Abstract: Vertical axial flow pumping stations have advantages of large capacity and low head. This type of pumping station has been widely used for water transportation or irrigation and drainage. Most of the pumping stations presently under construction for the East Routine of South-to-North Water Transfer Project adopt this type. The flow pattern and hydraulic performance of vertical pumping station with bell inlet and worm outlet are studied. The incompressible N-S equations are solved by using the finite volume method. Based on the RNG k-ε model with wall-function law, SIMPLEC algorithm is applied for the solution of the discretization governing equation. By using multiple reference frames, the flow detail of whole vertical pumping system is attained. The relation between the axial flow distributing law of inlet bellmouth with rotating impeller and installation height of pumping station is analyzed. The reference nominal height of pump is put forward. The numerical hydraulic performance is predicted. A good agreement is achieved between the predicted data and experimental data under designed operating condition. 3D numerical computation and model test show that this type of pumping station can be applied in the East Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project.

Key words: Axial flow pumping station, Performance predication, South-to-North Water Transfer Project, Turbulent model