Influence of gate cutoff effect on flow mode conversion and energy dissipation during power-off of prototype tubular pump system

Understanding the cutoff effect of gates is essential for enhancing the overall quality of the pump system's power-off process, minimizing energy losses, and reducing potential risks associated with hydraulic transients. In this study, both numerical simulations and experimental investigations were conducted on the power-off process of a tubular pump system, considering scenarios with and without gate functionality. The simulations utilized a dynamic mesh method to model gate movement, incorporated the torque balance equation to determine the real-time impeller speed, and applied the 3D-VOF method for free surface modeling in reservoirs. Power-off experiments were performed on a model pump system and a prototype pump system to validate the numerical simulation results. To elucidate the mechanism of the gate's cutoff effect, flow modes during the power-off process were categorized based on the four-quadrant static test results of the pump, revealing the deviations between transient and static characteristics. By comparing the transient flow structures of the pump system under different gate operating states, specific energy dissipation behaviors during gate cutoff were analyzed. The research findings enhance the understanding of hydraulic transients, which is essential for developing more sustainable and resilient energy systems.