Guide vane geometric parameter on reactor coolant pump performance

In order to study the influence of guide vane leading angle, trailing angle, and guide vane wrap angle on the hydraulic performance of the reactor coolant pump (RCP), a mixed-flow reactor coolant pump is taken as an object to study the influence of guide vane geometric parameters on pump hydraulic performance. The results show that the change in the guide vane leading angle has little effect on head but has significant effect on efficiency. Whether the guide vane leading angle is reduced or increased, the efficiency will be reduced. Compared with the prototype model, the change in the guide vane angle at over-load flow condition will lead to a significant reduction in the efficiency of the RCP. The change in the guide vane trailing angle has a significant effect on the efficiency of the RCP. Compared with the large flow condition, it has a slight influence on the head at low flow conditions. When the guide vane leading angle is reduced to 21.9°, the change range of head and efficiency compared with the prototype model is greater than that of increasing the guide vane trailing angle. The hydraulic loss of the guide vane and the volute in nearly every flow condition exceeds that of the other two models. The change in the guide vane wrap angle has a great influence on the head and efficiency of the RCP. When the wrap angle is reduced to 35°, the difference in head and efficiency is smaller than that of the original model. When the wrap angle increases to 55°, the change amplitude of head and efficiency is the largest. At the design condition, the head and efficiency decrease by 7.48 m and 8.36%, respectively, compared with the original model.