IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2024i1p110-d1557079.html

Impact of Outlet Pressure on Internal Flow Characteristics and Energy Loss in Pump-Turbine System Under Pump Operation Conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Tianding Han

    (College of New Energy Engineering, Jiuquan Vocational Technical College, Jiuquan 735000, China)

  • Qifei Li

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China)

  • Licheng Feng

    (College of New Energy Engineering, Jiuquan Vocational Technical College, Jiuquan 735000, China)

  • Xiangyu Chen

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China)

  • Feng Zhou

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China)

  • Zhenggui Li

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China)

Abstract

During pump operation, the pump-turbine system experiences unstable fluctuations in outlet pressure, which induces turbulence and additional energy losses. Understanding the impact of outlet pressure variations on the internal flow field is crucial for the further development of turbine units. This study employs numerical methods to systematically analyze the effects of outlet pressure changes on flow characteristics and energy loss. The results show that a decrease in outlet pressure to P0.9BEP significantly increases entropy production in the double-row stay guide vane region, primarily due to flow separation and vortex formation. In the flow passage, sealing gap, and tailpipe regions, entropy production is mainly driven by wall effects, while secondary flows influence the spiral case. The vortex distribution in the double-row stay guide vane is complex, with different variation trends observed in the active and fixed guide vane regions. Outlet pressure changes affect the interaction between the flow passage blades and the fluid, leading to localized flow separation and directly impacting energy loss in downstream components. Additionally, the rate of change in outlet pressure significantly influences vortex generation and dissipation. This research provides new theoretical insights and research directions for performance optimization and energy loss control in pump-turbine systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianding Han & Qifei Li & Licheng Feng & Xiangyu Chen & Feng Zhou & Zhenggui Li, 2024. "Impact of Outlet Pressure on Internal Flow Characteristics and Energy Loss in Pump-Turbine System Under Pump Operation Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2024:i:1:p:110-:d:1557079
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/110/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/110/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Zhiqi & Xie, Baoqi & Xia, Xiaoxia & Luo, Lan & Yang, Huya & Li, Xin, 2023. "Entropy production analysis of a radial inflow turbine with variable inlet guide vane for ORC application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    2. Huanran Wang & Liqin Wang & Xinbing Wang & Erren Yao, 2013. "A Novel Pumped Hydro Combined with Compressed Air Energy Storage System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Wang, Cong & Zhang, Yongxue & Yuan, Zhiyi & Ji, Kaizhuo, 2020. "Development and application of the entropy production diagnostic model to the cavitation flow of a pump-turbine in pump mode," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 774-785.
    4. Lu, Zhaoheng & Tao, Ran & Yao, Zhifeng & Liu, Weichao & Xiao, Ruofu, 2022. "Effects of guide vane shape on the performances of pump-turbine: A comparative study in energy storage and power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 268-287.
    5. Jin, Faye & Wang, Huanmao & Luo, Yongyao & Presas, Alexandre & Bi, Huili & Wang, Zhengwei & Lin, Kai & Lei, Xingchun & Yang, Xiaolong, 2023. "Visualization research of energy dissipation in a pump turbine unit during turbine mode's starting up," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    6. Zhou, Ling & Hang, Jianwei & Bai, Ling & Krzemianowski, Zbigniew & El-Emam, Mahmoud A. & Yasser, Eman & Agarwal, Ramesh, 2022. "Application of entropy production theory for energy losses and other investigation in pumps and turbines: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pei, Ji & Shen, Jiawei & Wang, Wenjie & Yuan, Shouqi & Zhao, Jiantao, 2024. "Evaluating hydraulic dissipation in a reversible mixed-flow pump for micro-pumped hydro storage based on entropy production theory," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    2. Li, Zhenggui & Xu, Lixin & Wang, Dong & Li, Deyou & Li, Wangxu, 2023. "Simulation analysis of energy characteristics of flow field in the transition process of pump condition outage of pump-turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    3. Xu, Zhe & Zheng, Yuan & Kan, Kan & Pavesi, Giorgio & Rossi, Mosè & Xu, Lianchen & Yan, Xiaotong, 2025. "Vortex evolution and energy loss of an axial flow Pump-As-Turbine (PAT) with the influence of upstream waves," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    4. Tang, Qinghong & Yu, An & Wang, Yongshuai & Tang, Yibo & Wang, Yifu, 2023. "Numerical analysis of vorticity transport and energy dissipation of inner-blade vortex in Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 634-648.
