Numerical Simulation of Connected Flow in the Inlet and Outlet of the Pumping Storage Power Station

Abstract

Pumping and storage power stations with different hydraulic units are simultaneously in power generation and pumping operation (same-in-one pumping operation) is an effective means to alleviate the adverse effects caused by the sudden power imbalance of the power grid and adapt to the emergency dispatching requirements of the power grid. In this mode of operation, the water flow in the different inlet and outlet ports is reversed, and water flow communication will be formed in the front pool. Aiming at the problem that the connected flow is difficult to measure in physical model test and prototype observation, a three-dimensional flow field numerical simulation is used to determine the flow connection path and orifice velocity distribution, and the area-weighted average method is used to obtain the connected flow calculation method for different paths. Taking the inlet and outlet of a pumped storage power station as an example, this method is used to analyze the flow rate of the orifice and its proportion. The results show that when the pumped storage power station is running in the same pumping operation, the flow rate of some orifices will exceed 80% of its total flow. It is easy to cause the cooling water of the unit to circulate between the hydraulic units and keep heating up, thus reducing the cooling effect of the unit.