Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44

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Nuclear Engineering and Design

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/nucengdes

Effects of rotating speed on the unsteady pressure pulsation of reactor T

coolant pumps with steam-generator simulator
⁎
Xu Rui, Long Yun, Wang Dezhong
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Non-uniform suction flow is generated at the inlet of the reactor coolant pump due to the complex geometry of
Reactor coolant pump the steam-generator simulator. From our previous work, the non-uniform inflow has a great effect on the flow
Non-uniform inflow structures in the pump. The unsteady pressure pulsation characteristics in a reactor coolant pump with steam-
Pressure pulsation generator simulator are investigated in various flow rates and various rotational speeds. Pressure pulsation
Rotating speed
signals measured from the sensors on the pump casing and outlet pipe are analysed by FFT (Fast Fourier
Transform) and RMS (Root Mean Square) method. Pressure pulsation characteristics, both discrete peaks and
RMS values, are easily affected by different operational conditions and measuring positions. Pressure amplitudes
at fRPF increases with rotation speed increasing in different flow rates, but pressure amplitudes at fR and fSPF
fluctuate slightly with the rotation speed increasing. Meanwhile, the effect of rotational speed on pressure
pulsation are analysed. It is found that pressure amplitudes of RMS value and fRPF increase with rotating speed
increasing. This means that low rotating speed will reduce the pump vibration, so adjusting rotating speed is an
appropriate method to stable operation of the pump. Finally, the present work will provide a different view on
the pressure pulsations in the pump with non-uniform inflow in different rotation speeds. This research is helpful
to provide a good reference for non-uniform inflow study of the pump, and it is helpful to the vibration analysis
and fault diagnosis of the pump.

1. Introduction
The reactor coolant pump is one of the most important equipment in
the nuclear power plant. In the Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor
(APWR) primary coolant system, two canned motor pumps are directly
attached to the cold side of the steam generator (Sun et al., 2010), as
shown in Fig. 1(a) and (b). The pumps are identical designed based on
the performance under uniform inflow with the straight pipe (Long
et al., 2016; Long et al., 2016). However actual non-uniform suction
flow is generated in the discharge pipe of the steam generator due to the
complex geometry in the steam-generator simulator, and it would affect
the pumps performances (Cheng et al., 2014). Due to rotor–stator in-
teraction, unsteady pressure pulsation has a direct impact on the stable
and safe operation of pumps (Brennen, 1994). The pressure pulsations
of the pump, as a boundary condition of reactor system, is usually a
significant scientific issue.
Up to now, only few researchers have studied the effect of the non-
uniform inflow on the performance of the pumps. The performance of a
mixed-flow pump and hydrodynamic forces on the impeller under non-
uniform suction flow are investigated with experimental method by
Van Esch (2009), it is found that the performance of the pump is in-
fluenced by the type of suction velocity profile and a considerable
steady radial force appears when the suction flow is non-uniform. The
flow patterns of non-uniform flows in a rectangular open suction pas-
sage is studied using 2-D PIV (Two-Dimensional Particle Image Velo-
cimetry) method (Xu et al., 2005), which gives velocity vectors in two
directions on the plane by cross-correlation analysis of the fluorescent
particles in the shooting plane of the flow channel. The flow char-
acteristics within the connection between the steam generator steam-
generator simulator and the pump suction are investigated by experi-
mental method (Huang, 2002), and it is found that axial vortex is
eliminated and axial velocity is uniform in the outlet section in the
nozzle of the steam-generator simulator. But the interaction between
the steam-generator simulator and the pump has not been investigated
since no pumps are connected to the steam-generator simulator in the
test loop. The effect of the velocity distortion generated by the steam
generator on the performance of the two pumps is investigated by CFD
method (Cheng et al., 2014), and the results suggest that the nozzle
dam brackets should be installed in the outlet pipe of the steam gen-
erator.

