Flow Visualization Study of Jet and Bucket Interactions in Traditional and Hooped Pelton Runner

Abstract

This paper aims to study the flow pattern in and around a bucket of a Traditional and a Hooped Pelton runner at single injector operation and illustrates different stages of jet interaction. High speed photography is used to study the flow pattern, keeping the camera in different positions relative to the jet and to the bucket. It is concluded from the results that the flow visualization study, provides exceptional observations with an absolute frame of reference to mark the bucket duty period of a single-jet Pelton runner. The small scale models display erosion damages at the bucket lips, this indicated that the high pressure occur in the early stage of interaction. This fact is substantiated by the present flow visualization studies for the first time. The uncertainty of the free surface outflow within the Pelton turbine bucket establishes good documentation. The results are helpful to know the interaction between the jet and bucket of Pelton turbine.

Sediment Erosion on Pelton Turbines: A Review

“…The companies Voith (Germany), ABB (Switzerland), VA (Austria), and ALSTOM (France) have mastered the advanced manufacturing technology of Pelton turbines [190]. The typical manufacturing technologies for Pelton turbines are integral casting [191,192], MicroGuss TM , and complete forging [193]. The structural optimization design of the Pelton turbine high-stress zone, casting process simulation, and deep cooperation between the manufacturing industry and academia will contribute to further improvements in manufacturing technology [188,194].…”

“…Visualization technology is a simple and effective tool for testing models. It can be used to analyze the interaction between the water flow and runner [201,202], and it can also be used to diagnose the noise of prototype units [203]. It has been applied at Moccasin and other power plants [204].…”