Optimization of the co-closing law of guide vanes and blades for bulb turbines based on CFD

The load rejection transient process of bulb turbine units is critical to safety of hydropower stations, and determining appropriate closing laws of guide vanes (GVs) and runner blades (RBs) for this process is of significance. In this study, we proposed a procedure to optimize the co-closing law of GVs and RBs by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), combined with the design of experiment (DOE) method, approximation model, and genetic optimization algorithm. The sensitivity of closing law parameters on the histories of head, speed, and thrust was analyzed, and a two-stage GVs’ closing law associating with a linear RBs’ closing law was proposed. The results show that GVs dominate the transient characteristics by controlling the change of discharge. Speeding GVs’ first-stage closing speed while shortening first-stage closing time can not only significantly reduce the maximum rotational speed but also suppress the water hammer pressure; slowing GVs’ second-stage closing speed is conducive to controlling the maximum reverse axial force. RBs directly affect the runner force. Slowing RBs’ closing speed can further reduce the rotational speed and the maximum reverse axial force. The safety margin of each control parameter, flow patterns, and pressure pulsations of a practical hydropower station were all improved after optimization, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method.