3-D simulation of transient flow patterns in a corridor-shaped air-cushion surge chamber based on computational fluid dynamics

The 3-D characteristics of the water-air flow patterns in a corridor-shaped air-cushion surge chamber during hydraulic transients need to be considered in the shape optimization. To verify the reliability of the water-air two-phase model, namely, the volume of fluid model, the process of charging water into a closed air chamber is successfully simulated. Using the model, the 3-D flow characteristics under the load rejection and acceptance conditions within the air-cushion surge chamber of a specific hydropower station are studied. The free surface waves, the flow patterns, and the pressure changes during the surge wave process are analyzed in detail. The longitudinal flow of water in the long corridor-shaped surge chamber is similar to the open channel flow with respect to the wave propagation, reflection and superposition characteristics. The lumped parameters of the 3-D numerical simulation agree with the results of a 1-D calculation of hydraulic transients in the whole water conveying system, which validates the 3-D method. The 3-D flow structures obtained can be applied to the shape optimization of the chamber.