Through tests conducted with Cetim, PCM has demonstrated the performance of its pumps in turbine mode and is expanding their application to include power generation.
· Validate the concept of reversible operation for a turbine pump
· Test operation under representative conditions, particularly in water-air multiphase flow
· Have access to appropriate testing facilities - not available in-house - to qualify performance
Repurposing a progressive cavity pump from its original use to generate electricity in turbine mode: this is the challenge PCM set for itself on behalf of one of its clients. To validate the feasibility of this approach and measure the hydraulic and mechanical performance, the manufacturer partnered with Cetim, which designed and operated a dedicated test bench capable of replicating multiphase water-air conditions. “The key challenge was to determine the maximum gas concentration in the liquid at which the turbine could still be driven”, explains Christophe L’Haridon, head of the Technologies department at PCM. Flow rate, pressure, gas volume fraction, temperature, instrumentation: the facility made it possible to test different configurations and analyse the parameters influencing the pump’s behaviour (geometric variables, dis-placement, rotational speeds, etc.).
Expanding applications and prospects
Regular exchanges between Cetim and PCM allow for adjustments to the tests during the campaign and help guide the investigations. With a team on site, PCM monitored the progress of the tests and the evolution of the qualification plan.
The results obtained, with energy efficiencies reaching up to 60 - 70% in turbine mode, confirm viability of the concept and pave the way for its implementation. “This work has changed the internal perception of the product. It is no longer viewed merely as a pump, but also as a power gene-ration solution”, emphasizes Christophe L’Haridon.
· Design and implementation of a specialized test bench capable of replicating water-air multiphase conditions
· Conducting instrumented tests (flow rate, pressure, temperature, gas proportion) according to a structured experimental design
· Gradual refinement of the tests
· Validation of turbine mode operation with measured actual efficiencies
· Shift in the perception of the product, now viewed as a powergeneration solution
· New application oppotunities enabling further developments, particularly with other fluids such as CO₂
Equipped with testing capabilities for a variety of fluidic equipment and a high level of expertise, the center designs and deploys specialized test benches and performs custom instrumented tests to thoroughly analyse equipment behaviour and energy performance under complex conditions.
