Hydraulic Instability Characteristics of Pumped-Storage Units During the Transition from Hot Standby to Power Generation

Against the backdrop of the carbon peaking and neutrality (“dual-carbon”) goals and evolving new-type power system dispatch, the share of pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) in power systems continues to increase, imposing stricter requirements on units for higher cycling frequency, greater operational flexibility, and rapid, stable startup and shutdown. Focusing on the entire hot-standby-to-generation transition of a PSH plant, a full-flow-path three-dimensional transient numerical model encompassing kilometer-scale headrace/tailrace systems, meter-scale runner and casing passages, and millimeter-scale inter-component clearances is developed. Three-dimensional unsteady computational fluid dynamics are determined, while the surge tank free surface and gaseous phase are captured using a volume-of-fluid (VOF) two-phase formula. Grid independence is demonstrated, and time-resolved validation is performed against the experimental model–test operating data. Internal instability structures are diagnosed via pressure fluctuation spectral analysis and characteristic mode identification, complemented by entropy production analysis to quantify dissipative losses. The results indicate that hydraulic instabilities concentrate in the acceleration phase at small guide vane openings, where misalignment between inflow incidence and blade setting induces separation and vortical structures. Concurrently, an intensified adverse pressure gradient in the draft tube generates an axial recirculation core and a vortex rope, driving upstream propagation of low-frequency pressure pulsations. These findings deepen our mechanistic understanding of hydraulic transients during the hot-standby-to-generation transition of PSH units and provide a theoretical basis for improving transitional stability and optimizing control strategies.