Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com

Procedia

Engineering
ProcediaProcedia
Engineering
00 (2011)
Engineering
28000000
(2012) 122 127
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

2012 International Conference on Modern Hydraulic Engineering

CFD Simulation and Optimization for Lateral Diversion and

Intake Pumping Stations
Bin Chenga, Yonghai Yu, a*
College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

Abstract
The flow analysis of the lateral diversion and intake pumping stations is based on realizable k- turbulent model and
SIMPLEC algorithm. The numerical simulation result coinciding to theoretical analysis result shows that the inlet
flow of the pumping station has characteristics of the bend channel flow. According to the inlet flow characteristics,
the guide splitter is chosen as the optimization method for this kind of pumping stations. The numerical simulations
of different guide splitter layouts are analyzed by inlet section momentum distribution of pumping station and flow
distribution uniformity of pump sumps. The results show that the guide splitter has significant adjustment of the
momentum distribution of the diversion channel and the velocity distribution of inlet section is influenced by the
momentum distribution uniformity of the diversion channel. The guide splitter with appropriate size is valid in
reducing the effect of the circulation flow and making flow in normal distribution quickly after flow shift direction
which further can improve the flow distribution uniformity of sumps.

2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Society for Resources,
2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Environment and Engineering Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Key words: pumping station; flow analysis; hydraulic optimization; guide splitter; lateral water diversion and intake

1. Introduction
The inlet side flow pattern of the lateral diversion or lateral intake pumping station and its effect on
pump operation has been the subject of much research. Varied hydraulic optimization measures have been
developed to eliminate the vortices, spiral flows and large-scale reversed flows which occurred in the inlet
side of the pumping stations. Neary and Sotropoulos[1] developed a three-dimensional numerical model
for predicting steady, in the mean, turbulent flows through lateral intakes with rough walls and employed

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 13655171710

E-mail address: bluesky_df@163.com; chengbinhhu@gmail.com

1877-7058 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Society for Resources, Environment and Engineering
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2012.01.693

123

Bin Cheng
and Yonghai
Yu / Procedia
Engineering
28 (2012)
122 127
Author
name / Procedia
Engineering
00 (2011)
000000

it in a parametric study. Chen et al. [2] reviewed the lateral intake patterns of pumping stations and the
varied improvements of these patterns. Liu et al. [3] put forward a Y type diversion pier for flow
improving of a side intake pumping station based on the results of CFD simulation. Zhang et al. [4] aimed
at the poor flow pattern of lateral intake pumping station and carried out the water distribution reservoir as
optimum hydraulic method for an urban drainage pumping station with CFD simulation. Liu et al. [5]
studied the flow patterns in both forebay and sump of pumping station by numerical simulation. Xu et al.
[6] discussed the flow pattern and flow improving method of a side intake pumping station with multi-sets
on the basis of model test results. Yu et al. [7] suggested using flow deflector on the modification of flow
pattern in the forebay of pumping station based on the numerical simulations with VOF method. These
researches were mainly concentrated on lateral diversion or lateral intake situation. These is less related
study on the lateral division and intake pumping stations which the flow pattern is more complex than
single lateral division or lateral intake pumping stations. This paper presents the results of a parametric
research with numerical simulations of a lateral diversion and intake pumping station which assessed by
inlet section momentum distribution of pumping station and flow distribution uniformity of pump units.
The appropriate hydraulic optimum layout with guide splitter is developed on the basis of the analysis
result.
2. Flow characteristics in the inlet side of the pumping station
A typical lateral diversion or lateral intake pumping station configuration is depicted in Fig.1. The inlet
side flow field of the pumping station is simulated with realizable k- turbulence model for analysis the
flow characteristics. The chosen turbulence model is solved in SIMPLEC algorithm with the assumption
that the free water surface remains flat which being treated as a stress-free plane of symmetry in the
boundary conditions. The solution domain extends from the channel entrance, where the velocity
distributions are prescribed, to the intake of the pump with free outflow boundary condition [1]. The grid
is meshed with unstructured hybrid scheme.

