Numerical investigation on radial impeller induced vortex rope in draft tube under partial load conditions

Abstract

The vortex rope phenomena appearing in a draft tube under partial load operations were investigated. The efforts were carried out by using a homogeneous equilibrium vapor-liquid two-phase model and a blending SST turbulence model, and the former takes account of the weak compressibility of mixed media. The vortex rope phenomena were induced by the radial impeller and three kinds of flow regimes were illustrated. Vortex rope was visible at some conditions and it displayed various patterns, while no obvious vortex rope was found under some conditions. It was found that the plant cavitation number determines that whether the vortex rope was visible or invisible. An interesting profile was that a secondary vortex filament ring entwining the vortex rope appeared clearly near the design condition. Both flow structures and pressure characteristics were studied to depict the vortex mechanism and the characteristics of the η-σ curves. Further analysis found that the shedding frequency of the vortex ring is similar with that of the precession movement.