Influence of Positive Guide Vane Geometric Parameters on the Head-Flow Curve of the Multistage Pump as Turbine

Abstract

In order to reduce the impact of production changes on the performances of pumps as turbines (PATs) in the process industry, it is imperative to lessen head variations at different mass flow rates. This study established a relationship equation between theoretical head and geometric parameters for multistage PATs. The influence of these parameters on the flatness of the head-flow (H-Q) curve was determined through derivation methods. The original PAT was a two-stage pump, and 12 PAT models were designed by modifying the geometric parameters of the positive guide vanes. Fluent software was employed for numerical simulations. The study found that numerical calculations aligned well with theoretical derivations for the flat H-Q curve. Considering the geometric variations in the positive guide vane, increasing the outlet placement angle, blade number, and throat area or decreasing the base circle diameter was able to flatten the H-Q curve effectively; at the best efficiency point, the throat area had the most significant impact on a slope, followed by the outlet placement angle, blade number, and base circle diameter, respectively. The individual contributions to reducing the slope were 0.53, 0.24, 0.1, and 0.09. In terms of the best efficiency point (BEP) of PATs, increasing the throat area appropriately was able to improve the BEP of the PAT by around 1.65% and shifted its BEP towards higher flow rates. However, in other cases, the BEPs all decreased. Increasing the outlet placement angle of the positive guide vane by 3° led to the BEP being reduced by 0.79%. When the number of positive guide vane blades was increased from 8 to 10, the BEP decreased by 1.24%. When the diameter of the base circle of the positive guide vane was decreased, the BEP of the turbine decreased by 0.06%. This study provides theoretical support and can serve as a reference for the design of multistage hydraulic turbines with flatter H-Q curves.