Fig.1 (a) Computational domain; (b) grid (local zoom)

Fig. 2 shows that the numerical result of pumping station inlet side flow field without any hydraulic
optimum measures which defined as the option A in this paper. From the near-surface velocity contours
shown in fig. 2 (a): the outer side velocity is smaller than the inner side one at the place where the steam
changes direction. Meanwhile form the near-surface pressure contours shown in fig. 2 (b): the outer side
pressure is larger than the inner side one when steam changes direction. The flow condition from the
diversion channel to the water inlet sump section is actually similar with the bend flow whose velocity
distribution is satisfied the area law:
Vr=C

(1)

124

BinAuthor
Chengname
and Yonghai
Yu Engineering
/ Procedia Engineering
28 (2012) 122 127
/ Procedia
00 (2011) 000000
Frame 001 03 Mar 2011 title

Frame 001 03 Mar 2011 title

where V is the tangential velocity, r is the curvature radius of the bend and C is a constant.

100

30

-100

20
0

30

200

500
0
40

0.

100

0.4 0.3

0 .2

600
0.8 0.7 0.6

0 .5

0.9

1 .4

0.
1 .118
1.5

1.2

0
-2 00 0
-6
-1 10 0

0.1
0 .2
0 .4
0 .6

pressure(Pa)

velocity(m/s)

Fig.2 (a) Contours of near-surface velocity (option A); (b) Contours of near-surface pressure (option A)

3. Analysis of the hydraulic optimization of guide splitter

The guide splitter is proved to have obviously hydraulic optimization effect in the bend flow
rectification in former study [8]. Combine to the characteristics of the pumping station in the present
research and the sediment accumulation impact, the guide splitter is chosen for the flow rectification.
3.1. Arrangement of guide splitter
The guide splitter in the flow rectification is mainly played two roles as follows: firstly, the circular arc
shape of the guide splitter can help to lead steam turns direction more smoothly, where the velocity
distribution may more uniform; secondly, the guide splitter gives the steam additional centripetal force,
which can reduce the water surface transverse gradient and transverse circulation and the velocity
differential between the inner side and the outer side, and makes the velocity distribution achieved
uniformly more faster, which give the pumping station better water inlet condition.
A piece of guide splitter is chosen for flow rectification with taking account of the physical dimension
of the pumping station and convenience of clean up the sediment in the diversion channel. The fig.3
shows the shape of the guide splitter: right angle circular arc and in both ends extend with a short straight
line. The layouts of the guide splitter are emphasized on its height, which is lower than minimum free
drainage level to avoid the adverse effect of free drainage, and location in the channel which is chosen on
the considering of the inlet side flow field of the pump station and the results of dividing steam-surface in
lateral intake [9][10].
Table 1 displays the four different guide splitter arrangements which denominated respectively as
option B to E. Fig. 3 describes the layouts of the four options.
Table 1 Layouts of the guide splitter
Name

Height (m)

Location (m)

Remarks
Without guide splitter

Option A

x=0

Option B

0.2

x=3

Option C

0.5

x=3

Option D

0.2

x=4

Option E

0.5

x=4

125

Bin Cheng and Yonghai Yu / Procedia Engineering 28 (2012) 122 127

Author name / Procedia Engineering 00 (2011) 000000

Inlet section of
pumping station

Inlet section of
pumping station

Free
drainage

Guide splitter

Guide splitter

Pump
drainage

Fig.3 Sketch of the guide splitter layouts: (a) Option B and C; (b) Option D and E

3.2. Momentum distribution in pump station inlet section

The ability of the guide splitter in adjustment of the momentum distribution in pump station inlet
section is analyzed by the numerical simulations of different layouts of guide splitter, where the inlet
section of the lateral intake part of the pumping station is chosen as the typical section for comparing the
momentum distribution with different guide splitter layouts.
The momentum is defined as
mv = V v = Qtv =v2t2