    5. Chai, Min & Zhu, Hanxiao & Ren, Yun & Zheng, Shuihua, 2024. "Hydraulic dissipation analysis in reversible pump with a novel double-bend impeller for small pumped hydro storage based on entropy generation theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    6. Xiuli Mao & Jiaren Hu & Zhongyong Pan & Pengju Zhong & Ning Zhang, 2025. "A Brief Review of Recent Research on Reversible Francis Pump Turbines in Pumped Storage Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Jeong-Eui Yun & Joon-Young Shin & Cartur Harsito & Gi-Yong Kim & Hyung-Jun Kim, 2025. "Turbine Performance of Variable Geometry Turbocharger Applied to Small Gasoline Engine Considering Heat Transfer Effect," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Li, Wei & Pu, Wei & Ji, Leilei & Yang, Qiaoyue & He, Xinrui & Agarwal, Ramesh, 2024. "Mechanism of the impact of sediment particles on energy loss in mixed-flow pumps," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    9. Ohiemi, Israel Enema & Sunsheng, Yang & Singh, Punit & Li, Yanjun & Osman, Fareed, 2023. "Evaluation of energy loss in a low-head axial flow turbine under different blade numbers using entropy production method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    10. Wan, Dehai & Wang, Jianjun, 2025. "Numerical study of energy losses in the energy conversion process of a cold model flue gas turbine based on entropy production method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    11. Karellas, S. & Tzouganatos, N., 2014. "Comparison of the performance of compressed-air and hydrogen energy storage systems: Karpathos island case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 865-882.
    12. Ren, Zhipeng & Li, Deyou & Zhou, Weixing & Liu, Jintao & Li, Yong, 2025. "Energy distribution and thermodynamic assessment of cavitating coolant flow in a micropump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    13. Liu, Jin-Long & Wang, Jian-Hua, 2015. "Thermodynamic analysis of a novel tri-generation system based on compressed air energy storage and pneumatic motor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 420-429.
    14. Luke Aquilina & Tonio Sant & Robert N. Farrugia & John Licari & Cyril Spiteri Staines & Daniel Buhagiar, 2024. "Measurements and Modelling of the Discharge Cycle of a Grid-Connected Hydro-Pneumatic Energy Storage System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-33, March.
    15. Yang, Biao & Li, Deyou & Wang, Chuanchao & Zhang, Yi & Fu, Xiaolong & Wang, Hongjie, 2024. "Performance analysis of a novel multi-machine compensable pumped hydro compressed air energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    16. Chen, Hao & Wang, Huanran & Li, Ruixiong & Sun, Hao & Ge, Gangqiang & Ling, Lanning, 2022. "Experimental and analytical investigation of near-isothermal pumped hydro-compressed air energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    17. Li, Chengchen & Wang, Huanran & He, Xin & Zhang, Yan, 2022. "Experimental and thermodynamic investigation on isothermal performance of large-scaled liquid piston," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    18. Liu, Yunqi & Wang, Tao & Lei, Lei & Huang, Tengfei & Guo, Qing, 2025. "Vortex characteristics and energy loss analysis of a centrifugal pump as turbine based on velocity triangles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    19. Song, Xijie & Luo, Yongyao & Wang, Zhengwei, 2024. "Mechanism of the influence of sand on the energy dissipation inside the hydraulic turbine under sediment erosion condition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    20. Yu, An & Tang, Yibo & Tang, Qinghong & Cai, Jianguo & Zhao, Lei & Ge, Xinfeng, 2022. "Energy analysis of Francis turbine for various mass flow rate conditions based on entropy production theory," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 447-458.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2024:i:1:p:110-:d:1557079. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.