Study on Key Factors Affecting the Hydraulic Loads on Emergency Gate

The reliability of hydrodynamic closure of the emergency gate at intake of power station has always been the focus of design, scientific research and management departments. There are many factors affecting the hydraulic loads on the gate body and the gate holding force. The flow (Q), the water head (H) and the gate closing speed (V) are the three main factors. Based on the gravity similarity criterion, a 1/28 hydraulic model of intake, diversion channel and emergency gate is established for Xiangshuijian Pumped Storage Power Station. The hydraulic loads and the gate holding force are studied under different conditions, in which the flow is from 50m³/s to 400m³/s, the water head is from 29.15m to 54.36m, and the gate closing speed is from 1.05m/min to 3.5m/min. The results show that the flow and the water head has great influence on the hydraulic loads, while the gate closing speed has relatively small influence. The larger the flow and the higher the water head, the greater the gate holding force will be. The hydraulic loads show small differences with different gate closing speeds. When the flow is gradually increased from 50m³/s to 400m³/s, the maximum gate holding force is increased from 1267.4 KN to 2067.1 KN. When the water head rises from 29.15m to 54.36m, the maximum gate holding force is increased from 909.0 KN to 1935.0 KN. When the gate closing speed is increased from 1.05m/min to 3.5m/min, the maximum gate holding force stays around 1840.0KN and changes little. The experimental data has important reference value for design and operation of emergency gate at intake of pumped storage power station.

Key words: pumped storage power station; emergency gate; gate holding force; hydraulic characteristics