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: longyunjs@sjtu.edu.cn (Y. Long), dzwang@sjtu.edu.cn (D. Wang).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.03.021
Received 14 June 2017; Received in revised form 26 February 2018; Accepted 14 March 2018
Available online 10 April 2018
0029-5493/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
R. Xu et al. Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44

Nomenclature fSPF stator passing frequency, Z2fR, Hz

Z1 number of impeller blade, 4
D2 impeller outlet diameter, 160 mm Z2 number of diffuser blade, 5
b2 impeller outlet width, 67 mm Q nominal flow rate, 280 m3/h
η efficiency H nominal head, 6.53 m
p pressure, Pa n nominal rotating speed, 1800 r/min
Δp pressure changed, Δp = p − Ā, Pa Qopt operational flow rate, m3/h
Ā mean amplitude of the pressure, Pa Hopt operational head, m
ΔH pressure fluctuation described as the water column, ΔH nopt operational rotating speed, r/min
= Δp/ρg, m P power of the pump
Ρ water density, 1000 kg/m3 ns specific speed, ns = 3.65ndQ0.5/H0.75, 445.51
fR rotating frequency of impeller blade, n/60, Hz FFT Fast Fourier Transform
fRPF rotor passing frequency, Z1fR, Hz RMS Root Mean Square

Lots of investigations have been carried out to study the unsteady
flow, and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method has been proved to be
the most effective tool to analyse pressure fluctuations characteristics
(Barrio et al., 2008; Barrio et al., 2010; Benra, 2006; Li et al., 2015;
Parrondo-Gayo et al., 2002; Pei et al., 2012; Pei et al., 2013; Toussaint,
2006; Wang and Tsukamoto, 2003; Yao et al., 2011). Some studies
focus on the influence of geometry on pressure pulsation by either ex-
perimental or numerical method (Spence and Amaral-Teixeira, 2009;
Yang et al., 2012; Yang et al., 2014). Zhang et al. (Zhang et al., 2015)
explored a slope volute pump to reduce the level of pressure pulsation
and used numerical simulation to analyse its influence on flow struc-
tures. However, these researchers did not consider the effect of non-
uniform inflow on pressure pulsations due to the complex geometry at
inlet. Pressure pulsations in the casing and outlet pipe are significant
input conditions for the design of the nuclear reactor. It is sorely ne-
cessary to research pressure pulsations of the pumps with steam-gen-
erator simulator.
In our previous work, the effect of non-uniform and uniform inflow
on the pressure pulsation has verified by numerical method (Long et al.,
2016; Yun et al., 2017; Yun Long et al., 2017), and unsteady pressure
pulsation spectral characteristics are investigated by experiment in
various flow rates (Long et al., 2017). In the present study, unsteady
pressure pulsation characteristics in a reactor coolant pump with steam-
generator simulator are investigated in various flow rates and various
rotational speeds. Pressure pulsation signals are obtained with seven
fast-response pressure transducers mounted on the pump casing and
outlet pipe. Detailed analysis of pressure spectrum is performed by Fast
Fourier Transform (FFT) method, and special attention is paid to
pressure pulsation peaks at blade passing frequency and some nonlinear
interaction frequency components. Meanwhile, the influence of rota-
tional speed on pressure pulsation is investigated.

2. Model pump and experimental system

2.1. The model pump

The model pump was homologous to the prototype, with a diffuser

in the spherical casing. The tested model pump and its structure are
shown in Fig. 2. The cold side of the steam generator has two dis-
charging pipes, as shown in Fig. 1. Since the cold side of the steam
generator is symmetric, it is assumed that the flow field inside is also
symmetrical. So the steam-generator simulator could be divided into
two mirror parts. The Steam-Generator simulator 3D model and its real
dimensions are shown in Fig. 3. Firstly, at the outlet of the real steam
generator entering to the channel head, the flow is uniform because of
the many tube bundles arranged in the steam generator to control the
flow. Secondly, the Steam-Generator simulator is designed to make the
flow as uniform as possible by providing a pore plate in the channel
head. The impeller has an outlet diameter of 160 mm with the other
pump parameters listed in Nomenclature. The nominal flow rate
Q = 280 m3/h and the nominal head of the model pump H = 6.53 m.