(2)

since the water density and time interval is same, v is using for represent mv to describe the momentum
distribution.
The momentum distribution of pumping station inlet section in option A is far from uniform, which
shown in Fig.4 (a), and the momentum in the flow right side is significant greater than the left side and
the momentum magnitude has a gradually increase trend from the left side to the right side. This
distribution reveals that the main stream is near the right side of the fore bay, which diverged from the
middle line, and a range of reverse flow is in the left side. This desirability flow pattern has an adverse
effect on the normal operation of the pumps.
Fig.4 (b) to (e) presents respectively the momentum distribution in the inlet section with corresponding
guide splitter layout of option B to E. The momentum distributions in the conditions with guide splitter
are much better than the one without guide splitter, meanwhile the flow is less deflection and more
smoothly. The comparing result proves that the guide splitter, which able to restore the flow uniformed
more quickly after it enters into the fore bay, is significant valid in the flow adjustment of this kind of
pumping station.
Frame 001 05 Mar 2011 title

Frame
001 05 Mar 2011 title
Z

Frame 001 05 Mar 2011 title

0 .8

0.7

0.

7
0.

0 .6

0 .7

0 .9

0 .8

1 .1

0 .4

0 .7

0 .8

1 .1

0 .9

0 .8

0.9

0.

0.4

0.6
0 .3

Frame 001 05 Mar 2011 title

0.6

Frame 001 05 Mar 2011 title

1.2

1.
1 .2

0 .4

0 .7

0.8

1 .3

0.4

1 .2

0.7

1 .1

0.7

0.9

1.1

0 .6

0.

0 .5

1 .2

0.7

Fig.4 Contours of momentum of inlet section with different layouts (a) Layout A; (b) Layout B; (c) Layout C; (d) Layout D; (e)
Layout E.

126

BinAuthor
Chengname
and Yonghai
Yu Engineering
/ Procedia Engineering
28 (2012) 122 127
/ Procedia
00 (2011) 000000

Quantitative comparisons of the results pretaining to the momentum distribution described above are
demonstrated in Fig.5. The position of guide splitter is governing the rate of its flow majorization
operation. The results suggest that the momentum distribution of the inlet section in option B is highly
uniformed and option B has the best performance in hydraulic optimization in five options. Its momentum
distribution is not only uniformed in the same depth, but also the momentum size is approached in the
different depth which pumping station has a best inlet condition with guide splitter arranged in option B.
Momentum distribution in depth 0.2m

Momentum distribution in depth 1m

option A
option B
option C
option D
option E

1.2

1.1

momentum

momentum

1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8

1.0
0.9
0.8

0.7

0.7

0.6

0.6
0

Momentum distribution in depth 2m

option A
option B
option C
option D
option E

1.2

10

option A
option B
option C
option D
option E

1.2
1.1

momentum

1.3

1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6

point

10

point

10

point

Fig.5 Momentum distribution in different depths with different layouts: (a) 0.2m; (b) 1m; (c) 2m.

3.3. Flow distribution of pump sumps

The pump unit close to the pumping station inlet section is identified as No.1. The other seven units
are similarly denominated as No.2 to 8. The flow distributions of the sumps with different options are
presented in Table 2.
Here uses the S represent the flow uniformity of sumps defined in the formula (3):
n
2
Qi Q
i

1
S 1
n1

(3)

where n is the units number, Qi is flow in the No. i sump.

Table 2 indicates that the flow uniformities of the four layouts with guide splitter are large than the
option A and option B is largest one in all layouts which has the lowest flows difference of sumps. These
results prove that the guide splitter has a positive influence in the lateral intake flow pattern of pumping
station whose effect level is controlled by the guide splitter location.
Table 2 Flow distribution of different layouts (unit: m3/s)
No.

