two optimized guide vane closure schemes, OPS-Q (based on Qmin) and OPS-NDH (based on NDH), were developed. The enhancements resulting from these vane closure schemes were verified using a one-dimensional–three-dimensional coupling flow simulation method. NDH was revealed to comprehensively represent backflow-induced pressure fluctuations, whereas Qmin partially represented the backflow. Consequently, OPS-NDH suppressed the pressure fluctuations by appropriately increasing the maximum pressure at the volute and the maximum vacuum at the draft tube inlet within the allowance ranges of the pumped-storage power plant. OPS-Q suppressed the pressure fluctuations; however, the minimum pressure at the draft tube inlet could not be controlled to satisfy the design requirements of the pumped-storage power plant. The findings of this study can be used as a theoretical reference for suppressing the pressure fluctuations in a clean pumped-storage power plant under near-no-load conditions.