Numerical simulation on the flow characteristics of a pump-turbine in load rejection process

Pumped storage plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the power grid, with the pump-turbine being the key component. The flow characteristics of the pump-turbine during transient processes have a significant impact on the unit’s safety, particularly in load rejection scenarios. In this study, a 1D transient simulation is conducted to analyze the flow characteristics of a pump-turbine during load rejection using the Quasi-static method. The study focuses on the flow patterns and axial hydraulic thrust. The results indicate that the unit operates in turbine, braking, and pumping modes during load rejection, with the streamline becoming chaotic. This complex flow pattern also leads to notable variations in the axial hydraulic thrust, ranging from -92t to 405t. The findings presented in this paper are valuable for ensuring the safety of pump-turbines and can serve as a reference for their optimization and operation.