Abstract: The multi-level intake of pumping station and hydropower station makes full use of the river valley width and reduces the amount of engineering excavation. However, the opening of pumping station’s valve might give rise to adverse water flow pattern at the intakes and affect the normal operation of hydropower station. By employing dynamic mesh technique and adopting k-ε eddy flow model, we carried out 3-D numerical simulation on the hydraulic characteristics at the multi-level intakes of a pumping station and hydropower station. By analyzing the water pressure variation in the vicinity of the intakes, we conclude that the opening of pumping station’s valve have certain impact on the normal operation of hydropower station. Under the same reservoir water level, the maximum water pressure fluctuation when the gate is gradually opened is half of that when the gate is instantaneously opened.

Key words: pumping station, water intake of hydropower station, multi-level, opening of pumping station, pressure variation