Comparison of numerical simulation accuracy for characteristics of pumped storage intake

The impacts of the simulated domain range, mesh density, turbulence models, and discretization scheme on the accuracy of the computational results for characteristics of pumped storage intakes have been investigated separately. It is shown that, all of these factors have effect on the simulation accuracy. Insufficient domain range of the forebay would results in totally wrong conclusion. The results obtained by using standard k-epsiv model, RNG k-epsiv model, realizable k-epsiv model and RSM are all in good agreement with the experimental data. It is also found that the results using second order upwind scheme and QUICK scheme are not better than the results obtained by means of first order accuracy discretization scheme. As to the outflow condition, if the modeling range of the diversion tunnel is insufficient, no matter how to increase the modeling range of the reservoir, the results will hardly fit with the experimental results.