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Study on the energy acquisition mechanism of pump as turbine (PAT) under gas-liquid two-phase conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Hui
  • Ying, Junhui
  • Xue, Jian
  • Lin, Tong
  • Li, Linmin
  • Li, Xiaojun
  • Wei, Yikun
  • Zhu, Zuchao

Abstract

The increasing complexity of industrial production process requires the accurate treatment of gas-liquid two-phase phenomenon within the transmission medium of pump as turbine (PAT). Generation of gas in the liquid medium of a PAT depends on flow structures, consequently impacting flow stability. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the mechanism by which the gas phase influences internal PAT flow and the associated energy conversion processes. This investigation provides significant reference value for regulating PAT operation under gas-liquid two-phase conditions. In this work, we investigate the characteristics of internal flow and energy conversion for the two-fluid model for gas-liquid two-phase conditions in PAT and the entropy generation theory is applied to the analysis of the effect of inflow gas content on PAT performance. The results revealed that increased gas content improves the head but lowers efficiency of the PAT for identical flow rate. Furthermore, while maintaining constant gas content, the PAT head increases with flow rate, whereas efficiency exhibits a pattern of first increasing and then decreasing. Based on gas-liquid two-phase entropy production theory, we investigate energy losses in each hydraulic component under varying gas content conditions. Results show that cavity losses predominate under low gas content conditions, while impeller flow losses become dominant under high gas content conditions. Turbulence entropy production, wall entropy production and direct entropy production constitute the primary sources of energy loss in PATs, listed in descending order of magnitude. This study concludes that the vortical flow and the reversed flow in PAT under gas-liquid two-phase condition are the principal causes of elevated entropy generation, thereby causing significant energy losses.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Hui & Ying, Junhui & Xue, Jian & Lin, Tong & Li, Linmin & Li, Xiaojun & Wei, Yikun & Zhu, Zuchao, 2026. "Study on the energy acquisition mechanism of pump as turbine (PAT) under gas-liquid two-phase conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PB).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pb:s0960148125016611
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123997
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    References listed on IDEAS

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