The effects of blade stacking lean angle to 1400 MW canned nuclear coolant pump hydraulic performance

Canned nuclear coolant pump is used in the advanced third generation pressurized water reactor and is key equipment and unique rotating equipment in the first loop of a nuclear power plant. High efficiency, low power consumption, low axial force and low pressure pulsation are the significant hydraulic performance demanding to hydraulic components. Impeller is a key component of canned nuclear coolant pump. The blade stacking lean angle is one of the main geometric parameters in impeller design. Therefore, an investigation into the stacking lean angle to the canned nuclear coolant pump can be useful. In order to understand effects of stacking lean angle to canned nuclear coolant pump, this paper numerically investigated three different stacking lean angles. The validity of numerical simulation was confirmed through a comparison between numerical and experimental results. The performance change of canned nuclear coolant pump with the stacking lean angle was acquired. Hydraulic performance curve, axial force curve, static pressure distribution at impeller outlet and static pressure pulsation were performed to investigate the performance changes caused by the stacking lean angle. The results show that the stacking lean angle has important influence on the performance of canned nuclear coolant pump and should be paid attention to in the impeller design. Positive stacking lean angle is good for efficiency and reducing pressure pulsation in impeller. Negative stacking lean angle is good for increasing the head and reducing the axial force, while reducing pressure pulsation in static components.