2.2. Experimental system

A test rig is developed in order to investigate the pump hydro-

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of connection type.
dynamics and pressure pulsations, as shown in Fig. 4. The tested pump
is driven by a canned motor controlled by a frequency converter. The
test rig is a closed circulation system equipped with calibrated equip-
ment for various parameters including the flow rate, pressure, and
power. Due to the non-uniform inflow, static pressure values are mea-
sured at the inlet and outlet of the pump by three differential pressure
transducer, and the uncertainty is within ± 0.065%. The flow rate is

26
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 2. The model pump and the structure.
measured using a magnetic flow meter with the uncertainty less
than ± 0.5%. Piezoresistive pressure transducers with high frequency
are flush mounted in the circular symmetric casing and the outlet pipe
to measure the unsteady pressure signals, and the uncertainty was equal
to ± 0.25%. Test is conduct in the environment of 1 atm pressure and
25 degrees Celsius.
Fig. 5 presents the pump performance with uniform and non-uni-
form inflow at a given rotation speed of 1800 r/min. The heads of the
pump with two different inflow have the similar trend at flow rates
higher than 0.5Q, namely the head increases with the flow rate de-
creasing. However, at low flow rates (Qopt < 0.5Q), the head of the
pump with uniform inflow decreases with the flow rate decreasing, and
the head of the pump with non-uniform inflow has an opposite trend
compared with uniform inflows. Different inflows lead to the evident
difference of the pump head at low flow rates. The prewhirl in the pump
at low flow rate is the main reason of the hump of pump head curve.
From the difference of the pump head with different inflow, non-
Fig. 3. Steam-Generator simulator.
27
Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
uniform inflow changes inlet flow structure of the blade, thus affecting
the prewhirl in the impeller channel. So the pump head curve with non-
uniform inflow don't collapses. With the flow rate increasing, the effi-
ciency difference between non-uniform and uniform inflows increases.
With the flow rate decreasing, the power difference between non-uni-
form and uniform inflows increases. At the nominal flow rate, com-
pared with uniform inflow, the head of the pump with non-uniform
inflow decreases by 0. 46%, and the efficiency of the pump with non-
uniform inflow decreases by 7.5%, the power of the pump with non-
uniform inflow increases by 7.32%. In conclusion, non-uniform inflow
has a great effect on the pump performance.
The investigation focuses on pressure fluctuations in the outlet and
the pump casing caused by hydraulic excitations when the suction flow
of the pump is non-uniform. Pressure pulsation signals were measured
by seven transducers, four mounted on the pump casing (P1, P2, P3, P4)
and three on the outlet pipe (P5, P6, P7) at different rotation speeds, as
shown in Fig. 6. The signals were acquired with a sampling rate of
8 kHz and a sampling time of 5 s.
3. Results and discussions
3.1. Influence of the Non-uniform inflow on flow structures in the model
pump
To clarify the influence of the non-uniform inflow on the hydraulic
dynamic characteristics, it is necessary to analyse the flow structures in
the pump. The hydraulic components and fluid domains are built by
ProE, as shown in Fig. 7. Mesh generation is conducted by ICEM. Mesh
information is shown in Table 1. RANS equations with the k − ε tur-
bulence model were solved by the computational fluid dynamics soft-
ware CFX to conduct the steady numerical simulation. The mass flow
rate at inlet and the pressure at outlet are set as the boundary condi-
tions. The working medium is water at 25 °C. The rotation of the im-
peller is set to be 1800 r/min. The adiabatic and no-slip boundary
condition is applied to the solid walls. The residual convergence pre-
cision of the steady calculation is set to 10−4. Fig. 8 presents a com-
parison of velocity distributions on casing outlet of different inflows at
R. Xu et al. Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44

Fig. 4. Closed-circulation experimental system for the model pump.

