This research sought to determine the spatial distribution of hydraulic losses for a bidirectional axial-flow pump with arc- and S-shaped impellers. The unsteady Reynolds time-averaged Stokes (URANS) approach with the SST k-omega model was used to predict the internal flow field. The total entropy production (TEP) and total entropy production rate (TEPR) were used to evaluate the overall and local hydraulic losses. The results show that the distribution of TEP and TEPR was similar for both impeller cases. Under a forward condition, TEP mainly comes from the impeller and elbow pipe. The high TEPR inside the impeller can be found near the shroud, and it shifts from the leading edge to the trailing edge with an increase in the flow rate due to the decline in the attack angle. The high TEPR inside the elbow pipe can be seen near the inlet, and the area shrinks with an increase in the flow rate caused by a reduction in the velocity circulation. Under the reverse condition, TEP mainly comes from the impeller and the straight pipe. The TEPR of the region near the shroud is obviously higher than for other regions, and the area of high TEPR near the suction side shrinks with an increase in the flow rate. The high TEPR of the straight pipe can be found near the inlet, and declines in the flow direction. These results provide a theoretical reference for future work to optimize the design of the bidirectional axial-flow pump.

To reduce cavitation-induced pressure fluctuations in a mixed-flow pump under impeller inflow distortion, the dynamic pressure signal at different monitoring points of a mixed-flow pump with a dustpan-shaped inlet conduit under normal and critical cavitation conditions was collected using high-precision digital pressure sensors. Firstly, the nonuniformity of the impeller inflow caused by inlet conduit shape was characterized by the time–frequency-domain spectra and statistical characteristics of pressure fluctuation at four monitoring points (P4–P7) circumferentially distributed at the outlet of the inlet conduit. Then, the cavity distribution on the blade surface was captured by a stroboscope. Lastly, the characteristics of cavitation-induced pressure fluctuation were obtained by analyzing the time–frequency-domain spectra and statistical characteristic values of dynamic pressure signals at the impeller inlet (P1), guide vanes inlet (P2), and guide vanes outlet (P3). The results show that the flow distribution of impeller inflow is asymmetric. The p_av values at P4 and P6 were the smallest and largest, respectively. Compared with normal conditions, the impeller inlet pressure is lower under critical cavitation conditions, which leads to low p_av, $p_{\mathrm{p}-\mathrm{p}}$ and a main frequency amplitude at P1. In addition, the cavity covered the whole suction side under H = 13.6 m and 15.5 m, which led the $p_{\mathrm{p}-\mathrm{p}}$ and dominant frequency amplitude of pressure fluctuation at P2 and P3 under critical cavitation to be higher than that under normal conditions.

With the aim of investigating the influence of guide vane meridians on the external characteristics and internal flow field of the mixed-flow pump device, this research constructed seven guide vane meridians and applied computational fluid dynamic (CFD) and entropy production theory to investigate the spread of hydraulic loss in a mixed-flow pump. As observed, when the guide vane outlet diameter D_gvo decreased from 350 mm to 275 mm, the head and efficiency increased by 2.78% and 3.05% at 0.7 Q_des, respectively. At 1.3 Q_des, when D_gvo increased from 350 mm to 425 mm, the head and efficiency increased by 4.49% and 3.71%, respectively. At 0.7 Q_des and 1.0 Q_des, the entropy production of the guide vane increased with the increase of D_gvo due to flow separation. When D_gvo < 350 mm, at 1.0 Q_des and 1.3 Q_des, entropy production of the outlet channel increased as D_gvo decreased owing to the excessive flow rate, but at 0.7 Q_des, entropy production did not change much. When D_gvo > 350 mm, at 0.7 Q_des and 1.0 Q_des, due to the expansion of the channel section, the flow separation intensified, which resulted in an increase of the entropy production, but the entropy production decreased slightly at 1.3 Q_des. These results provide guidance for improving the efficiency of pumping stations.

To obtain the influence of airfoil camber on the internal pressure fluctuation of a bidirectional axial-flow pump, the unsteady Reynolds time-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equation was solved to predict the internal flow structure under three airfoil camber cases. The airfoil camber was quantitatively controlled by airfoil camber angle. The pressure standard deviation was used to define the local pressure fluctuation intensity (PFI) inside the impeller and guide vane. Fast Fourier transform was applied to analyze the frequency-domain characteristics of the pressure signal near the impeller–straight pipe interface and impeller–guide vanes interface. The results were validated by the external characteristic test. Under the forward condition, the area of high PFI near the outlet and leading edge of the impeller increased with a decrease in airfoil camber angle, and that near the leading edge of the guide vanes shifted to the middle section with a decrease in airfoil camber angle. The main frequency of the pressure signal near the impeller–guide vanes interface was the blade-passing frequency (BPF), and the main frequency amplitude increased with a decrease in airfoil camber angle. Under the reverse condition, the high PFI area near the inlet and the leading edge of the impeller declined with the decrease in airfoil camber angle. The main frequency of the pressure signal near the impeller–straight pipe interface and impeller–guide vanes interface was the BPF, and the main frequency amplitude decreased with a decrease in airfoil camber angle.