Experimental Study on the Internal Pressure Pulsation Characteristics of a Bidirectional Axial Flow Pump Operating in Forward and Reverse Directions

Abstract

A bidirectional axial flow pump can realize bidirectional pumping, which has a wide application prospect in coastal low-head pumping stations and water jet propulsion systems. In this paper, a typical bidirectional axial flow pump is taken as the research object, and the hydraulic model of the bidirectional axial flow pump is manufactured. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the bidirectional axial flow pump are tested on the high-precision hydraulic mechanical test bench, including the positive and negative directions. In the experiment, multiple pressure pulsation monitoring points were arranged in the impeller chamber, and the pressure fluctuations in the pump under a total of 42 flow conditions were measured by a micro pressure pulsation sensor, involving 21 working conditions of forward operation and 21 working conditions of reverse operation. According to the experimental results, the hydrodynamic characteristics, especially the pressure pulsation characteristics in the pump, of the two-way axial flow pump under positive and negative operation are comprehensively compared and analyzed, and the energy characteristics and the propagation law of pressure pulsation of the two-way axial flow pump under positive and negative operation are revealed. The research results provide an important reference for the safe and stable operation of coastal bidirectional axial flow pump stations.