Fig. 5. Hydraulic characteristics of the tested pump at 1800 r/min.

the nominal flow rate. It is observed that flow patterns at casing outlet
of the pump with two different inflows are obviously different. There-
fore, it is concluded that the non-uniform inflow generated by steam- Fig. 7. The hydraulic components and fluid domains.
generator simulator leads to the outflow of the pump differing from the
straight pipe inflow.
pressure pulsation energy in particular frequency band, Root Mean
Square (RMS) method is applied to deal with discrete pressure signals,
3.2. Unsteady pressure pulsation of the model pump with Non-uniform as presented in Eqs. (1) and (2),
inflow n
1
RMS =
n
∑ (Ai −A )2
The pressure pulsations in the casing and outlet pipe are important i=1 (1)
input conditions for the design of the nuclear reactor. To evaluate n
1
A =
n
∑ Ai
i=1 (2)
where Ai = ΔH/H represents pressure amplitudes at different

Table 1
Mesh information.
Domain Nodes Elements

Diffuser 569910 524480

Impeller 601757 565360
Inlet pipe 31562 171632
Channel head 606940 3458094
Casing 584029 549296
Outpipe 233427 1319341
Fig. 6. Positions of pressure transducers. All Domains 2627625 6588203

28
R. Xu et al. Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44

Fig. 8. The axial velocity of casing outlet.

frequencies, and Ā is the mean amplitude. The pressure fluctuations are
defined based on the peak to peak change ΔH/H, where ΔH = Δp/ρg,
Δp = p − Ā, Ā is the mean amplitude of the pressure, H is the head for
the pump at design condition. The pressure fluctuations for the seven
monitoring points are analysed using the Fast Fourier Transform to
obtain pressure spectrum characteristics.
Fig. 9 shows the time history of unsteady pressure pulsation signals
of sensor P4 at three typical rotation speeds, where the point P4 is in the
casing. It is observed that the pressure signals fluctuate obviously. From
the comparison of pressure pulsations at different rotation speed, it is
found that the pressure pulsation amplitude at high rotation speed,
especially at 2100 r/min, is much larger than that the low rotation

Fig. 9. Unsteady pressure signals of sensor P4 at nominal flow rates.