Option A

Option B

Option C

Option D

Option E

2.194

1.872

1.859

2.231

2.233

2.541

2.581

2.581

2.570

2.571

3.126

2.834

2.834

3.053

3.053

1.956

2.555

2.555

1.957

1.957

2.455

2.335

2.335

2.386

2.386

2.586

2.534

2.536

2.602

2.601

2.662

2.640

2.641

2.627

2.628

2.228

2.454

2.455

2.355

2.356

0.7391

0.8084

0.8063

0.7597

0.7599

Bin Cheng
and Yonghai
Yu / Procedia
Engineering
28 (2012)
122 127
Author
name / Procedia
Engineering
00 (2011)
000000

4. Conclusion
This study was undertaken to analyze the inlet flow characteristics of the lateral diversion and intake
pumping stations and access the capacity of flow adjustment of the guide splitter with numerical
simulations. The main conclusions are as follows:
(1) The numerical simulation of the pumping station suggests that the inlet flow pattern is more
complex than single lateral division or lateral intake pumping station and the flow pattern in the lateral
diversion part is similar with bend flow.
(2) The lateral diversion and intake pumping stations require not only a desirable intake flow pattern
but also need a uniform flow distribution of the sumps in order to ensure the operation of pump units.
(3) In the inlet section of the lateral intake part of this type of pumping stations, the guide splitter has
an obvious adjustment of the momentum distribution which related to the velocity distributions of the
inlet section of the sumps.
(4) The numerical simulation results denote that the reverse flow in the lateral diversion part is weaken
which has negative effect of normal ranger vertical velocity and the flow uniformity of the sumps is
increased with a suitable guide splitter arrangement.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Eleventh Five-Year National Science and Technology Support
Program of China (Grant No. 2006BAD11B07).
References
[1] Constantinescu GS, Patel VC. Numerical Model for Simulation of Pump-Intake Flow and Vortices. Journal of Hydraulic
Engineering, ASCE,1998, 124(2):123-134.
[2] Cheng Li, Liu Chao, Zhou Jiren, et al. Discussion on the Side-direction Flow of Pumping Station and Improving of the Flow
Pattern. Drainage and Irrigation Machinery, 2001, 19(1):31-34.
[3] Liu Chao, Han Xu, Zhou Jiren, et al. Numerical simulation of turbulent flow in forebay with side- intake of pumping station.
Drainage and Irrigation Machinery, 2009, 27(5):281-286.
[4] Zhang Lin, Yu Yonghai, Xu Hui. Optimum Hydraulic Design of Water Distribution Reservoir with Side Inlet in Urban
Drainage Pump Station. China water and wastewater, 2008, 24(8):37-40.
[5] Liu Xinyang, Gao Chuanchang, Shi Liwen, et al. Numerical simulation for fluid meliorating in both forebay and suction bay
of pumping stations. Journal of Drainage and Irrigation Machinery Engineering, 2010, 28(3):242-246.
[6] Xu Yuejiang, Feng Jiangang, Chen Yuling. Research on the Measures to Improve Inlet Flow Pattern for Multi-sets Pumping
Station with Side-inlet. Drainage and Irrigation Machinery, 2004, 22(4):5-13.
[7] Yu Yonghai, Xu Hui, Cheng Yongguang. CFD numerical simulation on modification of flow pattern with flow deflector at
fore-bay of pumping station. Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, 2006, 37(9):41-43.
[8] Baiyinbaoligao, Sun Dongpo, Li Guoqing. Adjustment of flow momentum in curved channel by using diversion grid. Journal
of Water Resources Engineering, 2001, (1):1-5.
[9] Neary VS, Sotropoulos, F. Three-Dimensional Numerical Model of Lateral-Intake Inflows. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering,
1999, 125(2):126-140.
[10] Cao Jiwen, Chen Huiquan, He Yiying. 3-D numerical modeling of lateral intake flow in open channel. Journal of Water
Resources Engineering, 2004, (2):119-125.

127