Prediction on the axial water thrust characteristics of pump turbine runner under partial load

Abstract For the high head pump turbine, unit instability during its operation mainly dues to hydraulic vibration inside machinery, which will cause mechanical fatigue failure under certain circumstances. In this paper, flow pattern and runner axial water thrust in turbine model partial load were analyzed by numerical simulation. The internal field vortex characteristics of obtain reasons for different two loads. results showed that due reduction guide vane opening, rate is smaller at 50% load, free structure on high-pressure side blade inlet strengthens impact runner. Moreover, when pressure difference between blades decreases decreases, total fluctuates frequently with time.