29
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 10. Unsteady pressure signals of sensor P7 at nominal flow rates.
speed. Fig. 10 shows the time history of unsteady pressure pulsation
signals of sensor P7 at three typical rotation speeds, where the point P7
is at discharging pipe. It is observed that the pressure signals fluctuate
obviously. Through the comparison of pressure pulsations at different
rotation speeds, it is found that the pressure pulsation amplitude at high
rotation speed, especially at 2100 r/min, is much larger than that the
low rotation speed.
3.3. Influence of rotational speed on pressure pulsation characteristics of the
model pump with Steam-Generator simulator
In the reactor coolant pump, strong rotor–stator interaction, to-
gether with intense pressure pulsation, is excited as the impeller blades
pass the diffuser blades successively. So pressure pulsation character-
istics, such as the pressure amplitude of discrete component and energy
distribution in particular frequency band, are closely related to rota-
tional speed of the impeller (Stel et al., 2013). As showed in Fig. 11,
when the model pump operates in nominal flow rate, pressure spectra
of P4 is presented at three rotational speeds respectively, namely
1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/min. When rotational speed is
30
Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
1500 r/min, peaks at fR dominate pressure spectra at P4, and fRPF is the
second dominant frequency. Apart from the above fRPF and fR, 2fSPF also
occur. At nominal rotational speed of 1800 r/min, some discrete peaks
corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF and their harmonic frequencies could be
identified, and fRPF is the dominant frequency. When rotational speed
increases to 2100 r/min, amplitudes at fRPF increase evidently. Due to
the nonlinear interaction between fR and fRPF, fR, the nonlinear com-
ponents would be generated, such as fRPF + 3fR and 2fRPF + 3fR.
However the component at fSPF could not be identified easily.
In Fig. 12, when the model pump operates at nominal flow rate,
pressure spectra of P6 is presented at three rotational speeds. When the
rotational speed is 1500 r/min, peaks at fSPF dominate pressure spectra
at P6, and fRPF is the second dominant frequency. Between fRPF and fSPF,
nonlinear harmonics occur. At nominal rotational speed of 1800 r/min,
some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF and their harmonic
frequencies could be identified, but the dominant frequency is 79 Hz,
and fR is the second dominant frequency. When the rotational speed
increases to 2100 r/min, the amplitude at fRPF increases evidently, and
fRPF is the dominant frequency. Other components like fR, fSPF and 2fSPF
could be identified easily.
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 11. Pressure spectra of P4 at three rotational speeds under nominal flow rate.
Fig. 13 shows the pressure spectra of P7 at three rotational speeds
under nominal flow rate. When rotational speed is 1500 r/min, peaks at
71–74 Hz dominate pressure spectra at P7, and fR is the second domi-
nant frequency. The components of fSPF and fSPF could be identified, but
the amplitudes are weaken. At nominal rotational speed of 1800 r/min,
some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF and their harmonic
frequencies can be identified, and fR is the frequency. When rotational
speed increases to 2100 r/min, the amplitude at fRPF increase evidently,
and fRPF is the dominant frequency obviously. Other components like fR
and its higher harmonics, as well as fSPF and 2fSPF could be identified
easily. Between fR and fRPF, nonlinear components near the frequency
90 Hz occur.
Due to the reactor coolant pump will operate in variable condition
less than the design flow rate when the pump start up and shut down, it
is necessary to research the unsteady pressure fluctuation in off-design
condition with different rotating speed. As showed in Fig. 14, when the
model pump operates in 0.8Q flow rate, pressure spectra of P4 is pre-
sented at four rotational speeds respectively, namely 1200 r/min,
1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/min. When rotational speed is
1200 r/min, peaks at fR dominate pressure spectra at P4, and fRPF is the
second dominant frequency. Nonlinear harmonic frequency of 72 Hz
and fSPF could be identified easily. When rotational speed is 1500 r/
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Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
min, peaks at fRPF dominate pressure spectra at P6, and fSPF is the
second dominant frequency. And the components at fR also could be
identified, but the energy has been weaken. At nominal rotational speed
of 1800 r/min, some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF and
their harmonic frequencies can be identified, but the dominant fre-
quency is fRPF. When rotational speed increases to 2100 r/min, the
amplitude at fRPF increase evidently, and fRPF is the dominant frequency
obviously. Other components like fR and fSPF could be identified easily.
It can be found pressure pulsation amplitudes at low non-linear com-
ponents in the sensor P4, and the main reason is that the flow is
smoother near P4.
As showed in Fig. 15, when the model pump operates in 0.8Q flow
rate, pressure spectra of P6 is presented at four rotational speeds re-
spectively, namely 1200 r/min, 1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/
min. When rotational speed is 1200 r/min, peaks at frequency 11 Hz
(near 0.5fR) dominate pressure spectra at P6, and fRPF is the second
dominant frequency. Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF
and their harmonic frequencies can be identified easily, and nonlinear
harmonic frequency of 71 Hz and 128 Hz also occurs. When rotational
speed is 1500 r/min, peaks at fSPF dominate pressure spectra at P6, and
fRPF is the second dominant frequency. Peaks at some components
larger than fSPF can be identified. At nominal rotational speed of
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 12. Pressure spectra of P6 at three rotational speeds under nominal flow rate.
1800 r/min, peaks at fSPF dominate pressure spectra at P6 obviously.
Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR and fRPF can be identified. And
Between fRPF and fSPF, nonlinear harmonics occur. When rotational
speed increases to 2100 r/min, the amplitude at fRPF increase evidently,
and fRPF is the dominant frequency obviously. And even fSPF is the
second dominant frequency, but its amplitudes still keep in a high level.
Other components like fR and 2fSPF too lower to be identified. It can be
found with the rotating speed increasing, the energy mainly con-
centrate on fSPF or fRPF. The increase of amplitudes at fSPF or fRPF is at
the expense of energy decrease at their higher harmonics and nonlinear
components.
As showed in Fig. 16, when the model pump operates in 0.8Q flow
rate, pressure spectra of P7 is presented at four rotational speeds re-
spectively, namely 1200 r/min, 1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/
min. When rotational speed is 1200 r/min, peaks at nonlinear compo-
nents 66–71 Hz dominate pressure spectra at P7. Some discrete peaks
corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF and their harmonic frequencies can be
