In order to study the evolution mechanism of axial force characteristics of centrifugal pump in the transient process of variable working conditions, the IS80-65-160 centrifugal pump is taken as the research object, and four flow operating points of centrifugal pump 1.0Qr, 0.8Qr, 0.6Qr, and 0.4Qr are selected. Non-constant numerical simulation is carried out, and on the basis that the numerical calculation results of the external characteristics are basically consistent with the experimental results, the changes of the axial force of the impeller during the flow reduction process of the variable valve adjustment and the variable speed adjustment of the centrifugal pump are studied, respectively. The results show that as the flow rate decreases, the force of the variable valve regulating impeller cover plate increases, and the force of the variable speed regulating cover plate decreases. Under the two adjustment methods, the axial force on the pressure surface of the blade becomes smaller, the axial force on the suction surface of the blade is basically unchanged, and the pulsation coefficient of the impeller axial force increases first and then decreases. The axial force pulsation coefficient reaches the maximum value in the variable valve adjustment condition of 0.8Qr and the variable speed adjustment condition of 0.6Qr, respectively, and the axial force on the outer wall of impeller cover plate has the greatest influence on the main frequency axial force ripple coefficient; the axial force acting on the outer wall surface of the front cover plate of the impeller and the inner wall surface of the front and rear cover plates increases with the increase in the radius, The axial force acting on the outer wall surface of the rear cover plate of the impeller has axisymmetrical properties. This study revealed the evolution mechanism of the axial force characteristics of the centrifugal pump impeller during the transient process of variable working conditions, and the research results can provide a reference for improving the stable operation of the centrifugal pump.