Use of Computation Fluid Dynamic Modeling to Evaluate Pump Intake Performance and Develop Design Modifications

The generating capacity of a power plant is being increased through the addition of another power block at the facility. The plant utilizes a once through cooling system with a large onsite pond for water storage. The new power block will require additional pumping capacity. A large intake structure containing eight 6.31 m³/s circulating water pump in separate bays is located on the pond. One proposed approach for supplying cooling water to the new power block was through the addition of six 3.15 m³/s pumps within the existing intake bays. This approach would reduce the construction schedule and the project cost. A commercial computation fluid dynamic (CFD) model was used to investigate the pump approach hydraulics, and evaluate the likelihood of traditional design modifications to improve the flow conditions approaching the pump intakes. Traditionally, physical hydraulic models have been used to evaluate pump intake design modifications. A CFD model was used for this study because it could demonstrate the feasibility of the project more quickly and at a lower cost than it would take for performing a physical model study. Results from the CFD model demonstrated that traditional intake design modifications could improve the intake hydraulics.