identified easily. When rotational speed is 1500 r/min, the dominant
frequency is not easily to identified, and mainly concentrates on non-
linear components, such as 71 Hz. Some discrete peaks corresponding
to fR, fRPF and fSPF can be identified. At nominal rotational speed of
1800 r/min, peaks at nonlinear components 72 Hz and 80 Hz dominate
pressure spectra at P7. Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF
32
Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
and fSPF are lower relatively. Peaks at higher harmonics of fR also can be
identified. When rotational speed increases to 2100 r/min, the ampli-
tude at fRPF increase evidently, and fRPF is the dominant frequency
obviously. Other components like fR and 2fSPF too lower to be identi-
fied. But Peaks at higher harmonics of fR, such as 2fR and 3fR also can be
identified. Between 2fR and 3fR, nonlinear harmonics have high am-
plitudes.
As showed in Fig. 17, when the model pump operates in 0.6Q flow
rate, pressure spectra of P4 is presented at four rotational speeds re-
spectively, namely 1200 r/min, 1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/
min. When rotational speed is 1200 r/min, peaks at fR dominate pres-
sure spectra at P4, and fRPF is the second dominant frequency, and fSPF
could be identified easily. When rotational speed is 1500 r/min, peaks
at fRPF dominate pressure spectra at P6, and fSPF is the second dominant
frequency. And the components at fR and its high harmonics also could
be identified, but the energy has been weaken. At nominal rotational
speed of 1800 r/min, some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF
and their harmonic frequencies can be identified, but the dominant
frequency is fRPF. When rotational speed increases to 2100 r/min, the
amplitude at fRPF increase evidently, and fRPF is the dominant frequency
obviously. Other components like fR and fSPF could be identified easily.
It can be found pressure pulsation amplitudes at low non-linear com-
ponents in the sensor P4, and the main reason is that the flow is
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 13. Pressure spectra of P7 at three rotational speeds under nominal flow rate.
smoother near P4.
As showed in Fig. 18, when the model pump operates in 0.6Q flow
rate, pressure spectra of P6 is presented at four rotational speeds re-
spectively, namely 1200 r/min, 1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/
min. When rotational speed is 1200 r/min, peak at 6fR dominate pres-
sure spectra at P6, and 2fRPF is the second dominant frequency. Some
discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF and nonlinear harmonic
can be identified easily. When rotational speed is 1500 r/min, peaks at
fSPF and 162 Hz dominate pressure spectra at P6, and fRPF is the second
dominant frequency. Peaks at some nonlinear components larger than
fSPF can be identified. Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF and
their higher harmonic can be identified easily. At nominal rotational
speed of 1800 r/min, peak at 84 Hz dominate pressure spectra at P6
obviously. Between fR and fRPF, nonlinear components near the fre-
quency 84 Hz occur, and the amplitudes of these components have re-
lative higher values. Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fRPF, fSPF
and their harmonic frequencies can be identified. When rotational
speed increases to 2100 r/min, the amplitude at fRPF increase evidently,
and fRPF is the dominant frequency obviously. fSPF is the second domi-
nant frequency. Other components like fR and 2fSPF have relative lower
amplitude. Between fSPF and fRPF, nonlinear components can be iden-
tified.
As showed in Fig. 19, when the model pump operates in 0.6Q flow
rate, pressure spectra of P7 is presented at four rotational speeds
33
Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
respectively, namely 1200 r/min, 1500 r/min, 1800 r/min, and 2100 r/
min. When rotational speed is 1200 r/min, peaks at fRPF dominate
pressure spectra at P6, and nonlinear component 72 Hz is the second
dominant frequency. Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR, fSPF and
their harmonic frequencies can be identified easily. When rotational
speed is 1500 r/min, peaks at nonlinear component 82 Hz dominate
pressure spectra at P6, and fRPF is the second dominant frequency.
Peaks at some components fR, fSPF and nonlinear harmonic between
them can be identified. At nominal rotational speed of 1800 r/min,
peaks at fRPF dominate pressure spectra at P6 obviously, and fSPF is the
second dominant frequency. Some discrete peaks corresponding to fR,
fRPF and their higher harmonics can be identified. When rotational
speed increases to 2100 r/min, the amplitude at fRPF increase evidently,
and fRPF is the dominant frequency obviously. 3fR is the second domi-
nant frequency, and its amplitudes still keep in a high level. Other
components like fR, 2fR and fSPF could be identified easily. Between 2fR
and 3fR, nonlinear components can be identified.
For the model pump operating at different rotational speeds, Fig. 20
shows RMS values of different measuring points in three flow rate. It is
seen that RMS value increases as rotational speed increases. At nominal
flow rate, from 1200 r/min to 2100 r/min, RMS value has an increment
of 192.6% at P1, 195.2% at P2, 214.9% at P3, 134.7% at P4, 52.7% at
P5, 286.3% at P6 and 28% at P7. Under off-design conditions, espe-
cially at 0.8Q rate, from 1200 r/min to 2100 r/min, RMS value has an
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 14. Pressure spectra of P4 at four rotational speeds under 0.8Q flow rate.
increment of 459.8% at P1, 363.5% at P2, 532.0% at P3, 482.2% at P4,
261.4% at P5, 824.9% at P6 and 182.8% at P7. At 0.6Q rate, from
1200 r/min to 2100 r/min, RMS value has an increment of 354.8% at
P1, 253.6% at P2, 338.6% at P3, 567.2% at P4, 546.2% at P5, 512.1%
at P6 and 165.7% at P7. With the rotating speed increasing, the RMS
value at P6 increases rapidly. And the RMS value at P6 are relative
higher than other points.
As illustrated in Figs. 11–20, some evident peaks are marked par-
ticularly in pressure spectrum of sensor P4, P6 and P7 with different
rotating speeds at given flow rate, and Fig. 21 shows peaks at rotor
passing frequency fRPF in three different flow rate. In the nominal flow
rate, it is noted that pressure amplitudes of sensor P4 and P7 fluctuate
34
Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
slightly at whole rotating speed. Pressure amplitudes of sensor P6 also
fluctuate slightly at speed lower than 1800 r/min, but at high rotating
speed, pressure amplitude at fRPF increases rapidly. In 0.8Q flow rate,
pressure amplitudes of sensor P4, P6 and P7 increase gradually as ro-
tating speed increases up to 2000 r/min, but when the rotating speed is
higher than 2000 r/min, pressure amplitudes increase rapidly. In 0.6Q
flow rate, pressure amplitudes of sensor P4, P6 and P7 fluctuate slightly
from 1200 r/min to 1800 r/min, but when the rotating speed is higher
than 1800 r/min, pressure amplitudes increase rapidly. In the three
different flow rates, when the rotating speed is higher than 1800 r/min,
pressure amplitudes of sensor P6 at fRPF are larger than other sensors.
Fig. 22 shows peaks at stator passing frequency fSPF in three different
R. Xu et al. Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44

