Design and Construction of an Experimental Test Rig for Hydraulic Turbines

Abstract

Every turbine for every hydroelectric power plant is unique; therefore its model has to be designed using state of the art design techniques and tested before the actual prototype which is costly, is manufactured. In this study, the details of the design and construction of a hydroturbine test facility at TOBB University of Economics and Technology are explained. The facility will be used to test hydroturbine models up 2MWs of power simulating turbine prototypes. The performance and cavitation tests of the turbines will be performed utilizing this facility according to International Electrical Commission (IEC) standards. The test facility is 19 meters long with a base area of around 600 meter squares. The hydraulic analysis of the designed set-up is performed using a system where valves, pipes, structures, water records and connections form an intelligent system, same with the experimental facility. According to the results, system performance is checked, alternative designs are evaluated and operating strategies are defined by minimizing the losses.

Model Testing of Francis-Type Hydraulic Turbines

“…The rest of the test rig, namely, the lowand high-head tanks, model turbine test cell, and flowmeter calibration unit are located on the top floor. 4,5 The test cell (Figure 2(c)) consists of the model turbine to be tested and a 2000-kW generator, which has a maximum rotational speed of 2850 r/min, and an efficiency of 96.9%. It is located between the high-and low-head tanks.…”

“…The rest of the test rig, namely, the low- and high-head tanks, model turbine test cell, and flowmeter calibration unit are located on the top floor. 4,5…”

“…The test rig can be operated in three different modes. 4,5 These modes are depicted in Figure 3 and explained using the numbered locations in Figure 2(a) .…”

Pressure fluctuation measurement in pressure vessels

“…Pressure vessels have been in use as a compressed air receivers, pressure reactors, pressure filters, and hot water storage tanks. However, these vessels have been found to be used in hydraulic turbines erosion test rigs to stabilize the inlet pressure head and also to stabilize the flow in the pipes [2] [3]. The hydraulic turbine test facility designed and constructed based on IEC standard also employ these vessels to ensure uniform velocity profile and to decrease turbulence [4] [5].…”

Radyal akışlı francis su türbinlerinin kanatçık profilinin belirlenmesi ve performans analizi için bir matematik modelin geliştirilmesi

“…Çelebioglu ve Kaplan [22] yaptıkları başka bir çalışmada, bir tersine mühendislik metodu geliştirmiş ve kullanımda olan iki farklı hidroelektrik santralinin yeniden tasarımına uygulamışlardır. Türkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birliği Ekonomi ve Teknoloji Üniversitesinde (TOBB ETU) su türbinlerinin geliştirilmesi için bir tasarım ve test merkezi kurulmuştur [23]. Bu merkezde türbinlerin performans testlerinin yanı sıra kavitasyon testleri de yapılabilmektedir.…”