Optimizing hydraulic performance at pumped-storage plants

A critical structural component of side inlet-outlet systems at pumped-storage stations is the adjustment section; its length significantly influences bidirectional flow characteristics and construction economics. The study described here investigates this, in the context of the Lianghekou pumped-storage plant; numerical simulation is used to analyse the hydrodynamic effects of adjustment section’s geometry. The results show that for the power generation condition (outflow), an increase in the length of the adjustment section can reduce head losses in the inlet-outlet, and homogenize the flow velocity of the barrage section. The research results aim to provide support for the design and optimization of the adjustment section.