Fig. 15. Pressure spectra of P6 at four rotational speeds under 0.8Q flow rate.

flow rate. In the three different flow rates, it is noted that pressure higher than 1800 r/min, pressure amplitudes increase gradually. In
amplitudes of sensor P4 and P7 fluctuate slightly at whole rotating 0.6Q flow rate, pressure amplitudes of sensor P4, P6 and P7 present an
speed, but pressure amplitude of sensor P6 fluctuates acutely. The increasing trend.
pressure amplitude of sensor P6 has a maximum value at 1700 r/min in
nominal flow rate, at 1900 r/min in 0.8Q flow rate and at 1700 r/min in
3.4. Discussion
0.6Q flow rate.
Fig. 23 shows peaks at rotating frequency of impeller blade fR in
From the analysis of flow structures at outlet and the hydraulic
three different flow rate. In the nominal flow rate, pressure amplitudes
performance of different inflow, we can find that the steam generator
of sensor P4, P6 and P7 decrease slowly, and have minimum values at
has great effect on the flow structures and pump performance. And the
1800 r/min, then increase gradually with the rotating speed increasing.
inlet flow structure should be visualised by advanced measurement
In 0.8Q flow rate, pressure amplitudes of sensor P4, P6 and P7 fluctuate
method. Through analysis of the influence of rotating speed on pressure
slightly from 1200 r/min to 1800 r/min, but when the rotating speed is
pulsation, we can find that when the rotating speed increases, pressure

35
R. Xu et al.
Fig. 16. Pressure spectra of P7 at four rotational speeds under 0.8Q flow rate.
pulsation energy decreases. So it is an effective measure to reduce vi-
bration energy by adjusting rotational speed of the impeller. As shown
in Figs. 11–23, pressure pulsation energy at sensor P6 are higher and
acute, and the nonlinear components of sensor P6 can be identified
easily. The reason maybe that the flow near P6 make the redistribution
of the pressure pulsation energy for the nonlinear interaction. And more
detailed analysis of the flow field near P6 will be carried out.
4. Conclusion
The unsteady pressure pulsation characteristics in a reactor coolant
pump with steam-generator simulator are investigated in various flow
rates and various rotational speeds. Pressure pulsation signals measured
from the sensors on the pump casing and outlet pipe are analysed by
FFT and RMS method.
36
Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44
Pressure fluctuation characteristics, both discrete peaks and RMS
values, are easily affected by different operational condition and mea-
suring position. Pressure amplitudes at fRPF increases with rotation
speed increasing in different flow rates, but pressure amplitudes at fR
and fSPF fluctuate slightly with the rotation speed increasing.
Meanwhile, the effect of rotational speed on pressure pulsation is
analysed. It is found that pressure amplitudes of RMS value and fRPF
increase with rotating speed increasing. And in general, low rotating
speed will reduce the pump vibration, so adjusting rotating speed is an
appropriate method to stable operation of the pump.
Finally, it is expected that the present work will provide a different
view on the pressure pulsations in the pump with non-uniform inflow in
different rotation speed. The study is helpful to provide reference for
non-uniform flow study of the pump, and it is helpful to the vibration
analysis and fault diagnosis of the pump.
R. Xu et al. Nuclear Engineering and Design 333 (2018) 25–44

Fig. 17. Pressure spectra of P4 at four rotational speeds under 0.6Q flow rate.

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Fig. 18. Pressure spectra of P6 at four rotational speeds under 0.6Q flow rate.

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Fig. 19. Pressure spectra of P7 at four rotational speeds under 0.6Q flow rate.

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Fig. 20. Influence of rotating speed on RMS in three flow rates.

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Fig. 21. Influence of rotating speed on pressure amplitudes at distinct peaks fRPF.

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Fig. 22. Influence of rotating speed on pressure amplitudes at distinct peaks fSPF.

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Fig. 23. Influence of rotating speed on pressure amplitudes at distinct peaks fR.
Acknowledgments
This work is funded by Shanghai Economy Information Technology
Committee and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.
51576125), (No. 51406114), and (No. 11535009).
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